Please join us on Saturday May 14, 2011 5:00 pm at Empire Garden, 690 Washington Street, Boston for dinner, silent auction, thanksgiving and sharing!

The bilingual (English and Chinese) annual report is now available as a PDF for download

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

• Andy Chen’s service to beginning students.
• our new teacher, Dave Gebo.

• healing and peace for Andy Chen, ESOL staff member recovering from a heart procedure.
• successful site visits from English for New Bostonians (Nov. 10) and the Lenny Zakim Fund (Nov. 16).

Enrichment Program (EP)

• an amazingly gifted and faithful group of volunteers.

• additional volunteers especially to help with academics, in light of heavy student homework loads this year.
• the effectiveness of our Bible Program—that students will respond to the encouragement to read the Bible and that the Spirit will speak to them in the process.
• parents who come to the parent-teacher conferences—that God’s heart will be visible through staff comments.
• our new students, especially those with very limited English.
• the honoring of God at our annual "Taste of Thanksgiving" party on November 24.
• the success of a grant due November 19 which would support several sliding fee slots.

Computer Literacy Classes

• volunteers to teach the Adult Computer classes so the program can be resumed soon.

Mass Rehab SHIP (Statewide Head Injury Program)

• 7 people who went to our pear-picking trip in September, and 10 who joined a foliage trip in October.

• a new worker next spring.

Family Life

• the good attendance at the recent EP parents' discussion group.

• family life to be strengthened as a result of ideas generated from the discussion.
• strength and wisdom for single parents in the EP program, especially for one divorced mother whose daughter seems to be full of resentment and hardly ever speaks at home.

Administration & Volunteer Support

• faithful staff and volunteers who work hard each week to run ACCESS programs.

Board & Committees

• the support of consultants through the Boston Capacity Tank as the board and staff conduct strategic planning over the next year.

• the work of the Personnel Committee as we try to establish positions that will allow people to commit to full-time ministry at ACCESS and explore different models for sustainable funding of these positions.
• new community members to commit to serving ACCESS on the board and committees.
• the $22.5K projected annual deficit for 2010.

From the beginning, ACCESS has built its program on a foundation of prayer and listening to God’s direction. Join us at our site in Chinatown for the next quarterly prayer meeting on Saturday, June 12, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM as we seek God’s guidance in being God’s extended hands in Chinatown. Whether you can come pray with us on site or will pray at home, please bring to the Lord the following:

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Thank God for…

• 7 classes running in the summer session begun on 5/24/10.
• the positive impression given the executive director of Lenny Zakim Fund on April 29 visit.

Pray for…

• the 110 students in the summer session.
• encouragement for our teachers, especially the two new teachers.
• the refunding proposal submitted to English for New Bostonians.

Enrichment Program (EP)

Thank God for…

• a safe and fun April vacation week.
• increased interest in the Summer Enrichment Program—54 paid partial or full summer fees.

Pray for…

• God’s provision in finding summer staff.
• a strong finish to our 2009-10 EP program, ending June 25.
• a strong spiritual and relational send-off for our nine 5th grade students as they age out of the program this year.
• the registration process for 2010-11 After School EP this month.

Computer Literacy Classes

Pray for…

• more volunteers to teach the Adult Computer classes.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Thank God for…

• the volunteers who generously provided this service to many community members.

Mass Rehab SHIP (Statewide Head Injury Program)

Thank God for…

• a successful meal at a French restaurant on May 8.

Pray for…

• Rockport trip planned for June 19.
• submission of refunding proposal for 2011 on June 3.

Family Life

Thank God for…

• a good EP parents’ meeting on April 16. Attendees included fathers and mothers of current EP students as well as mothers of 3 former EP students.

Pray for…

• the meeting of needs of people who have been seeing our volunteer family service worker who will be unavailable during the summer.

Administration & Volunteer Support

Thank God and continue to Pray for…

• faithful staff and volunteers who work hard each week to run ACCESS programs.

Board & Committees

Thank God for…

• inspiring testimonies from Lily Chow (former Mothers’ Group participant) and Anna Fan (former ACCESS board member, staff, and volunteer) given at the ACCESS banquet on April 10.
• financial support raised at the banquet—$35,675.

Pray for…

• the efficient work of staff, volunteers, and board members on EP and Personnel Committees this summer, working with Boston Capacity Tank consultants on developing a logic model for EP program evaluation and reviewing ACCESS’ overall programmatic structure.
• the helpful consultant support ACCESS is receiving through our Boston Capacity Tank grant.
• recruitment of new people to serve on the Board and committees.
• $32.3K projected annual deficit for 2010.