In downtown Lowell, the sense of history is overwhelming. There is a mystery to these large brick buildings that is easily missed by the hurried passerby. The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association is located inside a newly converted factory building that spans over two New York City blocks. Now the old mill factory takes on a different history, one that includes large Khmer words, the Cambodian flag, and a photograph of the Cambodian Royal family. These emblems welcome visitors who enter the reception area.
Local students run the front desk after hours.
The majority of staff are Cambodian, and the students who come there after school seem involved in almost every aspect of the agency. They are a vibrant and visible presence. Colorful posters of upcoming events, newspaper articles featuring community leaders and snapshots of Cambodians in America line the stairwell, but the pulse of the CMAA is on the second floor, with its meeting rooms, library, and offices. The main conference room and front offices are majestic. Impressive artwork, from needlepoint to oil paintings, guides visitors into the conference room secured by dark, heavy, carved oak doors.