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ESD 113 Board of Directors Celebrates ASHHO Cultural Community Center

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ESD 113 Board of Directors poses with ASHHO founder, Khurshida Begum and members of the ASHHO board.

ASHHO Cultural Community Center and Educational Service District (ESD) 113 share a relevant core goal: to provide services to those who need them most. Everyone wants what's best for kids and families, and together, our two organizations have a powerful ability to strengthen the community around us. This summer, the ESD 113 Board of Directors is excited to celebrate ASHHO Cultural Community Center and its founder, Khurshida Begum, for their meaningful work in Tumwater.

Begum has spent the last five years creating a space where people feel welcome at ASHHO, which means “to invite or call someone to ‘come join’” in Bengali, Begum’s native language. Born from the idea that everyone deserves space to belong, to have value, and to be seen, ASHHO blends a nonprofit community center and a catering and events business into a successful social enterprise. Job training is interwoven throughout, thanks to Begum's early exposure to workforce development programs. 

Since 2021, ASHHO has served nearly 16,000 hot, cultural meals to the community through Runia Soul Cafe, along with free mental health and healing workshops, career and life coaching, free exercise classes, youth nights, and back-to-school events with school supplies and services. 

Those who complete their job training program gain experience in catering, hospitality, customer service, janitorial tasks, and more. ASHHO also holds events celebrating Juneteenth, Black History Month, Indigenous life, Ramadan, and more, opening their doors to all looking to connect and celebrate.

“Culture is something that everybody has,” Begum said. It’s important to her that everyone knows they are welcome, no matter their background. 

ASHHO and Begum have already worked alongside ESD 113 several times to host meetings and deliver services to local families. Begum and ESD 113’s School Nurse Corps have partnered to deliver training on anti–human trafficking, child abuse, and domestic violence.

“We need to be building up our younger generation,” Begum said, “and the only way to do that right now is to create space for them.” Between ASHHO and ESD 113, the promise is there for a relationship that builds and empowers our community.