AACA Celebrate the Courage of Immigrants at 2011
Transcription
AACA Celebrate the Courage of Immigrants at 2011
The only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England 全紐英倫區唯一的中英雙語雙週報 2011年6月24日~ 7月7日 Vol. XXXX June 24 - July 7, 2011 AACA Celebrate the Courage of Immigrants at 2011 Gala 華美福利會 2011年籌款晚會 By Cody Yiu June 9 – Themed “Their Courage to Be New,” The Asian American Civic Association (AACA) in its 2011 Gala celebrated the courage of new immigrants, who exemplify spirit and resilience. Held at the historic Boston Park Plaza Hotel, the benefit successfully raised over $180,000 in one evening through corporate sponsorships, raffle ticket sales and silent auctions. AACA, publisher of the Sampan, was founded in 1967 as the Chinese American Civic Association (CACA). As its clientele expanded beyond just Chinese immigrants, in 1992, the organization was renamed the Asian American Civic Association to better reflect its wider role in supporting immigrants and refugees from across Asia. Today, AACA serves a global clientele, which includes immigrants and refugees from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The mission of AACA is to provide education, occupational training and social services to limited English-speaking and economically disadvantaged people to enable them to realize lasting economic self-sufficiency. (Back row, from left) AACA student ambassadors: Juan Soto, Noman Ali, Minnie Huang and Faith Xu. (Front) AACA COO Sunny Schwartz. (Photo by Cody Yiu) Dan Andelman, host of the popular TV program, Phantom Gourmet and Grace Kelly, a gifted jazz musician, served as emcees. The evening’s program began with ethnic performances presented by Dance Philippines Performing Arts, Showa Institute (Japanese dance), Ethereal Traditional Dance Group (Vietnamese dance) and Wah Lum Kung Fu Athletic Association (Chinese martial arts). The gala would not have been made possible without the generous support from corporate and individuals supporters. “At State Street, we believe that the best way to positively impact our com- 【本報訊】六月九日,華美福利會在歷 史悠久的波士頓花園酒店舉辦了以“移民 的勇氣”為題的2011年度籌款晚會。晚會 上,賓主雙方強調並肯定了新到移民在這 片陌生天地打拼的毅力和勇氣。此次籌款 晚會上,華美通過捐款、獎券銷售及拍賣 等成功獲得18萬餘元資金。 身為《舢舨》報刊出版人的華美福利 會於1967年以“華裔美國人福利會”之名 成立。幾十年的發展使得華美的服務物件 不再限於華裔移民。1992年,該福利會更 名為“華美福利會”。如今的華美頗有世 界性角色,除亞洲移民外,福利會還向來 自非洲、歐洲和中東的移民及難民等提供 各項服務。華美福利會的宗旨是向英語水 準有限、經濟尚不獨力的移民提供語言和 職業培訓,並向這些人提供後勤服務,其 目的是最終幫助這些人實現自主、獨立的 生活。 (詳文請見反面中文第一版) CONTINUED PAGE 7 BCEC Celebrates 50 Years of Hundreds Turn Up for Dragon Good News Boat Races on the Charles BCEC celebrates 50th anniversary with outdoor tri-lingual worship service. (Photo by Samuel Tsoi) By Samuel Tsoi Sampan Correspondent Giant tents were put up on a sunny Father’s Day for the largest outdoor worship service in Chinatown. Over 1500 congregants of the Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC) celebrated its fiftieth anniversary on the basketball courts adjacent to the Quincy Upper School. Adult and children choirs, a string ensemble and a band filled praise music through the balloon-lined block. “We look forward for another half century of God’s faithfulness,” Pastor Thomas Lee rejoiced. Lee, who shares the same birth year as the church, grew up as an English-speak- ing second generation young adult, now leads the English ministries in the Newton Campus. “We have seen many challenges and witnessed tremendous blessings since our humble beginnings,” Lee added. Led by the late Pastor James Tan, the church was founded in 1961 by 18 individuals who saw the need for a church to spread the minister to the Chinese in the Boston area. The church has since been a cornerstone in many ways, growing through the decades – reflecting the demographics, evolution and makeup of the Asian American community in New England and enduring as a constant spiritual and relational presence. BCEC started in homes and rented spaces such as the original Pine Street Inn. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 The Harvard Veritas dragon boat team just before they head off onto the Charles River for a race. (Photo by Kane Carpenter) By Kane Carpenter Sampan Correspondent On a day marred by cloudy, chilly weather, hundreds of spectators crowded the banks of the Charles River to catch a glimpse of the performances, taste some of the food, and cheer for their favorite teams in the dragon boat races on Sunday, June 12. Read articles & view e-paper @ www.sampan.org CONTINUED PAGE 2 SAMPAN Page 2 June 24, 2011 Comic SAMPAN A Publication of the AACA www.sampan.org 87 Tyler Street Boston, MA 02111 Tel: (617) 426-9492 Fax: (617) 482-2316 Editor: Cody Yiu editor@sampan.org English Section: Contributors: Cody Yiu Samuel Tsoi Lillian Chan Kane Carpenter Cliff Wong Diana Li Michael Tow Anna Ing Announcements & Event Listings CHINATOWN Chinatown Main Street Festival When: Saturday, June 26, 2011 Where: Chinatown (Rose Kennedy Greenway Park, Hudson, Tyler, Harrison and Beach Streets) Time: 8 am – 6pm Open to the public Join us for a family friendly cultural festival with martial arts, performances, Asian folk dancing, fashion show, vendors, and restaurants. Event is organized by Chinatown Main Street, for more information visit www. chinatownmainstreet.org. Community Conversation with Dr. Chau Trinh-Shevrin Dr. Chau Trinh-Shevrin, a consultant from NYU, will be in Chinatown on Tuesday, June 28th, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. Please join us for lunch and conversation (12:00-2:00 PM) with some of our community partners. The meeting will take place at 145 Harrison Avenue, Sackler 114W. We ask that those who plan to attend to RSVP to edawson@tuftsmedicalcenter.org. Chau Trinh-Shevrin, DrPH is the Director and one of the original founders of the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health. Dr. Trinh-Shevrin is also the Director of the NYU-Health and Hospitals Corporation Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Office of Community Engagement, a co-PI of the NYU Health Promotion and Prevention Research Center, and Assistant Professor of Research at the NYU School of Medicine. AARW Community Building Series: Ball-Up Sundays Sunday, June 26, 2011 2:00-4:00pm Pagoda Park (Kneeland St. & Southeast Expressway) Boston Chinatown Ball-Up Sunday takes place every other Sunday! Whether you are a beginner who doesn't know basketball rules or someone who is looking to get in shape or someone who wants to play competitively, Ball-Up with AARW on Sundays! No RSVP required, just show up! Required are shorts, water and self. In case it rains, the group will meet on Sunday, July 10th. Get ready to sweat and have some FUN! For info, contact: jenny@aarw. org. CAMPUS UMass Boston, an Asian American Serving Institution (AANAPISI) A newly created project at the University of Massachusetts Boston, named Asian American Student Success Program, seeks to integrate the educational, cultural, and linguistic expertise of faculty, staff, students, families, and