Welcome to our June edition of the Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association newsletter! We're excited to bring you a selection of opportunities and events designed to inspire, educate, and connect. Inside this issue, you'll find exclusive information on upcoming events, details on grant opportunities that could support your business, and much more!

Time is running out—don’t miss your shot at glory in the Taste of Asia Photo Contest! With less than 10 days left (closing June 30, 2025), the clock is ticking to showcase your culinary artistry and cultural pride. 

 

We wanted to take this opportunity to thank our co-host BCPA ( Boston Chinese Photography Association). Between 2 dedicated online photography coaching seminars and 7 on-site workshops and assist-to-shoot sessions, they helped to boost confidence in participation in unparalleled ways. Thanks to Mr. Cary Chu, whose professional expertise anchored the impressive qualities of so many entries. 

 

We also thank the chairman and other board members of BCPA for making the time and sharing the knowledge for the contest, despite their busy schedules.

 

Thank you to those who have already participated. We would love to see more entries from everybody: Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Cambodian and other Asian culinary traditions. Spread the word; send in your entries and claim your cultural spotlight.

 

Whether you’ve been perfecting that steaming bowl of ramen, capturing the vibrant chaos of a night market, or styling a traditional feast, NOW is the moment to submit your entries! This is your chance to celebrate Asian heritage through your lens, win amazing prizes, and join a community of food and photography enthusiasts. 

 

Don’t let hesitation steal your spotlight—upload your best shots today at https://ma-ara.org/photo-contest . Good luck, and may your photos make the world hungry for more!

 

Entry Limits: Up to 5 photos per theme (1 PDF for menu design) 
Judging Criteria: Creativity, technical skill, relevance to theme, and overall impact  
Submission links: scan the QR code to the submission links or click the link below:

We warmly invite you to become a valued sponsor of the 2025 Taste of Asia Photo Contest - an extraordinary opportunity to align your brand with a celebration of cultural heritage and culinary innovation. Your sponsorship plays a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Asia's rich gastronomic traditions while connecting with passionate food enthusiasts and industry leaders.

 

We offer multiple sponsorship tiers (Gold, Silver, Bronze and Friendship Circle), each with tailored benefits designed to maximize your visibility and impact. Your support is crucial to making this event a success - together, we can create an unforgettable experience that honors Asian cuisine while delivering exceptional value for your brand. Please review the sponsorship opportunities below and consider how we might partner to achieve mutual success.  

 

 

To donate with a check, please make check payable to MARA and remit to:

 

On May 28th, MARA members and friends gathered at New Moon Villa Restaurant for an afternoon of camaraderie, learning, and collaboration. The event brought together old acquaintances and new friends, reinforcing the strength of our vibrant community.  

 

Highlights from the Afternoon: 
1. Expert Presentations – Service providers shared invaluable insights:  
   - Sprague: Introduced a tried and true highly competitive energy-saving approach designed to reduce costs for restaurant businesses.  
   - SwipeIt: Demonstrated how gift cards can drive revenue growth, leveraging years of industry expertise.  
   - Loretta Chin: Spoke to Food Safety, a critical yet often challenging topic for restaurant owners. 

 

Note to community members: if you think you can use help in any of these three areas, let us know, and we can connect you to our esteemed service providers

2. Looking Ahead – Preparations for MARA’s Annual Gala are underway! Stay tuned for exciting updates.  

 

3. New Friend - We welcomed Mr. Chen Da Wen to the Boston restaurant community. Mr. Chen has been a very successful business owner in China. He works with an award winning culinary team who shares his vision of bringing their presence to the Boston area. Mr. Chen shared ample insight from his international experiences; his enthusiasm and energy were observed by all.

4. The MARA Mission in Action – This Social exemplified what MARA does best: creating a platform for businesses to connect, learn, and grow together. The vibe in the room proved just how energy begets energy.  

What’s Next -
We’re committed to hosting more events like this to foster connections and provide resources for our community. Thank you to everyone who joined—your participation makes MARA stronger!  

Stay connected, stay informed, and let’s keep growing together!  

MARA Team

Instagram | Facebook | MARA Website

Dear restaurant owners and business providers,

MARA is devoted to be the backbone of the Asian restaurant community and maintain a vibrant platform for Asian restaurants and business/service providers alike. We support our members with information on fund-sourcing, policy interpretation, networking opportunities and public advocacy, to name a few. In today's fast changing environment, MARA will be your ally, and you will never have to face challenges alone.

