To kick off the 10-course banquet, Rev. Jacob Fung, Pastor Emeritus of Boston Chinese Evangelical Church, offered a prayer for the agency and Chinatown. Two newly hired full-time program directors—Adult Basic Education Director Anna Fan and Director of Children and Families Dr. Linda Liang—were then introduced to dinner guests by James Lam, President of the Board of Directors. The remarks by Anna and Linda centered on the role of ACCESS as a bridge builder within the family and within the community.

The owners of the restaurant—Mr. and Mrs. David Wong—presented a $2,000 check to Mei Kee Wong, Executive Director. As a small token of appreciation for the owners' generosity and long-time commitment to the Chinese community, Bak Fun Wong presented them with a crystal persimmon.

The fundraising event raised a total of $24,000, which will be used to support the agency's various programs for children and adults. Special thanks go to those who attended the banquet and those who could not attend but made donations. We are also grateful to the many businesses and individuals for their donation of auction or raffle items. We could not have done it without you!

Chinese version

See more photos from the banquet.]]> http://www.chinatownaccess.org/20th-anniversary-banquet/feed/ 0 http://www.chinatownaccess.org/recruiting-esol-teachers/ http://www.chinatownaccess.org/recruiting-esol-teachers/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 20:56:19 +0000 asiu http://www.chinatownaccess.org/?p=395

LINDA LIANG began as Children and Family Life Director on March 6. ANNA FAN, a long-time ACCESS volunteer, started as Adult Basic Education Director on April 23.

Linda Liang immigrated to the US from Taiwan at 6 years of age and is proficient in Mandarin Chinese. In the last ten years, she completed a B.S. at MIT in Environmental Engineering Science, and an M.S., and Ph.D. at Harvard. Between undergraduate and graduate school, she served as a Corps Member for City Year Boston. During that experience she taught and tutored at Josiah Quincy Upper School and the Red Oak afterschool program.

Linda has a passion for working with kids, especially in developing after school programs. While in College and graduate school, she created after school programs for elementary school students in environmental awareness, science education, multicultural awareness, and public service, in addition to volunteering in numerous tutoring programs.

She is active at the Greater Boston Vineyard Church in Cambridge, MA.

ANNA FAN is well known to ACCESS. She has served on the Board, the Networking Committee and as Tutor Volunteer Coordinator.

She has 10 years experience at Boston Chinese Neighborhood Center, where she taught ESL at all levels, oversaw various Adult Education Programs and, most recently was Coordinator of volunteer and peer tutors. In that role, she recruited and trained volunteers and developed training curriculum.

As a long-time Chinatown resident, Anna knows Boston's Chinatown community well and is committed to fostering community cohesion and balancing community goals with individual focus. She speaks Cantonese and is learning Mandarin.

Anna is active at Boston Chinese Evangelical Church where she has served as Board Member, on Expansion and Missions Committees, and as a Discipleship Leader.

She received her BS from Penn State University and an M.A. in TESOL/Intercultural Studies from Columbia Biblical Seminary.]]> http://www.chinatownaccess.org/meet-the-new-program-directors/feed/ 0 http://www.chinatownaccess.org/access-20th-anniversary-dinner-and-silent-auction/ http://www.chinatownaccess.org/access-20th-anniversary-dinner-and-silent-auction/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:54:30 +0000 asiu http://www.chinatownaccess.org/?p=356 Date:
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Time:
5:00 PM

Location:
Empire Garden Restaurant
690 Washington St
Boston, MA 02111

Cost:
$60 per person or
$600 for a table of 10
(Banquet includes ten-course dinner and beverages.)

Donation:
Seat price includes $30 tax-deductible gift

You can buy tickets online:

If you have any questions, please email dinner2012@chinatownaccess.org

Downloads:
Banquet Poster
Banquet RSVP card (English)
Banquet RSVP card (Chinese)]]> http://www.chinatownaccess.org/access-20th-anniversary-dinner-and-silent-auction/feed/ 0 http://www.chinatownaccess.org/employment-and-volunteer-opportunities/ http://www.chinatownaccess.org/employment-and-volunteer-opportunities/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:55:15 +0000 asiu http://www.chinatownaccess.org/?p=372 Paid Summer Teaching Opportunity

Are you interested in CHINA…CHILDREN…and CHRIST?????
Would you like a cross-cultural summer teaching/missions experience without leaving the country?

ACCESS Summer 2012 Enrichment Program General Information
Program Dates: July 2 – August 10
Mandatory All-Staff (including volunteers)

Training Dates:
Monday, June 25, 10:30 – 4:00
Tuesday, June 26, 10:30 – 5:30

We have positions at two levels: K-2nd grade and 3rd-5th grade for each of the following four teams:

ACADEMIC TEAM
Monday-Wednesday
9:00am-1:15pm
Staff are needed to teach lesson plans to strengthen and maintain students skills in both Math and language through a variety of fun and interactive activities. They are NOT teaching new skills.

