1989

December:

Chinese Missions ‘89: Christians from Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC) have a vision to minister to immigrant working-class people in Boston’s Chinatown

1990

January:

Prayer and Planning Group later becomes founders: Wilfred & Jane Chan, Wai Ching Cheung, Jamson & Wanda Lam, Chik Ching Law, Denise Wong and Bak Fun & Mei Kee Wong

April:

Visit Christian Herald Crusades, New York City; Chinese Christian Church & Center, Philadelphia and Living Water Counseling Center, Toronto

September:

Articulate agency focus: a holistic Christian approach that strives to bridge generation and culture gaps within families

December:

1) First Board of Directors: Wilfred Chan, Jamson Lam, Chik Ching Law, Sau-Fong Siu, Denise Wong, Bak Fun and Mei Kee Wong

2) Mei Kee Wong appointed first Executive Director

1991

Incorporates as “The Bridge: Chinese American Christian Community Services, Inc.”

April:

First Newsletter out. All 13 Chinese churches and different Bible study groups in Massachusetts distribute our newsletter

June:

Name change (due to existing groups having similar names):

American Chinese Christian Educational & Social Services, Inc. (ACCESS)

December:

1) First Vision Sharing at Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC), the beginning of a long-term partnership. First slide show: “Families under Pressure: A Christian Response”

2) Begin renovations at Tai Tung Village (220 Harrison Avenue) using volunteers

1992

1) 2/10: First program start: Adult English as a Second Language (AESL) classes taught by multiracial staff

2) 2/22: ACCESS Dedication

3) First Open Prayer Meeting

July-August:

1) First Summer Enrichment Program for children K2 to 5th grade

2) Tufts University Medical School allows our Adult ESL classes to be held in their classrooms, the beginning of a long-term partnership

August:

August Moon Festival Booth

October-November:

Citizenship Class: one time

1993

First Board Retreat

March-April:

Weekly discussion group for seekers: Life Search

August:

First Vacation Bible School, co-sponsored with Boston Chinese Evangelical Church

September:

1) After School Enrichment Program (ASEP) starts

2) Starts serving as Mental Health Consult for ABCD Chinese Church Head Start

1994

Information, Referral & Interpretation Service (IRIS) starts

April:

First one-day annual training conference: “Competent Helping”, co-sponsored with Ambassador For Christ

October:

First Mennonite Volunteer: Beginning of a meaningful partnership

1995

First annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program

September:

Chinese Culture Corner (CCC) for children K2 to 5th grade starts

October:

Beginning of student-adult mentoring program

1996

First non-Chinese-speaking board member

March:

1) First paid Enrichment Program (EP) Coordinator hired

2) First grant received

March-June:

First High School Tutoring: SAT Preparation course run by the MIT Hong Kong Students’ Bible Study volunteers

September:

First Adult English as a Second Language (AESL) Coordinator hired

1997

First Caucasian board member

June-August:

Summer Enrichment Program: Intervarsity Boston Urban Plunge students volunteer for the entire summer, the beginning of a long-term partnership

September:

1) Expansion of the Enrichment Program into two classes 42 slots, borrowing the Outreach Center of Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC)

2) First Women’s Tea Time monthly meeting

Women’s Tea Time collaborates with the Community English as a Second Language program of Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC)

June:

Mennonite Volunteers: End of Volunteer Services; some former Mennonite volunteers continue their involvement with ACCESS

July-August:

1) Renovation of Tai Tung space starts, over 80% funded by grants

2) Due to the renovation, borrow classrooms from Josiah Quincy Elementary School, administered by Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC, known as the Quincy School Community Council at the time) for the Summer Enrichment Program

September:

School-age Child Care Contract from Office for Child Care Service (OCCS) starts

September 98 to May 99:

Due to the renovation, borrow classrooms from Tufts Medical School for the Adult ESL Program, and from Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC) for both the After School Enrichment Program and administration

1999

8/8 Rededication of space after renovation

August-December:

TOEFL tutoring run by MIT Hong Kong Students’ Bible Study volunteers

September:

1) Start of Computer Literacy Curriculum in our highest level of our Adult ESL class

2) Women’s Tea Time becomes Life Chat to formally include men in our discussions

1) Compilation of the first directory of Massachusetts Chinese-speaking and/or bicultural mental health providers

2) Start of the Parent Liaison position in our Enrichment Program

September:

Restaurant Ministry Prayer Group: Starts praying and planning for outreach to restaurant workers and blue-collar people

Seeker’s Group: First Bimonthly seekers’ group for blue-collar population starts

October-December:

Mothers’ Group: First quarter of Mother’s Group weekly meetings

2002

1) 10th Anniversary Celebration: First fund raising event, ACCESS first CD produced, “A Glimpse of God’s Hand in Boston’s Chinatown”

2) First overnight board retreat

September-November:

China Pearl English as a Second Language pilot classes

2003

ACCESS Website up on the Internet

September-December:

Mothers’ English as a Second Language pilot classes

2004

Website used for information and recruitment

April:

Officially organized Adult English as a Second Language Tutoring Program started by Restaurant Ministry Prayer Group

May:

Chinese Library collection (books, audio, and video tapes on parenting, pre-evangelistic and evangelistic material) starts.

First College Scholar’s Award given

September:

Strategic Planning Committee formed.

Dedication of new site at 244 Harrison Ave

2007

1) Family Life Education library opens to parents and other clients

2) Family Life Consultation starts

March-May:

Series of parenting workshops in collaboration with Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center

August

Summer Bridge EP Program offered in collaboration with Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston, Lexington

Adult Computer Literacy Class starts

November

Celebration of 15th anniversary

2008

November:

Vision sharing/fund-raising dinner annualized

2009

January to June:

First Co-op Intern