Annual Report 2012
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2012 ANNUAL REPORT GROWING THE COMMUNITY OUR MISSION The mission of the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Inc. MISSION STATEMENT (BCNC) is to ensure that the children, youth and families we serve have the resources and supports they need to achieve greater economic success and social well-being. For more than 43 years, BCNC has been the vital link energizing the ABOUT US Asian immigrant and Asian American community of Greater Boston. Now, as one of the largest human service providers for New England’s Asian American population, over 2,300 people receive services in one or more BCNC programs. 2 | www.bcnc.net BCNC’s family-centered approach underlies all its work, and encompasses eight programs that serve infants, toddlers, and preschoolers; school-aged children and youth; parents and grandparents; new immigrants; and those who are born here. OUR PROGRAMS EARLY The Acorn Center for Early Education and Care program, a licensed EDUCATION and accredited bilingual Chinese and English full day child care center, serves 81 children, ages 15 months to 6 years old. FAMILY CHILD The Family Child Care program helps license Asian Americans who wish CARE to open family child care homes, and provides support to over 60 providers, with each home serving anywhere from two to ten children. AFTER The Red Oak After School program provides licensed child care, SCHOOL education, and enrichment services for up to 160 children, 5 to 13 years old. YOUTH The Youth Center program provides education, leadership, and CENTER enrichment programs for 300 youth, ages 11 to 18 years old to become FAMILY The Family Services program empowers and supports families in SERVICES learning about the school systems and in advocating for their children through workshops, support groups, referrals, and counseling. ADULT The Adult Education program teaches English, basic computer literacy, EDUCATION job-readiness skills, and provides U.S. naturalization test preparation for over 400 adults a year. RECREATION & The Recreation and Fitness program offers swim lessons, swim teams, FITNESS arts classes as well as a gym and pool for the community. ARTS & The Arts and Enrichment program provides arts education ENRICHMENT opportunities for all ages through after school and weekend arts, enrichment and cultural activities. 2012 BCNC Annual Report | 5 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Elaine Ng BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY BOARD Selina Chow, President Debra Ashton Eugene Mahr, Vice President Frances Burke Marian Tse, Clerk Paul Chan Brian Downer, Treasurer Annie Chin Louie Stephen Chan Susan Fung Dean Chin Rhys Gardiner Jimmy Chiu Edward Gee Christopher Lam Maya Honda Mabel Lam Johnny Ip Wendy Lee San San Lee Vivian Louie Irma Mann Marie Moy Ruth Mercado-Zizzo Betty Szeto Win Tung Carissa Wong-Sauve Hong T. Vuong Beverly Wing Perry Wu Anna Yee Raymond Yu 6 | www.bcnc.net DEAR FRIENDS, In 2012, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Inc. (BCNC) celebrated 43 years of service. Born from the hearts of a small group of community activists seeking to have a say in the schooling of their children in 1969 to becoming a recognized leader in providing family-centered services to the Asian American and immigrant community in 2012, we think of the old adage: From a small seed, a mighty trunk may grow. Every year we are inspired by the accomplishments of those who come through our doors to learn new skills and receive support, our staff members who work tirelessly to deliver the highest quality programs and services, and the outpouring of generosity from our donors and volunteers. This year, we would like to highlight BCNC’s commitment to growing leaders – from corporate business leaders to promising teachers, from parent leaders to youth educators. We are proud that in 2012, of nearly 90 full and part-time staff, 1 out of every 5 people employed at BCNC were former participants themselves who have chosen to work as professional educators, advocates, counselors, and leaders. Some began their journey with BCNC as children and youth, others as adults learning English, or as parents seeking support and knowledge. But no matter what their start was with BCNC, we are grateful that they chose to direct their strength and energies to serving the community. In this year’s annual report, you will learn the inspirational stories of three women who are each giving back to the community and to BCNC in their own unique way. You will read about Amy Li, who struggled to learn back as a peer leader and speaking at the White House as part of BCNC’s Chinese Immigrant Student Leadership (ChISL) program. There is also Melody Wan, whose journey with BCNC began as a toddler learning Chinese