local communities to build, assess, and sustain an ongoing holistic program that effectively supports the college access and persistence of Asian American students. The two specific goals of the project at UMB are: 1) To increase college access for Asian Americans who are low in income or first generation college-goers and for traditionally underrepresented Asian American ethnic populations, and 2) To increase Asian American retention, persistence, course completion, and graduation rates. This exciting project, funded by an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, is committed to addressing the urgent needs of under-served, low-income and traditionally underrepresented Asian American students. For more information, contact: Dr. Patricia Neilson: 617-287-3823 or patricia.neilson@umb.edu. Impact Day at AACA Copyeditor: Ada Chan Production: Joanna Zhou Cody Yiu Chinese Section: Contributors: Jianghe Niu Yan Zhong Yuanli Zhu Translators: Gong Quan Chen Keke Xu Marketing and Advertising: Advertising & Marketing Manager: Joanna Zhou ads@sampan.org SAMPAN is New England’s only biweekly bilingual EnglishChinese newspaper. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan. Founded in 1972, Sampan is published by the Asian American Civic Association. Sampan is distributed free in Chinatown and the Greater Boston area. All donations to the publication are tax deductible. Subscription: $60/year (1st class mail); $30/ year (3rd class mail). The reproduction, in whole or in part, of any information contained herein and prior is forbidden without the express written persmission of the publisher. SAMPAN is a publication of the Asian American Civic Association 87 Tyler Street, 5th Boston, MA 02111 Telephone: (617) 426-9492 Fax: (617)482-2316 DRAGON BOAT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A volunteer conducted a mock interview with an AACA student. (Photo by Cody Yiu) By Cody Yiu On the early morning on June 10th, 17 volunteers from Deloitte & Touche LLP arrived at the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) in Chinatown. Their mission was to put on a blue shirt and dedicate their whole day to community service. All of them got to be painters for one day, white-washing AACA’s classrooms. Having consultants and accounts listed as their day jobs, these Deloitte & Touche employees were surprisingly hands-on when it came to handling those paint brushes and rollers. Several volunteers also conducted mock interviews with students from AACA’s office skills training program, the facilities maintenance job training program, and employment center. “The whole firm comes together for one day every June to be actively engaged in community service. This year, our time at AACA has been very interesting as we spent time conducting mock interviews and painting classrooms. We look forward to coming back to AACA again next year!” Madhur Dabeeru, Senior Consultant of Deloitte & Touche, said, More than fifty teams representing a host of different organizations and institutions, including State Street, Bank of America, and Harvard University, spent much of Saturday and Sunday racing one another, in a bid to stake their claim to a place on the starting block for Sunday evening’s final. Each team, consisting of 16 paddlers, 1 drummer and 1 steersperson, raced on a 500-meter stretch of the Charles, where two orange buoys marked the finish line. According to bostondragonboat.org, “The Boston Dragon Boat Festival takes place annually on the banks of the Charles River in Boston and Cambridge. Starting in 1979, Boston Dragon Boat Festival, the first and oldest of such festival in North America, has grown from a small neighbor- hood event, commemorating the death in 200 B.C. of the beloved Chinese poet-patriot Qu Yuan, to the largest Asian-American cultural event in New England, drawing more than 20,000 participants and spectators.” Alongside the dragon boat racing spectacle was live entertainment on land, which included traditional Chinese drum performances, dragon dances, and Chinese dancing. This year’s dragon boat race champions were the Vitasoy Metro Athletics Dragons from New York, who beat out teams representing the Arizona Gila Dragons, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, State Street Golden Dragons, and EJCA Dragon Smoke. June 24, 2011 SAMPAN Page 3 CHINATOWN Gov. Deval Patrick Makes Appearance at China Pearl Taiwan’s 100th Anniversary Celebrations Held at Josiah Quincy A large group in attendance at the 100th Anniversary celebrations crowd around Frank Chin (middle) for a photograph. (Photo by Kane Carpenter) By Kane Carpenter Sampan Correspondent Gov. Deval Patrick poses for photographs with a group of children at Chinatown’s China Pearl Restaurant. (Photo by Kane Carpenter) By Kane Carpenter Sampan Correspondent Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick made an appearance in Chinatown at an event titled, “An Evening with Governor Deval Patrick” on June 20 at China Pearl Restaurant (9 Tyler Street). More than 100 people attended the gathering, where many got the opportunity to shake hands and speak briefly with the Governor. Also arranged at the event, co-chaired by Christina Chan, Francis E. Chan, Helen Chin Schlichte, Paul W. Lee, Richard P. McBrien, Eugene Welch, Leverett Wing, Chi Chi Wu, and Michelle Wu, was a buffet dinner serving Chinese food, soft drinks, beer and wine. During his address to those in at- tendance, Gov. Patrick placed an emphasis on “generational responsibility” as well as his stance on the “Secure Communities” or “S-Comm” scheme. Anna Tse, former journalist and interpreter for the evening, summed up the ambience of those in attendance at the event. “Boston is small,” Tse said. “But it is very political.” A few notable members of the Chinatown community in attendance were the Chinatown Resident’s Associations’ Henry Yee, and House of Representatives member Tackey Chan. According to the event pamphlet, Gov. Patrick is “the Commonwealth’s first African-American Governor” and he “came into office with a grassroots message of hope, community, and hard work.” BCEC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Later, it constructed the current building in 1979 and multiplied its bilingual service into separate Cantonese and English ministries. In 2003, it acquired a larger church building in Newton to accommodate two more services in Chinese and English. Currently, programs such as elderly fellowships, English classes, worship services and youth programs overflow beyond its Chinatown facilities into neighboring schools. Each Sunday, the two buildings and the rented Quincy Elementary auditorium gather believers and visitors in six worship services offered in three languages. At the anniversary, all of the congregations combined for a tri-lingual service, including a Mandarin-Cantonese sermon with simultaneous interpretation via conference call for English-listeners. “We are