Our Statement about Kalmyk Community Center
Dear Kalmyks living in the United States,
Yesterday, during a dinner with Rinpoche and the Kalmyk community in Queens at the Kalmyk Heritage Center, a proposal outlining an alternative concept for a Kalmyk Community Center in Brooklyn was presented to Rinpoche.
We believe that the creation of a полноценный Kalmyk Community Center is so important to our entire diaspora that it should be discussed openly and collectively, with the participation of Kalmyks living in different cities across the United States.
Two Different Approaches
Two different approaches to creating a Community Center are currently being discussed.
Rinpoche’s proposal is to purchase a property costing approximately $1,150,000, not including closing costs and other related expenses, and to raise the necessary funds directly from Kalmyk families.
The property consists of two small spaces located at the basement level of a new apartment building.
The Kalmyk Heritage Center’s approach is to look for a larger space that can genuinely accommodate the main needs of the Kalmyk diaspora. We propose considering not only expensive, ready-to-use properties, but also abandoned or badly maintained buildings/spaces that could be purchased or leased at a much lower cost, renovated, and adapted for the needs of a Community Center.
That is why yesterday the Kalmyk Heritage Center presented Rinpoche with a proposal based not simply on purchasing real estate, but on creating a multifunctional center with a sustainable financial model.
What We Propose Creating
We propose finding a large facility in a convenient location with good public transportation access and using it for several purposes at the same time.
First and foremost:
a preschool/kindergarten for Kalmyk children, using available government programs;
an after-school program;
educational classes;
courses and clubs;
cultural events;
community meetings and gatherings.
During the daytime, the facility could operate as a preschool and after-school program. In the evenings and on weekends, it could be made available free of charge to the Kalmyk community for classes, courses, events, meetings, and other initiatives.
In this way, we are proposing not simply a place for meetings, but a full-fledged community center that operates throughout the day.
Why We Believe We Should Not Rush to Buy a Small Property
In our view, a property costing $1,150,000, located in the basement of an apartment building and consisting of two small spaces, requires very careful analysis regarding how well it actually meets the goals of a future Community Center.
It is necessary to separately examine:
the size and capacity;
transportation accessibility;
the availability of windows and natural light;
whether children can be accommodated;
compliance with requirements for a preschool and after-school program;
whether large community events can be held there;
whether there is enough space for classes, clubs, and other programs.
If the property cannot support these activities, the question arises: would a substantial amount of money be spent on a property that does not solve the community’s main needs?
We believe that before investing $1.15 million, the entire market should be explored to see what alternatives are available.
There may be larger properties that are currently in poor condition or unused but could be acquired at a significantly lower price, renovated, and turned into a полноценный Kalmyk Community Center.
Funding
There is another fundamental issue.
Rinpoche’s proposal assumes that funds would be collected from each Kalmyk family to purchase the property.
We understand the desire of the community to have its own building and respect this initiative. However, we believe another approach should also be considered.
Many Kalmyk families in the United States are immigrants who already face high expenses and financial difficulties. Many have unstable incomes, housing costs, expenses related to children and education, medical expenses, and other essential needs.
We believe that a community center should help our families rather than become an additional financial burden.
Therefore, we propose looking for funding through other sources:
government programs;
grants;
charitable foundations;
major private donations;
partnerships;
programs supporting children's and educational institutions;
other sources of funding.
Most importantly, the center itself should have a sustainable financial model.
Preschool and After-School Programs as the Foundation
This is why the Kalmyk Heritage Center proposal places special emphasis on a preschool and after-school program.
We propose finding a facility that would legally allow these programs to operate and make use of available government funding programs.
This would not only help Kalmyk families, but also create ongoing activity that could cover the center’s expenses, build reserves, and eventually establish a financial foundation for purchasing a building of its own.
In other words, our idea is:
Instead of collecting large amounts of money from each family to buy a small property, create a functioning Community Center that provides public benefit and gradually builds the financial foundation needed to purchase a larger building.
This Should Be a Project for the Entire Diaspora
We propose making the discussion of this issue public and open to all Kalmyks living in the United States, regardless of when they arrived in America.
Representatives of Kalmyk communities from different U.S. cities should be invited, including both American Kalmyks and Russian-speaking Kalmyks.
It would also be useful to involve specialists in:
commercial real estate;
construction and renovation;
education;
finance;
grants;
law;
nonprofit organization management.
A comprehensive business plan should be developed. This should include studying available properties, calculating renovation costs, rental or purchase costs, operating expenses, potential revenues and expenses, available government programs, and grant opportunities.
Only after that should a decision be made.
Everyone’s opinion matters.
The Kalmyk Community Center should not be a project belonging to one family, one person, or one group. It should be a center capable of serving the entire Kalmyk diaspora in the United States.
Our shared goal is to create a place for our children, education, culture, community, and preservation of our identity.
Not a small property purchased simply for the sake of owning real estate, but a large, functional, and accessible Kalmyk community center.
Let’s not rush. Let’s study all the options, do the calculations, discuss them, and make a decision together about what our Kalmyk Community Center should be.