Cambodian American Resource Agency

Cambodian American Resource Agency
Common name	CARA
Type	Arts and culture
Focus areas	cultural programming; Khmer language education; traditional dance; community events; genocide remembrance
City	San Jose
State / province	California
Country	United States
Address	355 Ezie St, San Jose, CA 95111
Founded	1998
Organization identifiers	EIN (United States): 77-0499975
Website	Website
LinkedIn	LinkedIn
Operating status	active

The Cambodian American Resource Agency (CARA) is a San Jose, California-based nonprofit founded in 1998 by Cambodian-American professionals and community members to unite the local Khmer community and increase recognition of Khmer culture in the Bay Area. Serving the East San Jose Cambodian-American community that resettled after fleeing the Khmer Rouge regime in the late 1970s, CARA runs cultural programming, Khmer language education, traditional dance instruction, and community events.

History

1998: CARA was founded by Cambodian-American professionals and community members to help unite the local Khmer community.
2012: CARA received a grant to support advanced students' travel to Long Beach to study, dance, and live with musicians of the Ho Chan Ensemble. The ensemble also traveled to San Jose to perform for the San Jose-based community.
2013: CARA received funding to underwrite free weekly dance lessons through the Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe. Students performed at the community's New Year Festival, learned the folk dance "Fish Tales," and male dancers continued developing their monkey dance repertoire.
2014: CARA received funding from ACTA's Living Cultures Grant Program to support "Hidden Treasures," a capstone event for five high school seniors trained as Cambodian classical dancers through CARA's free weekly dance lessons.
2023: CARA planned to produce the Khmer New Year 2024 Festival, an evening-length arts showcase for Spring 2024.

Community served

CARA was founded in 1998 to help initiate and provide support for community based activities which unite the Cambodian community to foster the Cambodian culture and work toward the progress of future generations.

Programs and services

Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe of San Jose: CARA supports the dance troupe, which provides instruction in Cambodian classical and folk dances.
Cambodian Language School: A program supported by CARA.
Khmer New Year 2024 Festival: CARA planned an evening-length arts showcase in Spring 2024 featuring traditional Cambodian musical theater, Cambodian classical music, and dancers from cultural organizations throughout the Bay Area.
Hidden Treasures: A capstone event for five high school seniors who trained for years as Cambodian classical dancers through CARA's free weekly dance lessons.
Free weekly dance lessons: CARA provided funding for lessons through the Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe.
Advanced student cultural exchange: CARA supported advanced students' travel to Long Beach to study, dance, and live with musicians of the Ho Chan Ensemble.

CARA is registered as a 501(c)(3) with EIN 77-0499975. Active leadership and programming have been confirmed through 2026.

Leadership

Savary Dean — Artistic Director associated with the Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe, a CARA program

Partnerships

Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA): Funded CARA through the Living Cultures Grant Program.
Ho Chan Ensemble: Participated in activities supported by CARA, including advanced student study and a planned Khmer New Year 2024 Festival presentation.
Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe of San Jose: Supported by CARA.
Cambodian communities throughout the Bay Area and Central Valley: Collaborated on the Bay Area Cambodian Cultural Festival.
Cultural organizations throughout the Bay Area: Dancers from these organizations were planned to participate in CARA's Khmer New Year 2024 Festival.

Contact and participation

Website: ACTA profile
Address: 355 Ezie Street, San Jose, CA 95111

Sources