thankful that BCEC is a place for spiritual growth for immigrants, [foreign] students, families and the next generation – reshaping our values and worldviews… to recognize its far better to give than to receive,” prayed Pastor Daniel Chan, one of the Chinese-speaking pastors. “May God continue to use BCEC to spread the Gospel, edify believers, and serve the needy.” Senior Pastor Steven Chin serves with the eleven men and women on the pastoral staff and the many hundreds of laypeople who facilitate ministries and build relationships that impacted thousands of lives through the decades. He described the “evangelical” identity of BCEC, which means ‘proclaiming the good news’ in The Chinese Community of New England sponsored celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of China with a concert by professional and amateur performers alike, at the Josiah Quincy Elementary School on Saturday, June 11. Among the festivities, which included performances of traditional Chinese instruments such as the Erhu, Guzheng, Pipa, and Yangqin, was a singing performance from Boston City Councilor Bill Linehan. Linehan, who arrived at 1:30pm during the preceding dessert reception where a large cake was shared amongst those in attendance, appeared jovial and sang “America the Beautiful” and the Bee gee’s classic “Massachusetts” Greek. “[The Gospel] includes both bad news and good news,” Chin said. “The bad news is that we have fallen far short before God and deserve to be punished for our sin, and the good news is that Jesus Christ paid for our debts so if we believe in him we can have a restored relationship with God.” According to Chin, the area’s Chinese population is about 5% Christian, and its BCEC’s goal to share the good news to this group and be open and ready to serve to all people. The church currently comprises of individuals and families from as close as Oak Terrace apartments few yards away, to surrounding college campuses, suburbs, and even communities out of state like RI and NH. As indicated also by the outdoor service, the people and programs have outgrown the physical boundaries at BCEC. “Part of BCEC’s future development includes new facilities to accommodate growing ministries.” Chin said. In 2007, the Boston Redevelopment Authority granted BCEC tentative designation to swap its Harrison Avenue property for a rectangular lot of equal size along Washington Street (Parcel A), a portion of the grounds used for the anniversary event. Since 2009, the church received over 600 pledges from its members and alumni totaling $8.4 million over a three-year fulfillment period. One of the church’s fastest-growing parts is the Mandarin ministry, which has seen a sharp increase in members as recent to loud, karaoke-style backing tracks. The over-three-hour-long concert was opened by the Kwong Kow Chinese School’s traditional Chinese drum routine. Afterwards, Theresa Tsoi and Shangjian Yin, Mary Sit and Paul Chan sang the national anthems of the United States and the R.O.C, respectively. Frank Chin, affectionately known as Uncle Frank, chairman of the Chinese Community of New England, was honored with multiple declarations from various members of local government for his work in bi-lateral ties between the Taiwanese and American communities in New England. After an elaborate Kung Fu demonstration by the Wah Lum Kung Fu Academy, a bevy of Kuomintang (ROC) Veterans sang choral tunes to conclude the event. Chinese immigrants and students originate more from various parts of Mainland China. Many Chinese and non-Chinese members also volunteer to run outreach and service programs such as ESOL and citizenship classes, youth groups, middle-school summer camp and year-round enrichment program – many of which have limited space to meet the heavy stream of demand. The church also continues sustain short- and long-term missionaries from Africa to Asia to broaden the reach to other overseas Chinese and other people-groups, and a charity fund that supports individuals in need and underserved groups in the city and around the globe. This year BCEC members gave $18,000 toward helping AIDS victims in Africa and $27,000 toward helping earthquake victims in Japan. Through Chinatown’s immigrant heritage, the metro area’s growing and broadening Asian American communities, and recent and ongoing urban renewal processes, BCEC served as space to worship in culturally and linguistically relevant contexts, whether it is in a church building or a school, at basketball courts or a future multi-use building. It continues to strive to outreach to next generations and all social groups, and be a holistic Christian influence for many passing through Greater Boston for days, years and decades. SAMPAN Page 4 June 24, 2011 MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TRANSPORTATION BUILDING 10 PARK PLAZA BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116-3975 NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids for MBTA Contract No. S09CN10, BLUE LINE MODERNIZATION PROJECT – ORIENT HEIGHTS STATION, EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (CLASS 1, GENERAL TRANSIT CONSTRUCTION – PROJECT VALUE $27,852,649.00) will be received by the Director of Contract Administration at the Contract Administration Office, 6th Floor, Room 6720, Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, Massachusetts, 02116-3975, until two o'clock (2:00 p.m.) on July 19, 2011. Immediately thereafter, in a designated room, the Bids will be opened and read publicly. Work consists of the demolition and reconstruction of Orient Heights Station and associated Train Operations Building, including two above-grade platforms with canopies, all wayside and building systems, overhead catenary system relocation, installation of vertical transportation and site improvements. This Contract is subject to a financial assistance Contract between the MBTA and the Federal Transit Administration of U.S. Department of Transportation. FTA Participation 80 percent. Each prospective bidder proposing to bid on this project must be prequalified in accordance with the Authority's "Procedures Governing Classification and Rating of Prospective Bidders." Copies may be obtained from the Contract Administration Office at the above address. Requests for prequalification for this Project will not be accepted by the Authority after the tenth (10th) day preceding the date set for the opening of bids. Prequalified bidders may obtain from the Contract Administration Office a "Request for Bid Form" which must be properly filled out and submitted for approval. Bidding documents may be obtained from the Contract Administration Office at the address above from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., beginning on June 24, 2011, Monday through Friday, at no charge. Copies of the Bidding Documents will be available in electronic format (CD). Contract Specifications shall be available in portable data file (.pdf) format and