and English at our Acorn Center for Early Education and Care. Now completing her Master’s degree in Music Therapy at Lesley University, she has returned to give back to BCNC and the community as an intern in our Family Services program. Melody is working with children in the same program she attended as a child herself! Last but not least is the inspirational story of about Susan Fung – a long-time activist, educator and advocate for the Asian American community in Boston. Susan has been an eyewitness to the growth and development of BCNC. Her deep and continued involvement with education has inspired her to support the growth of BCNC through the Fung Family Endowment Fund. We thank you – our BCNC family of friends – for making this growth possible and for your support in improving the community and our participants’ access to a better future. We invite you to read about their contributions, and know that you too will be inspired, just as we are! Sincerely, Selina Chow (left) Elaine Ng (right) Board President Executive Director 2012 BCNC Annual Report | 7 FROM CHINA TO THE WHITE HOUSE CHINESE STUDENTS “NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THEIR NEW COUNTRY. In 2008, 14 year-old Amy Li was reluctant” to leave her home in Guangzhou, China. While her parents wanted better educational opportunities for her, Amy was not looking forward to leaving her hometown. “I did not want to come to Boston. I had friends in China. I was very familiar with that place.” When Amy arrived in the United States, she lived with her aunt in South Boston. “I would always sit in my aunt’s car, driving from place to place.” She was frightened; to Amy, Boston was very big and didn’t know what to say, he came over and said ‘Hi’ very foreign. Within 24 hours of arriving in Boston, and started making jokes,” she happily recollects. “He however, her aunt whisked her off to BCNC’s Youth always came with a big smile.” Center (YC). Her aunt had heard about BCNC from Cultural gaps were quickly bridged friends in Chinatown and from her cousin who had between herself and other BCNC youth and staff. attended BCNC as well. Although celebrity names like Lady Gaga and TV At the YC, Amy started attending English shows like Glee buzzed around like UFOs, she found the youth at the YC kind and inviting. “You would join their topics of conversation and they would tell you sidelines. “I’m a quiet person. I just sat there.” Yet, ‘This is a very good show, you need to watch it.’” Amy began to join different activities and staff member, Arthur. “When I was just sitting and was a regular presence at YC. Before long, she 8 | www.bcnc.net volunteered and became a member of the teen staff ChISL received national attention when its video, My Voice – Their Stories won the White House’s “What’s Your Story” Video Challenge. Amy, “The staff will encourage you when you are upset, along with a group of fellow students, teachers, and - BCNC staff members were invited to participate in a panel discussion in the nation’s capital. During keep on encouraging you.” This self-described wall- the event, the White House recognized ChISL at the Champions of Change awards ceremony. to Charlestown High School, where she joined the “I felt so nervous because I’ve never been inaugural Chinese Immigrant Student Leadership on stage with a lot of people there. But, at the White (ChISL) group. ChISL was formed in partnership with House, I felt that I could do it.” “I improved a lot since BCNC to help allay bullying at Charlestown High, by working to empower Chinese immigrant students. person who gets very nervous on stage and As Amy put it, “Immigrants need to have leadership cannot talk. But this year having been a panelist with roles. Chinese students need to be involved in what another BCNC staff member, Chu Huang, I answered is happening in their new country.” questions in front of a whole audience.” 2012 BCNC Annual Report | 9 GROWING UP AND COMING BACK TO SERVE Melody Wan came to BCNC’s Acorn Center for Early Education and Care in September 2011 BCNC PROVIDES A not for an education, but to educate. A Master’s “SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY student in music therapy at Lesley University, she THAT THEY CANT FIND approached BCNC for an internship with the Family ANYWHERE ELSE. an unexpected odyssey home. As she was introduced to teachers at Acorn, she was surprised that her former teachers remembered her. Mrs. Mui ” stopped her and said “I had you in my class!” She had a vague recollection of playing at a center beneath her grandmother’s apartment in Tai Tung Village in Chinatown. Her mother had showed her pictures of her parading around a playground outside a tiny red brick building. She had always wondered what had happened to the 10 | www.bcnc.net playground that she had loved so much.