Maru advances social justice and systems change through community-driven solutions.
Technical Assistance
Maru offers technical assistance to nonprofits engaging Asian, immigrant, and refugee communities with a community-driven, culturally integrated curriculum.
Support Areas:
1. Older Adult Train the Trainers Series:
- Senior Street Smarts: A 4-part course for seniors on awareness and mental health, available in multiple languages.
- Tai Chi Instructor Training: Specialized training program.
- K-drama for Senior Mental Health: Training using K-drama for senior wellness, with materials in English and Korean.
- Digital Literacy for Seniors: Basic digital skills training available in English and Korean.
- Zine-Making with Seniors: Teaching seniors to create zines about their stories.
2. Program Design and Improvement Tools:
- Asian Youth Mental Health: Resources for engaging teens.
- Culturally-Responsive Mental Health Programs: Training on the RIPE Model.
- Creative Mental Health Engagement: Development of interactive workshops and events.
- Intergenerational Storytelling Tool: Materials for fostering dialogues between generations.
- Language Community Tools: Training materials on public benefits in Korean and Chinese.
- Assessments: Tools for evaluating accessibility, safety, senior wellness, and community mental health impact.
Cloud-Based Infoline System: Guidance on building resource referral lines.Check here to see if your organization is eligible for free technical assistance from Alameda County.Together we can improve Asian community mental health!
KONA Report
The 2015 KONA Report (Korean Needs Assessment of the Bay Area) assessed the health and social needs of the Korean community in the Bay Area. This is the only disaggregated Korean population survey covering the top 5 Bay Area counties where the majority of Koreans reside. KONA was a collaboration between MARU and the Health Research for Action (HRA) center at UC Berkeley.
››› Check here for more specific topics:
Community Safety Report
The Alameda County Community Safety Report shares our communities’ voice and perspective on community safety. It is a collaboration of multiple immigrant- and refugee-serving organizations and highlights disaggregated data from over 5 language groups. The report offers recommendations to improve community safety.
Advocating for Language Equity
A Community-Public Health Partnership
This case study, conducted by MARU and the Refugee Immigrant Collaborative for Empowerment (RICE), outlines a three-part advocacy intervention. The intervention emphasizes data disaggregation, language equity, and cross-sector collaboration to develop data-informed advocacy requests on behalf of Limited English Proficient (LEP) communities.
MARU thanks RICE partners and ACPHD for working together on this community case study.
Health & Healthcare Needs of Korean in Bay Area
The Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health examines the health and healthcare needs of 342 Korean Americans living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Findings revealed that nearly half of participants rated their health as fair or poor, and over 30% lacked a usual source of care. Chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension were common, and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) was strongly linked to poorer self-rated health and lower healthcare access. Older adults and those with LEP faced the greatest health burdens. Gender differences were also noted—women were less physically active, while men smoked more frequently. The study highlights the need for culturally and linguistically tailored health programs and policies to address health disparities within this growing community.
Digital Resources
WeCare 將心比心 app + brand image for better navigation.
- Do you feel alone as a caregiver for family members suffering from dementia?
- WeCare 將心比心 is a mobile app designed to bring light to Chinese caregivers. Use this app to find educational resources, available care providers nearby and create a personal care plan to keep your wellness in check.
- “I feel like the only person who cares for my father with dementia, but there is no one for me. I wish there was a community to offer me some support.” — Linda, Caregiver Interviewee
- We use technology to break down language barriers and support our Chinese caregiver community to find a sense of belonging.
Corporate Wellness Engagement
Maru leads the way in innovative wellness and mental health approaches. We can facilitate wellness workshops, experiences, and activations for your employee resource group. We are passionate about integrating Asian cultural themes, art as healing practices, activating different models of leadership, and mind-body approaches. We are excited about hearing your needs and building half-day and whole-day events with you.
Let’s Work Together!
Team building and engagement
Corporate volunteering strengthens communities and boosts employee engagement—it’s a win-win for everyone.
Whether through hands-on workshops, assembling wellness kits for community members, or supporting special events, your team will help strengthen our culture of care, reach more people, and promote wellness across our diverse community.
- Fill out our Team Building Inquiry form, and a staff member will contact you to customize options based on your schedule and preferences.
- Employee Volunteer Day: Gain hands-on experience in one of KCCEB’s events or activities.
- Event Sponsorship: Support us in raising visibility for mental health, wellness. Let’s bring together experts and innovators!
- Employee Wellness Event: Learn about our programs first-hand through our culturally-responsive wellness workshops.
- Employee Giving Fund: Donate to KCCEB with giving that matters.