Contract Drawings shall be available in Tagged Image File (.tif) format. If requested, Bidding documents will be shipped for a fee of $25.00, made payable by check to MBTA. For overnight mail service, a completed mailing label, with an approved carrier account number (i.e. Federal Express), must be included. All bidding documents requested by check will be shipped via U.S. Postal Service. NONE OF THESE CHARGES ARE REFUNDABLE. Bidders attention is directed to Appendix 1, Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Insure Equal Employment Opportunity; and to Appendix 2, Supplemental Equal Employment Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination, and Affirmative Action Program in the specifications. In addition, pursuant to the requirements of Appendix 3, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Participation Provision, Bidders must submit an assurance with their Bids that they will make sufficient and reasonable efforts to meet the stated DBE goal of 17 percent. Bidders will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this solicitation, minority and female construction contractors will be afforded full opportunity to submit Bids and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin in consideration for an award. Bidders will be required to comply with Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Regulations and the President's Executive Order No. 11246 and any amendments or supplements thereto. Bidders will also be required to comply with the Governor’s Executive Order No. 481, prohibiting the use of undocumented workers on State Contracts and any amendments and supplements thereto. Authorization for the Bidders to view the site of the work on the MBTA's property shall be obtained from the Project Manager, John Favorito, 500 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, 617-222-4330. The Authority will conduct an inspection tour of the site on June 29, 2011. Bidders are requested to be present in front of the outbound platform at Orient Heights Station, East Boston Massachusetts, at 10:00 a.m. to participate in the tour. Bidders are advised that they should have representation at this tour as no extra visits are planned. A prebid conference will be held on June 30, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the MBTA Construction Directorate Conference Room #2, 500 Arborway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Any request for interpretation of the Plans and Specifications should be submitted in writing at the same time. Bidders will be required to certify as part of their bids that they are able to furnish labor that can work in harmony with all other elements of labor employed or to be employed on the work. This Contract is subject to Federal wage and hourly laws and minimum State wage rates as well as all other applicable labor laws. Bidders are advised that the "Buy America" provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (Pub. L-97-424) as amended, apply to any Contract, procurement or agreement which results from this solicitation. Bid Guaranty shall consist of a bid deposit in the amount of five (5) percent of the value of the bid, in the form of a bid bond, cash, certified check, treasurer's or cashier's check. The successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Labor and Materials Payment Bond each for the full amount of the Contract price. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all Bids, to waive informalities, to advertise for new Bids or proceed to do the work otherwise, as may be deemed to be in the best interests of the Authority. This information may be viewed at the MBTA website: http://www.mbta.com/business_center/bidding_solicitations/current_solicitations/ MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY Date: June 22, 2011 By: Jeffrey B. Mullan Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Richard A. Davey General Manager of the MBTA & Rail & Transit Administrator of MassDOT June 24, 2011 SAMPAN Page 5 columns What is your need for Money? By Michael Tow Sampan Contributor Do you ever feel that your grip on your money and how it affects your life is slowly spinning out of control? Many people, whether they know it or not, are letting their lack of true understanding of their relationship with money and their need for money dictate who they are. Whether it’s a person living on paycheck to paycheck under a mountain of debt, or the CEO who can’t slow down and smell the roses while life passes them by, don’t let money take hold of your life. You need to understand it, be in control of it and life will become much less stressful and much more fulfilling. One of the best ways to take control and improve your financial life is to look at your financial situation first from the big picture. Many people focus their approach on their financial situation from the bottom up. In other words, they try to manage day to day and then work up from there. I’ve always asked clients the question, “What is your need for money?” Most people answer this from the short term view. Their answers are usually associated with buying materialistic things with their money. I want to buy a new Cartier watch, a BMW or take an Alaskan Cruise. That’s the short term view of money. What I suggest to my clients, is to do the exact opposite. Start by looking at the long term and big picture, now they see the same question differently through different lens. Try it through the lens of your lifetime. Surprisingly, you too will probably have a much different answer. Many people respond that their need for money is not to be able to buy everything they desire but it is to have financial security for their family. They also want to make sure they have enough money saved up for retirement, and if they can do both of these, then they would like to pass something to the kids to help give them an easier life. If these goals are similar for yours, then it makes your steps to address your financial situation much clearer. Become bad debt free There is no way that you can be in control of your life with a mountain load of debt. Eliminating your debt should be the number one priority! Don’t just say it’s your number one priority, prove it. Make sure you have adequate life insurance Life insurance will insure that if something happens to you or your spouse, the financial security that you want for your family will still be intact. Contribute as much as you can to your retirement account If you want to have enough money saved for retirement, then you need to quit spending for today and start saving for tomorrow. How much should you save? Easy answer, save as much as you can. Make sure you have a will or a trust Having a will or a trust will insure that your assets are going to the right people and can reduce taxes, probate costs, etc. so that more of your assets will go to your heirs. Too often, we are consumed by the daily short term monetary needs, but with a change in context then hopefully it is clearer how money can be helpful for what is truly meaningful to you, and then the next steps are to make sure it happens. If you have a question or topic that you would like me to discuss in a future article please email me at mtow@newbostonfinancial.com. