The National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) was founded 40 years ago on November 1, 1979 to address the divide between AAPI elderly and the services they were entitled to. In 40 years, NAPCA has directly served tens of thousands of AAPI elders and indirectly provided assistance to approximately 100,000 more.

To celebrate this milestone, NAPCA is releasing 40 stories of their staff, constituents, and partners to celebrate the impact that NAPCA has had on AAPI older adults across the country. This week, we highlight Sannalung Souratha, a participant of NAPCA’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). For more stories, visit https://www.napca.org/40-for-40/.

Sannalung shares his story of coming from Laos in a time of hardship for Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia to study English and build a better life for his family. After experiencing a neurological medical event, he found reconnection in his work through NAPCA SCSEP.

NAPCA was founded 40 years ago on November 1, 1979 to address the divide between AAPI elders and the services they need. In 40 years, NAPCA has directly served tens of thousands of AAPI elders and indirectly provided assistance to approximately 100,000 more.

These stories are from current enrollees with NAPCA programs, sharing how they came to NAPCA and how NAPCA has impacted their lives.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Diverse Elders Coalition.