Sarun Chan is the Executive Director at the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. Sarun was born in a refugee camp in Thailand during the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide led by the Khmer Rouge regime. Raised in low-income neighborhoods throughout South Philadelphia, Sarun has an innate reflective nature on the American, immigrant, and refugee experience.
Sarun is a former child laborer working in agriculture and packing factories since the age of nine. In his adult professional career, he has worked in various community based organizations and large nonprofits for nearly two decades. Sarun has directed social service initiatives, community cultivation and building, developed intergenerational and intercultural programs, and advocacy on various social issues and disparities including education, health, and community development.
From witnessing, experiencing, and living his life in poverty stricken neighborhoods, it has inspired Sarun to further his life’s work to help bring visibility to the under-represented and bridge resource gaps to improve the quality of life for the underserved. Serving diverse communities has enriched Sarun’s spirit as an individual and he continues to grow and translate these experiences to make an impact in our homes, community, and environment.