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ Michael Tow can be reached at 617-7344400 or www.newbostonfinancial.com The End of An Era By Cliff Wong Sampan Contributor This was supposed to be an article to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Knight’s Chinese Athletic Club, a lasting institution in Boston’s Chinatown. I was scheduled to collaborate on the article with Reggie Wong, founder and president of the Club. Something happened to alter our plans, something very sad. On April 3, news of Reggie Wong’s passing sent shock waves through our community. My thoughts were solely on the loss of an old friend, not on any article. It was as if the world stood still. Next thing I know, I find myself standing on a sidewalk along with hundreds of others. We stood, undaunted by the long wait of the chilly air. Nearly motionless, we mourned Reggie Wong’s passing. The Wing Fook Funeral Home (in Boston) was already packed with sympathizers. With numbers approaching a thousand, no one seemed to mind the wait. While there were representatives of parts of the community who were sometimes divided by politics, the crowd stood together as one. We had time to reflect on the end of an era. On a brighter side, the crowd was momentarily in unison. Even in death, Reggie Wong, the icon, united his community. The event offered us a chance to reunite with old friends from the old neighborhood. It was especially gratifying to meet with his survivors, who demonstrated the strength of character that one would expect from Reggie’s family. In some ways, all of us who grew up knowing him and felt like a part of the family. Years ago, Reggie’s biological father passed away while Reggie was in his early teens. Since that time, Reggie had to grow up immediately and assume the role of “man of the house.” He mentored his younger siblings and also mentored his younger friends as well. Even in days before his passing, people sought his help and encouragement. Despite his small stature, Reggie was larger than life in his actions and his persona. In the 50’s and 60’s, Boston’s Chinatown was a small, insulated, and ethnic community. Most parents were forced to work long hours. This left few available role models for the youths in the neighborhood. Reggie filled that void by providing direction and leadership. Over-the-years, his following grew, while his mentoring continued. Until his death, he never stopped. He was remarkably skilled at reaching out to ostensibly all segments of his community. In addition to Reggie’s dedication to his beloved “Knight’s Athletic Club,” he also devoted his energy and leadership to other groups in Chinatown. Reggie Wong’s prominence crossed borders and extended to other Asian communities throughout the country. Suffice it to say. Reggie Wong was unique, irreplaceable, and revered. Most of all, he’ll be missed. I regret that Reggie and I never got to collaborate on the Knight’s 50th Anniversary article. Nevertheless, I encourage all who have read this article to join me in celebrating the Knight’s 50th Anniversary. Furthermore, I encourage readers to support other Chinatown organizations as well. Banh Mi-a tasty and cheap meal! BBQ beef banh mi bi. (Photo by Ana Ing) By Anna Ing Sampan Contributor Go to any Asian community and you are sure to find one of the top famous Vietnamese food item besides pho (beef noodle soup) and it is the beloved banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), which is sold at small shops, food courts, and bakeries all over. This simple Vietnamese export is a delicious and inexpensive meal for under $5, plus it blends the best of both worlds- from the French and Vietnamese together. Under French Colonialism, the Vietnamese took the French’s simple sandwiches using bread, butter and simple pate (ground liver with spices), meats or cheese into a savory feast with their twist. Overall freshness matters with making a delicious banh mi sandwich: first take a crusty French bread (using rice flour for extra crunch), then slather the condiment-mayo, fish sauce (nuoc mam), or soy sauce based spread, next put on your desired protein: grilled pork, beef, chicken, fried egg as well as tofu or headcheese, veggies (cilantro, mint, basil, onions), chilies and pickled carrots and daikon for added crunch. Boston’s own Chinatown has two places that sell banh mi. One is New Saigon Sandwich at 696 Washington St (Between Kneeland and LaGrange Streets 617-542-6296) in Chinatown across from Dumpling Cafe. They provide eight different sandwiches from The Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC) is coincidentally celebrating its own 50th anniversary. So join me in celebration and support your local organizations. Reggie would have wanted it that way. DonÕt miss an issue! Start your subscription today! Visit www.sampan.org and click on ÒSUBSCRIBE to our PRINT EDITION.Ó Or call (617)426-9492 x206. the Vietnamese Cold Cut (banh mi thit), Shredded pork (banh mi bi), Teriyaki Beef (bo xao), BBQ Beef (bo nuong), Teriyaki Chicken (ga xao), Vegetarian Tofu (dau hu), Curry Chicken (ca ri ga) and Banh Mi Xiu Mai (Xiu Mai). Also there are a few box meals available if you are not in the mood for a banh mi. One block away is 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches and Bubble Tea at 66 Harrison Avenue (617-542-7903), which also has a similar banh mi menu. But they have also offer bun (vermicelli), spring rolls and as well as a wide variety of boxed meals with a choice of rice or noodles topped with eel, bbq pork chop among a variety of tasty options. Also they have an extensive beverage menu with plenty fruit shakes (with or without bubbles (chewy tapioca pearls). At both shops, the most expensive banh mi is only $3.25 (even with tax!) Now there is a food truck called Bon Me (www.bonmetruck.com) that sells banh mi as well from Monday through Fridays at Boston’s City Plaza from 11:30am-3pm in addition to going to other places all around the city. Don’t fret, you can also go to Kam Man’s food court in Quincy or go to Allston at Pho Viet at the Super88 food court too. Why not try a banh mi the next time you want something different from the ordinary ho hum peanut butter and jelly sandwich? SAMPAN Page 6 June 24, 2011 CLASSIFIED / HOUSING A Corcoran Community in Massachusetts - is a place to call home. NORTH SHORE ANDOVER COMMONS (978) 470-2611 30 Railroad Street, Andover BEVERLY COMMONS (978) 927-2055 Tozer Road, Beverly SAUGUS COMMONS (781) 233-8477 63 Newhall Avenue, Saugus KIMBALL COURT (781) 933-9900 7 Kimball Court, Woburn THE MEADOWS (978) 441-9167 82 Brick Kiln Road, Chelmsford There are apartments- and then there