ICE Raids can happen to businesses where there is the suspicion of certain immigration law violations. To help employers handle the situation in case of an ICE Raid, we've summarized the main points of guidelines provided by Nutter McClennen & Fish Law Firm, as below:

 

Pre-Raid Preparation:
Employers are advised to develop and rehearse a specific protocol for an ICE raid, designate a single point of contact to communicate with ICE agents, and provide training on employee rights (such as the right to remain silent and the right to legal counsel) and appropriate responses if approached by ICE.

 

During the Raid:
The advisory recommends that employers immediately contact their legal counsel and, if possible, have the attorney present during the raid. It is advised that a company representative accompany ICE agents to document their actions, that private or restricted areas not be accessed without a valid judicial warrant, and that any warrant presented be carefully verified for legitimacy and scope.

 

Employee Guidelines:
Employees should be instructed to remain calm and avoid fleeing. They are informed that while they may choose whether to speak with ICE, they also have the right to remain silent and request an attorney.

 

Post-Raid Actions:
Employers are encouraged to obtain and retain copies of any inventories or documents detailing seized items, preserve any surveillance footage from the incident, and document all details of the raid—such as the number of agents present, their conduct, and any deviations from the warrant.

The 119th Congress has now been sworn in and our efforts to pass the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) at the Federal level will continue. While the legislation has not yet been re-introduced by the National Restaurant Association, we are continuing to build a broad base of support for the CCCA from all 50 states. The issue continues to gain traction in the media, especially on the heels of Visa’s estimated $100 million increase in swipe fees effective January 1st.

 

You may recall that the Coalition has sent a few support letters in the past signed by businesses operating within the state and have been told by Congressional offices that those letters are one of the most compelling demonstrations of support they’ve received on CCCA. As such, we urge you to sign on to this letter by clicking on this link: Company Support for the Credit Card Competition Act.

 

It’s a simple process of listing your company name and the state in which your company operates so that we have signatories ready to go when we send additional state-specific letters to Senators urging their support for the bill. 

MARA has partnered with Potencia to offer affordable, one-on-one English tutoring sessions tailored for adult immigrants. These 10-week online programs provide personalized learning, real-life conversation practice, and flexible schedules. At just $5 per session ($50 for 10 sessions), participants receive 1-hour individual lessons with an additional discount available for MARA members.

 

Interested individuals can apply online below or text (617) 580-0176 for more details. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve English skills in a supportive, affordable environment!

This workshop is free and will be presented in English with live interpretation available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, and Vietnamese. Flyers are available in the languages below: 

 

This session is designed for small business owners—especially those newer to sales—who want to:

You’ll also get to hear from other AAPI small businesses during the Q&A—what they’re working through, what’s been working for them, and where they need support. It’s a great way to learn from peers and know you’re not figuring it out alone.

 

Flyers are available in the languages below:

中文 | ភាសាខ្មែរ  | 한국어 | नेपाली | Tiếng Việt | English

Exclusively for MRA Members, Hospitality Insurance Group now offers two new risk management training programs that help you:

Live – 90-Minute Session covering de-escalation, drink safety, ID checks & emergencies, with VIP Safety Strategies.

 

Online – 24/7 Access for restaurants, bars & taverns, with Home of Training.

Grant & Program Opportunities

(Rolling Deadline) Amber Grant - Women's Net gives away at least $30,000 every month in Amber Grant money. In recognition of the diversity of businesses owned by women, they've also expanded their grant-giving to include Marketing Grants, Business Category Grants, as well as two $25,000 Year End Grants.

 

(Rolling Deadline) Free LLC Formation for Moms - Zenbusiness is giving every mom in America the ability to start an LLC for free, plus the cost of your state fee.  

Founded in 2018, Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association (MARA) is a non-profit corpo­ration registered at Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It formed a partnership with Massachu­setts Restaurant Association (MRA) in 2020. MARA provides Asian restaurant businesses the resources and guidance needed to advance in the industry. MARA is a platform connecting Asian restaurant members with professional service providers as well as relevant governmental entities to enhance the communication collaboration and mutual benefits. Visit ma-ara.org to join or learn more.