GMAACC Receives Malden Cultural Council and Medford Arts Council Grants to Collaborate With Artist Yuko Okabe on a Series of AAPI Community Arts Workshops
March 31, 2026
The Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAACC) is proud to present an upcoming series, Imagine Medford Books and Imagine Malden Books, in partnership with local artist Yuko Okabe. Through this series, GMAACC hopes to center AAPI perspectives in a creative exploration of belonging and care as foundations for social infrastructure and resilience. Yuko will teach participants how to make “no-sew” books, inviting people to answer drawing prompts about community care through the lens of the AAPI community.
This project reflects GMAACC’s emphasis on the importance of building community capital to drive civic power and social change. Workshops will bring residents together through storytelling, intergenerational dialogue, and collaborative artmaking.
In regards to the creative process, Yuko Okabe shares: “Making physical art takes patience and deliberation. It can also be messy and spontaneous! I see community building in the same way. As a community—whether a city, a neighborhood, or a group of found family—it's important to listen carefully to each others' needs, think critically of infrastructures around us, and consistently iterate on our relationships with each other. Making art through this lens of community care helps people make these conversations tactile.”
Mina Kim, Executive Director of the Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition, adds, “We are so thankful to Yuko Okabe and the Malden Cultural Council and Medford Arts Council for providing an opportunity for community members in Malden and Medford to connect with one another through the power of arts and culture.”
The events will be hosted in locations around Medford and Malden beginning this April. The workshops are open to all who wish to participate. AAPI families, youth, adults, and seniors are especially encouraged to attend.
Workshop Locations:
Colleen’s Ice Cream - April 4, 3pm - 5pm
Medford Public Library - May 23, 11am - 1pm
The Gallery@57 - May 3, 2 - 4pm
Final Malden workshop - TBD
This program is funded in part by grants from the Medford Arts Council and Malden Cultural Council which are supported by Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