are Corcoran managed apartmentswell managed, stylish, modern and constantly updated...Take your pick! KENT VILLAGE BOSTON (781) 545-2233 65 North River Road, Scituate MCNAMARA HOUSE (617) 783-5490 LINCOLN SCHOOL 210 Everett Street, Allston APARTMENTS (781) 749-8677 WESTERN MASS. 86 Central Street, Hingham SOUTH SHORE ACADEMY BUILDING APARTMENTS (508) 674-1111 102 South Main Street, Fall River ADAMS VILLAGE (617) 328-6727 725-735 Adams Street, Dorchester QUINCY COMMONS (617) 328-6727 1 Canton Road, Quincy BROCKTON COMMONS (508) 584-2373 55 City Hall Plaza, Brockton STRATTON HILL PARK STONE RUN EAST (508) 852-0060 (781) 331-2525 161 W. Mountain Street, 8 Old Stone Way, Weymouth Worcester THE LEDGES FAXON COMMONS (781) 335-2626 (617) 472– 6766 1 Avalon Drive, Weymouth 1001 Southern Artery, Quincy HANOVER LEGION ELDERLY APARTMENTS (781) 871-3049 Legion Drive, Hanover PELHAM APARTMENTS (508) 872-6393 75 Second Street, Framingham WEYMOUTH COMMONS/EAST (781) 335-4773 74 Donald Street, #21, Weymouth TRIBUNE APARTMENTS (508) 875-8661 46 Irving Street, Framingham VISIT US! www.corcoranapts.com LOW-PRICED Home Sales in Newton and Waltham The Towns of Natick, Newton, Waltham and Watertown are currently establishing a list of “Ready Buyers” who would be interested and income-eligible to purchase deed-restricted affordable homes in the participating towns. Current Units: 135 Edinboro St., Newton: 2-bed $160,306 172 River St., Waltham: 1-bd $116,000 Income Limits: 1 person: $45,100 2 person: $51,550 3 person: $58,000 4 person: $64,400 Sample Sales Prices: 1 bedroom $141,000 2 bedroom $162,000 3 bedroom $185,000 Applicants will be notified of available units as they come up for sale. Studio, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units are expected. For a pre-application and additional information contact Robyn at Watertown Community Housing 617-923-3505 x 5 or visit this website: www.watertowncommunityhousing.org Now Renting Brand New Affordable Lofts Located Steps to Orange Line Roxbury Crossing & Commuter Rail 166 Terrace Street, Boston MA 02120 617-879-1620 ● www.LiveOliverLofts.com • 3 Apartments are for preference for BRA-Certified Artists • Section 8 Voucher Holders Welcome • Selection by Lottery-Use and Occupancy Restrictions Apply • 4 Apartment have preference for households requiring accessible units • 8 Apartments not included above have preference for homeless household (Applicants must complete BHA applications and be processed by the BHA, 52 Chauncy St. Boston) Income Restrictions Apply Floor Plan Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom # of Units 3 6 29 Max Rent $1,295 $ 990 $1,183 Minimum Income per Household Household Size 60% 1 Person $38,580 2 People $44,100 3 People $49,620 4 People $55,080 Income Limit 100% 60% 60% 100% $64,250 $73,450 $82,600 $92,800 Rental Applications must be picked up and submitted in person or via US Mail to the Property CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OUR STUDIO, 1, 2, 3 & 4 BEDROOM APARTMENTS • • • • • • • • • • Located in Historic Springfield MA Rents Starting at $550 Heat & Hot Water Included Hardwood Floors On-site Laundry Cable Ready Minutes to Major Highways, STCC & Technology Park Guest Entry System Off Street Parking Convenient to Downtown Springfield Professionally managed & maintained by: 24 Hours Emergency Maintenance FIRST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Section 8 certificates welcome. Income Restrictions and qualifying guidelines apply HOUSE FOR SALE Two family duplex for sale in N. Quincy. Fantastic location, corner lot, 7K sq. ft. Garage and driveway. Very attractive property, unusual setup, walk to everything. 3.5 baths, 3 staircases, lots of privacy. Attic could be a master bedroom. Short walk to MBTA. Must see inside. Price: 699K 617-888-3860 Sampan Advertising 617.426.9492 x206 June 24, 2011 SAMPAN Page 7 AACA GALA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 munity is by supporting non-profit organizations – to give people an education and skills need to [succeed],” said Joseph A. McGrail, Vice President of State Street Corporate Citizenship and State Street Foundation. State Street Corporation was the event’s underwriter. “Last February, we opened Buds and Blossoms Childcare. We've been providing ESL and skill training and social services. We are now able to serve the entire family,” said Chau-ming Lee, AACA Chief Executive Officer in giving an update of AACA’s highlights in 2010. Other highlights included the Sustainable Chinatown, a partnership between the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the AACA, and Chinatown businesses. Funded by the Barr Foundation, the project offers energy efficiency upgrades to small businesses in Chinatown. “This is [the moment] that we honor the successes of our clients. Nothing speaks more to our work than our students and our clients. Tonight’s gala celebrates their courage to be new. We have six student ambassadors. These six individuals embodied that courage,” introduced Sunny Schwartz, AACA Chief Operating Officer. Noman Ali, a refugee from Sudan, first arrived in Boston in 2006. After completing AACA’s The Building Energy Efficient Maintenance Skills (BEEMS) program, he was able to move from low-wage, low-skill jobs such as cashier and driver to working full-time as a maintenance technician. Minnie Huang, a former elementary school teacher in China, never thought that she was able to become a teacher in the U.S. due to her limited English skills. A graduate of the NEXT STEP Transitional English program at AACA, Huang will graduate with an Associate Degree in Education in 2012. Maria Teixiera, a Cape Verde native, was a young single mother who was unable to complete high school. Through Tufts Medical Center Workplace Education Program, Texiera received a promotion within the hospital and is working as an Endsocopy Technicians. Faith Xu signed up for a visa to come the U.S. when she was only 11 years. After waiting for 10 long years, in 2009 she was awarded a visa. She gave up her teller job at the Bank of China and came to the U.S. alone. Xu worked long hours for low pay in restaurants. After attending Accounting Skills, Computer, and English Training (ASCENT) program, Xu is now working full-time as a bank teller at Bank of America. Juan Soto, a Boston native, struggled to complete high school, and found himself unemployed after serving in the military. He was working minimum wage temp jobs as a cleaner and was later laid off. As a father of a young son, he wanted to be able to better provide for his family. Enrolled in Partnership for Automatic Career Education (PACE), he was offered a full-time job as condition report writer. “Jenny (a pseudonym)” emigrated to the U.S. from China. She was the mother of a girl and pregnant with her son when her husband died, leaving no financial support for the family. Before seeking help from AACA, Jenny was evicted with no place for her family