ENRICHMENT TEAM
Monday-Wednesday
1:15-5:30pm
Staff are needed to teach lesson plans that provide students with a variety of fun learning experiences and opportunities that are primarily hands on and interactive, i.e.:
Arts& Crafts, Drama, Cooking, Team Building, Cooperative Games, Science, etc.

FIELD TRIP TEAM
Thursday
9:00am-5:30 pm
See Boston and get paid to do it!
George’s Island, Aquarium, Sprinklers, Zoo, Bowling, Children’s Museum, etc.

FUN & FITNESS TEAM
Friday
9:00am-5:30pm

Activities emphasize being “fit” physically & spiritually.
Field Sports, Gym, Pool and our formal Bible lessons are all part of this day’s activities.

Staff may apply for as many teams as they are interested in doing, but being hired to work on a team means they MUST work the ENTIRE time that team meets, (July 2-August 10). As much as possible, we ask the same commitment from all our VOLUNTEERS.

Next Steps:

If you are interested, need more information or have any questions, please read the attached pdf - Next Steps, and email us at ep@chinatownaccess.org or call us at (617) 426-1070.

Volunteering Opportunity

Homework and Activity Assistants
Come volunteer at least one hour a week during after school program hours. Supervision will be provided. During the summer program, assistants are needed in the academic, enrichment and field trip teams.

If you are interested, need more information or have any questions, please email us at ep@chinatownaccess.org or call us at (617) 426-1070.

The mission of The Lenny Zakim Fund is to identify, listen to, support, and connect grassroots community organizations and programs operating “below the radar screen” of many large charitable groups and government grants. The Lenny Zakim Fund provides assistance to those who demonstrate the will and potential to make a difference but lack the necessary resources.

• 14 students who took our 3-week Winter Intensive Pronunciation Class.
• 65 students enrolled in four regular spring classes: levels 1-1, 2, 3 and 4.
• a $10,000 award by the Lenny Zakim Fund for ESOL scholarships from 3/1/ - 12/31/2012.
• Tiffany Chan who is our new ESOL volunteer in testing and data entry

• our search for a new, full-time Adult Basic Education Director.
• an additional 3 students to register for level 1-0 so that we can begin that class.
• a positive response to our proposal to Clipper Ship Foundation for $10,000 for ESOL scholarship support. The award announcement will be on April 30.
• our planning for a combined Easter celebration on 4/5/2012.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (EP)

• a successful “Happy Birthday, Jesus” party for children in December.
• faithful teachers (including an experienced returning 5th grade teacher) and 9 weekly volunteers for 28 children.

• our search for a new, full-time Director of Children and Families.
• fun and safety during our full-day programs during February (2/21-24) and April (4/16-20) vacation weeks.
• good ideas for sharing the story of Good Friday and Easter.

ADMINISTRATION & VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

• faithful staff and volunteers who serve willingly, many long-term.

COMPUTER LITERACY (CL) CLASSES

• 2 volunteers willing to teach 1.5 hours a week on Saturdays.

• student recruitment and teaching of 2 Saturday classes 2/25 - 3/17.

MASS REHAB SHIP (STATEWIDE HEAD INJURY PROGRAM)

• the successful Chinese New Year party in January.

• activities in the following months.
• the application for a renewed contract.

FAMILY LIFE

• a faithful volunteer leading parenting discussions and offering individual consultations.

• the EP parents who attended our Christmas and Chinese New Year parties, that the gospel tracts distributed will bear fruit.
• our two remaining parent discussion meetings in March and May.

ANNUAL BANQUET: MAY 5, 2012 AT EMPIRE GARDEN

• His blessing during 20 years of service in Chinatown. Pray for…
• the planning and program of the 20th Anniversary Banquet.
• an event coordinator and an auction coordinator.
• volunteers to assist the planning committee for this special celebration.
• attendance of many long-time supporters as well as new people to share in our work in Chinatown.

BOARD & COMMITTEES

• President Jamson Lam, Clerk Diane Blake, Treasurer Kin Chung Lam, board members Joseph Cheung and Executive Director Mei Kee Wong.

• wisdom for the Search Committee as they interview candidates for the three director positions.
• ideas in raising funds to meet our anticipated $85K cash deficit (with depreciation cost taken out) in 2012.

