Asian Services in Action, Inc. (Asia) in Akron, OH

Asian Services in Action (ASIA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with additional locations in Cleveland. The organization serves immigrant, refugee, and native-born neighbors across Northeast Ohio, with a mission to empower Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities while extending services to all populations facing economic or language barriers. ASIA operates as a comprehensive health and human services agency with 51-200 employees.

ASIA's core offerings include two Federally Qualified Health Centers (ICHC) with accredited Patient Center Medical Homes in Cleveland and Akron that provide comprehensive healthcare on a sliding scale basis. Beyond healthcare, ASIA provides extensive wrap-around social services including immigration and legal services, financial education and economic self-sufficiency programming, professional interpreting and translation, community mental health support, youth and senior programming, family services, and policy advocacy. The organization also operates the Apex Fund for Economic Opportunity, a microloan program designed to help low-income entrepreneurs access capital for business startup, repairs, inventory, and fixtures.

What distinguishes ASIA is its deep specialization in linguistically and culturally competent service delivery, with particular expertise serving Asian American and Pacific Islander populations and other immigrant/refugee communities. The organization addresses systemic barriers that prevent vulnerable populations from accessing mainstream financial and health services. Their legal services department covers immigration law, family law, estate planning, and victim support services, while the Ahimsa program specifically supports survivors of crime and violence. The Apex Fund addresses conventional lending gaps by offering microloans to entrepreneurs who face barriers in traditional banking channels.

ASIA is best suited for immigrants, refugees, and low-income individuals seeking accessible healthcare, legal services, financial education, or small business lending. As a non-profit organization, their services are structured around community benefit rather than profit maximization. The primary caveat is that while they offer microloans through Apex Fund, their primary function is health and social services delivery rather than being a dedicated lending institution. Their loan programs appear to be supplementary to their broader community mission.