South Asian Network (SAN) is a community-based organization dedicated to advancing the health, well-being, and civic rights of South Asians in Southern California. SAN provides vital mental and emotional health support, social services, and case management support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
In 2021, SAN recognized a growing need for small business support in Little India in Artesia, CA, and sought assistance to launch this new initiative. National CAPACD invited SAN to join the AAPI Small Business Development program, which was made possible by the Kaiser Permanente National Community Benefit Fund through the East Bay Community Foundation. Through the program, National CAPACD provided SAN a 2-year grant with flexible funding and the opportunity to learn from a community-based organization (CBO) with experience providing technical assistance to AAPI CBOs. Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of SAN, began working closely with Ron Fong, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Collaborative (APISBC). Together, they developed a plan to launch a small business program, beginning with a small business needs assessment to identify unique challenges and resource gaps.
SAN’s team went door to door in Little India, conducting in-language surveys with 45 small business owners. Additionally, they recruited a student intern to support data analysis and report writing. In January 2023, SAN brought the small business community together to share the findings from their needs assessment. National CAPACD attended and witnessed a room of engaged local business owners eager to learn and connect. The data revealed shared challenges, helping the business owners realize they weren’t alone in their struggles. The event demonstrated the community’s growing trust in SAN and sparked a sense of unity and solidarity among the small business owners.
The data and analysis from the small business needs assessment and report not only informed SAN’s program development but also strengthened their fundraising efforts. Since 2021, SAN has hired a small business counselor and expanded their work to Little Bangladesh in Los Angeles, home to approximately 100 South Asian small businesses. In 2024, they completed a second needs assessment, which included surveying 32 small businesses, publishing a report, and sharing findings with small businesses, stakeholders, and community partners via a webinar.
In 2024, SAN launched the South Asian Small Business Support Program (SABZ), a resource hub providing small business counseling and technical assistance. Reflecting on this journey, Shakeel Syed, SAN’s Executive Director, shared: “This report is a dream realized. The hopes and aspirations of South Asian small business owners/operators in Little Bangladesh are in it… I appreciate all the participants partnering with SAN to conduct this first-ever needs assessment of the South Asian small business community in Little Bangladesh.”
In just a few years, with the support of APISBP and National CAPACD, South Asian Network has conducted two small business needs assessments, established an informed small business program in two communities, hired additional staff, and launched SABZ. These tremendous accomplishments show the power of collaboration and community engagement and were made possible through the generous support of Kaiser Permanente.