American Chinese Christian Educational and Social Services, Inc. (ACCESS) is a non-profit, non-denominational, faith-based outreach community service agency created to serve Chinese families in and around Boston with a holistic Christian approach. (our mission)

Adult Basic Education Director
The Adult Basic Education (ABE) director is a full-time position, providing leadership for program development, daily operations, supervision of several part-time staff members, and fundraising for all ABE programming, ensuring a high-quality education for students and a positive work environment for staff and volunteers. This is a newly created position and ACCESS seeks a mature leader who fully supports our mission and core values, with ABE experience and an entrepreneurial spirit to help expand the agency’s established adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program and further develop the nascent adult Computer Literacy (CL) program. Salary and benefits commensurate with education and experience. A detailed job description is available upon an e-mail request to search@chinatownaccess.org

Interested applicants should submit online a letter of application, resume, and contact information for 3 references to search@chinatownaccess.org. Educational transcripts may be sent by regular mail to

ACCESS Search Committee
244 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA 02111

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Director of Children and Families
The Director of Children and Families (C & F) is a full-time position providing leadership for program development, daily operations, supervision of several part-time staff members, fundraising for all C & F programming, ensuring a high quality education for students, support for their families, and a positive work environment for staff and volunteers. This is a newly created position and ACCESS seeks a mature leader who fully supports our mission and core values, with children and family life education experience and an entrepreneurial spirit to help expand the agency’s established Enrichment Program (EP) for children K2-5 and further develop its nascent family life ministry. Salary and benefits commensurate with education and experience. A detailed job description is available upon an e-mail request to search@chinatownaccess.org

Interested applicants should submit online a letter of application, resume, and contact information for 3 references to search@chinatownaccess.org. Educational transcripts may be sent by regular mail to

ACCESS Search Committee
244 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA 02111

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Executive Director (ED) is the chief executive officer of ACCESS, Inc. ACCESS seeks a mature leader who fully supports our mission and core values, and able to provide overall leadership for the strategic direction and daily operations, ensuring high-quality education and social services for students and their families and a positive work environment for staff and volunteers. Responsibilities include program planning and development, fundraising, program management, communication with supporters and networking with outside organizations, and staff development. The ED supervises the Adult Basic Education Director, the Director of Children & Families, and the office manager. This is a full-time position. Salary and benefits commensurate with education and experience. A detailed job description is available upon an e-mail request to search@chinatownaccess.org

Interested applicants should submit online a letter of application, resume and contact information for 3 references to search@chinatownaccess.org. Educational transcripts may be sent by regular mail to

ACCESS Search Committee
244 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA 02111

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. ]]> http://www.chinatownaccess.org/positions-open-at-access/feed/ 0 http://www.chinatownaccess.org/2011-annual-report/ http://www.chinatownaccess.org/2011-annual-report/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 06:01:13 +0000 asiu http://www.chinatownaccess.org/?p=333 The bilingual (English and Chinese) annual report is now available as a PDF for download

ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL)

• both experienced and new teachers for 4 classes.
• 73 students in 4 morning classes: levels 1-0, 1-1, 2, and 3.
• The Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF) will be releasing our 2010-2011 $5,000 challenge fund.

• our search for a new, full-time Adult Basic Education Director.
• the reapplication grant to Lenny Zakim Fund (LZF) for 2011-2012 and the site visit, that we will be accepted for continued funding.
• new funding to provide scholarships for students who need them.

ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (EP)

• a fun and safe summer program, with participations in the VBS of Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC) and Summerbridge at Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston (CBCGB).
• faithful teachers (including a new 5th grade teacher) and volunteers for the after-school program with enrollment of 30 students.

• our search for a new, full-time Director of Children and Families.

COMPUTER LITERACY (CL) CLASSES

• the completion of computer lab renovations and new ACL curriculum.
• the use of an IBM curriculum and earphones donated mainly by ENB (English for New Bostonians).
• the donation by our Implementation Consultant of his fees to replace staff computers.

• increased enrollment for ACL (Adult Computer Literacy) classes.

MASS REHAB SHIP (STATEWIDE HEAD INJURY PROGRAM)

• approval of our continued contract for next year (July 2011 to June 2012).
• good turnout for the outlet shopping trip in September.

• the fall trips: a seafood lunch and a foliage trip with a buffet lunch.

FAMILY LIFE

• the continued commitment of our volunteer Social Worker.

• our parent discussion meetings.

ADMINISTRATION & VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

• the smooth transition between our volunteer accountants Dorcas Sung and Floris Luk, the switch to a new computer accounting program, and volunteer bookkeepers

• the Executive Director as she has picked up temporary supervision of EP and ESOL, since both part–time directors left for other positions.
• the Administrative Assistant as she overseas site management and EP fee calculation.

ANNUAL BANQUET: SPRING 2012

• His blessing during 20 years of service in Chinatown.

• a good date set for our 20th anniversary celebration in April 2012.
• volunteers to serve on a planning committee for this special celebration.

BOARD & COMMITTEES

• the life and example of founder and volunteer Chik Ching Law who went to be with her Lord on September 19, 2011.
• the willingness of board members and volunteers to serve as Treasurer and Finance Committee chair after our previous Treasurer left Boston for graduate school; and volunteers from founding board serving on the Search Committee
• additional donations from two memorial funds.

• new Board and Committee members willing to serve in 2012.
• funding still needed for 2011.