to live and was underemployed. With the assistance from AACA’s MultiService Center, Jenny is now living in public housing and receiving to food stamps, and referred to job training. HELP WANTED PDF Reaching People Changing Lives Bay Cove Human Services is a private, not-for-profit corporation that provides a wide variety of services to individuals and their families who face the lifelong challenges of developmental disabilities, aging, mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction.We have a wide variety of programs available to our clients including residential services, employment support, and day habilitation programs. Housing Support Worker (Mandarin or Vietnamese) Provide direct care and shift coverage for a residential program serving adults with mental illness; ensuring the clients’ stability, safety, health promotion and maintenance, and acquisition of community living skills. Requires related experience; valid MA driver’s license; and MAP certification within 60 days of hire. TO APPLY: Email resumes to recruiter@baycove.org. Please include requisition number 4178 in the subject line of your email. BAY COVE HUMAN SERVICES, 66 CANAL STREET, BOSTON, MA 02114 Bay Cove is an Equal Opportunity Employer www.baycove.org “I would like to bring a citation from the House of Representatives to AACA, in recognition of the 44 years of exceptional service to the immigrant community,” State Representative Donald Wong said. “On behalf on Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Reverend Cheng Imm Tan, Director of the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians, a huge congratulations to AACA for 44 years of exceptional services to the New Bostonians, immigrants and the diverse city around the city and beyond in the Commonwealth…Hereby proclaiming June 9, 2011 as the Asian American Civic Association Day in the City of Boston. ” said Agnes Chang, Resource Development Manager of the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians, in reading a proclamation for AACA from Mayor Menino. AACA also presented community service awards to Chef Ming Tsai and Stanley Chen. Both Tsai and Chen are unsung heroes of the immigrant community. Tsai, owner of Blue Ginger Restaurant in Wellesley and host and executive producer of SIMPLY MING, offers his culinary skills at countless community fundraisers. Chen was a pioneer in providing affordable housing for Chinatown’s senior citizens at a time when such housing was nonexistent. His two major Chinatown projects – Quincy Tower in 1978 and South Cove East and West in 1982 – are important elements in keeping Boston’s Chinatown a vibrant community for people and families. The night’s program ended with a beautiful performance by musician, composer and singer Grace Kelly, accompanied by Harvey Diamond Group. NEEDHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS • Secretary/Bookkeeper for the Metco Program The Metco program serves 150 Boston resident students in Needham, K-12. This position provides secretarial support to the Metco students, families and staff, as well as bookkeeper responsibilities for several high school departments. • Elementary Office Aide Secretary (20-29 hours/wk) • School Van Driver Substitutes (7D License) Apply online at: To place an ad, please call 617.426.9492 x206 EOE www.generalasp.com/needham/onlineapp Employer: CCBA of New England Position: Office Coordinator Status: Part-time 20 hr/wk, 6 days per week (flexible schedule) Position Details Under the primary direction of the five officers, the Office Coordinator provides administrative support to the office of CCBA of New England. The position interacts with office workers, visitors, tenants, members of 3.233 the Board of Directors, and community leaders. Previous experience working in a non-profit setting, human social services, or community based organization 3.25 desired. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as being a team player, is essential for success3.22 in this position. The ideal candidate needs to have a professional demeanor: neat appearance, friendly, helpful, people oriented. Candidate needs to be a self-motivated individual possessing strong organization skills, confidence in problem solving, and the ability and interest to act as a resource to others. ❍ Sampan 2x 2x ❍ La Semana ❍ Bay State Banner 2x sampan 2x Job Description: Principal Duties and Responsibilities 1. Provide oral and written translation of documents and presentations; 2. Proofread and edit materials for grammar, punctuation, and spelling; 3. Greet and direct visitors; provide routine and/or standardized information within scope of knowledge and authority; Start date - September 1, 2011 4. Establish and maintain paper and electronic files; 5. Enter data into Quickbooks; Nashoba Brooks School seeks candidates for the position of Kindergarten Schedule equipment and building maintenance and repair; Assistant and Extended Day Teacher. A complete position description may be 6. 7. Maintain office supplies inventory; found at www.nashobabrooks.org. 8. Manage employee time schedules; 9. Assist in grant writing; Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree preferred. The 10. Coordinate and maintain schedule of Community Center room usage; The Metco program Boston of resident students11. in Update and maintain bulletin and activities boards; candidate should have relevant experience with children fromserves the150ages 3 to 12. K-12. This position provides secretarial support toWork the Metcocollaboratively students, families and as lead to assured that all needs of the office are attended to in a timely manner; 9. The candidate should demonstrate both passion Needham, for teaching and knowledge 13.high Perform other duties as assigned or as requested. and staff, as well as bookkeeper responsibilities for several school departments. Kindergarten Assistant/ Extended Day Teacher (Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.) NEEDHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS • Secretary/Bookkeeper for the Metco Program of the social, emotional, intellectual and physical development of students. He Qualifications / Skills & Knowledge Requirements • Elementary Offi ce Aide Secretary (20-29 hours/wk) or she should possess excellent communication, organization and class man1. High school graduate or higher with minimum 1 year of equivalent or related experience; agement skills. The candidate should also have a desire to work as part of a • School Van Driver Substitutes License) 2.(7D Fluency in spoken English, Cantonese and Mandarin, written English and Chinese; 3. Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision and as a team member; team committed to a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary Apply online at: approach. EOE 4. Excellent customer service skills; www.generalasp.com/needham/onlineapp Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and list of three 5. Proficiency in MS Office, Quickbooks, Chinese word processing a must; 6. Effective verbal and written communications, and represent CCBA in a positive and helpful manner references to: Penny Jennings, Head of Lower School To apply, please send cover letter, resume and salary history to Wingkay Leung at CCBA, Email: Kextdayteach@nashobabrooks.org 90 Tyler Street, Boston MA 02111 or email to wleung@ccba-ne.org. ❍ El Mundo 2x 3.75 SAMPAN Page 8 June 24, 2011 health Special Interview with BCNC: Exercise and Healthy Living Diabetes Awareness workshop: speaker, Albert Whitaker, Associate Director of community Program of American Diabetes Association. (Photo by Diana Li) By Diana Li Sampan Correspondent Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, BCNC, serving over 2,900 people in the Asian community consists of 8 programs, including child care services, afterschool programs, youth center, enrichment programs, adult education and family service. BCNC is one of the five recipients of the Tufts Medical Center’s Asian Health Initiative, AHI, grant funding. AHI was established in 1995 and BCNC is considered a veteran in receiving this grant. According to Yoyo Yau, Director of Family Services at BCNC, “Under AHI support, Family Services was able to reach out to immigrant families from the BCNC community and the larger Chinese community. FS recognizes the immense need of supporting immigrant parents as they nurture and educate their children. The US culture presents both opportunities and challenges to these immigrant families when it comes to facilitating the education of their children.” Family Service gives parents support and knowledge on the educational school system and curriculum. It allows parents to be more involved with their children’s education, particularly children with special needs. For instance, Family Services teaches parents about IEP and their educational rights. Eager to share a success story, Yau spoke of a woman named Mrs. Chinwan Chow. Chow came to the US with no knowledge of the U.S. education system and two of her children required special education. She went to BCNC for guidance and attended one of the many workshops offered, Parents Solutions 2: Special Education. BCNC’s workshop gave her the knowledge to be more involved. Consequently, she was elected as the Boston Public Schools’ Special Education Parent Advisory Council. What makes Chow’s story a success story is not because she was elected to be on the parent advisory council, but the ripple effect. BCNC’s services helped one individual and that one individual went on to help many other individuals. Chow makes herself available to help others at all times. For AHI 2011, BCNC implemented a health cooking class called “East meets West,” a children fitness group targeting children aged 8-12 called “Rock Your Body”, and health education workshops focusing on diabetes awareness and nutrition, “Nutrition 101”. “The healthy cooking class teaches parents how to prepare a healthy meal on a daily basis. Some parents request western style meals, so we showed them how to shop the healthy ingredient, prepare, cook and serve. It is a lot of fun and work.” Yau spoke with enthusiasm because she says that the programs have already been proven to be a success because parents raved on how much their children loved the recipes. For the children fitness group, Rock your body, BCNC will have a physical trainer on site to meet with each family to cater their needs by making individual exercise plans. To ensure that there is progress, participants will fill out weekly exercise logs and in each session, one child will be rewarded for their hard work. Yau says, “We want to support the children and their fam- East Meet West Cooking Class parents. (Photo by Diana Li) ily to learn and to make change in a fun and supportive environment.”” When Yau was asked if she believes that diabetes, tobacco, and diabetes was a growing problem in the Asian community, Yaw commented, “I do believe that there is an increase in the areas of diabetes, obesity and tobacco use. According to the data in the ‘status of childhood Weight in Massachusetts, 2009’ report represents data from 80 school districts in the Essential School Health Services program collected during the 2008-2009 school year on 109,674 students. There are 43.6% children are overweight in the Boston area. When we consult with the local pediatrics, they indicated that half of their patients are overweight. These are very significant statistics.” Yau also believes that tobacco usage has increased due to the stress environment of restaurant work. Restaurant workers consume a lot of tobacoo because it is the only time when they can go on a break from their hard, long, and tedious day. With the alarming statistics, BCNC has selected diabetes and obesity as their main focus. “Being overweight and obese can put a child at risk for certain health problems. A child who is overweight or obese has an increased risk of developing serious conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and orthopedic problems. Obesity and diabetes are co-related to each other,” says Yau. Expanding at a substantial rate, BCNC devised Strategic Plan 2011-2014. It makes one wonder if good health is something the BCNC plans on promoting continually. Yau assured that health education is definitely something that is part of the plan. “One of BCNC’s priority areas during this strategic plan is to adopt a more family-centered approach to the way we deliver services. That means we want to consider a person’s whole range of needs when they come to us for services. So an immigrant may come to learn English, but we also want to support them as being good parents, and to be more civically engaged, and to be a better neighbor, or to set and follow a plan to develop their career. Part of this also means supporting the needs of our constituents when it comes to health-related issues. We want to provide the education, resources, and support for families to lead healthy lifestyles and make smart informed decisions about their own well-being.” In a recent event, BCNC expressed how unfortunate it was for them to have to turn away some people because of capacity limitations. Another question that was asked was whether or not BCNC will provide services to growing Asian communities like Malden and Quincy. Yau affirms, “Many of our constituents come to us from other neighborhoods of Boston and from outside Boston. We believe their needs are just as important, but also different. BCNC is currently exploring the ways we can serve our community from places like Quincy in a more impactful way, tailoring our services to really meet the needs of the communities outside Chinatown. No matter where they live, BCNC is committed to providing the highest quality programs to all.” Article funded through the Asian Health Initiative of Tufts Medical Center Visit the New Online Version of SAMPAN Newspaper at www.sampan.org