Letter from the Founder & Board Chair

Dear Friends of the Asian Pacific Development Center,

With the fall of Saigon in 1975, there was an influx of Indochinese refugees in Colorado. As a young psychologist in Denver, I was called upon to help with their mental health needs and adjustment issues. I recognized the acute need for bi-lingual and bi-cultural services in order to adequately serve these newcomers.
Within a few years, in addition to refugees, immigrants from other Asian countries and Pacific Islands are seeking our services too. A group of Asian community leaders and mental health professionals recognized that this need was great and growing rapidly. A larger scale system was needed. With the support of the State Division of Mental Health, Asian Pacific Development Center was formed 30 years ago. With grants and private donations, APDC purchased the current clinic at 1825 York Street. The needs of both refugee and immigrant families stretched beyond the scope of mental health. More funds were raised to provide a wide range of health related services. Later, youth programs were added along with translating and interpreting services, legal assistance and ESL classes.

Thirty years later, the need for APDC is greater than ever.

The opportunity is Now.

The APDC now has the opportunity to merge the 1825 York Street clinic and its Aurora office to a more central, cost-efficient space to integrate and expand our services.   The York Street clinic has long been inadequate in floor plan and location as it is a four-story building with no elevator and no parking.  This move will allow APDC to bring together its services in one centralized location.

With a proven track record of demonstrated success and an ever-increasing demand for our services to immigrants, refugees and their families, APDC is now poised to build a permanent, centralized home to house all services and staff in a neighborhood that is anchored in the heart of our communities.

We hope you will join us and support this opportunity to allow APDC to streamline its real estate infrastructure, saving operating funds in the long term and providing a space that can deliver a truly integrated service and beneficial outcome to our clients.

Sincerely,
Rudolph Lie, Ph.D.
APDC Founder & Board Chair