Archive for June, 2009

The University Park Alliance recently awarded ASIA, Inc. $45,000 for a three-year community street light monitoring initiative.  The project aims to engage residents of the University Park neighborhood, including local businesses and the University of Akron community, to monitor street light conditions, to make recommendations for repairs and placement of new lights, and to bring diverse members of the community together.

“We are thrilled about this project as it achieves a two-fold goal: 1) improves safety and physical street level conditions of the University Park neighborhood; and 2) serves as a vehicle to build connections among neighborhood stakeholders.  We are fortunate to have help and additional resources from the University of Akron’s Geography and Planning Department, who will provide a graduate assistant and GIS and other technical expertise to the project,” said Michael Byun, Acting Executive Director.

ASIA’s street light monitoring project is part of the agency’s long-standing efforts in the University Park neighborhood – considered to be the most diverse community in the City of Akron.  The agency offers a drop-in computer center, home down payment assistance program, and helps residents to access benefit to Ohio’s Benefits Bank.  During the school year, ASIA offers the International Community Empowerment Project (ICEP) at University Park area’s Leggett Elementary, an after-school mentoring program for immigrants and refugee youth.

The United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland recently awarded ASIA, Inc. $7,000 to pilot a summer  mentoring program for Somali refugee youth.  The project will serve 25 youth primarily from the Cleveland westside and Lakewood.

“We recognize our successful summer mentoring program can benefit many refugee communities.  We look forward to working with the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland and the leaders in the Somali community to address the acculturation and academic support needs of Somali youth,” said Michael Byun, Acting Executive Director.

The Somali summer youth program is part of ASIA’s Community Adult Mentoring (CAM) Program, which annually serves 75 newly arriving immigrant and refugee youth in Cuyahoga County.  The program is offered at two sites:  Midtown Cleveland and in Lakewood at St. Luke’s Catholic Church.  CAM offers year-round mentoring program that focuses on preventing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, building resilience and self-esteem, assisting with homework, and helping immigrant and refugee youth make successful transitions in America.

ASIA is pleased to announce the 2009 recipients of the Dr. James K.C. Juan Scholarship:

Karen K. Choi, ($1000 Award) Broadview Heights, Ohio: Junior, Pre-Dental Sciences Major, Lehigh University,”…the social aspect of dentistry is what definitely appeals to me the most because I can incorporate my love for sciences with my passion for social work. I would love to work with local dentists and universities to run outreach programs for children and families who cannot afford proper dental care.”

David Wu, ($1000 Award) Dublin, Ohio, Dublin Jerome High School, Actuarial Science, Ohio State University, “It would be selfish of me to learn such a vast amount of knowledge without sharing it. So I have made it a priority to volunteer in my community to donate my knowledge….I conversed with the residents (in the nursing home), who were often very bored. Donating my time in this fashion was especially rewarding. I got to play violin, the residents enjoyed it and they had someone to talk to, which is often rare in a nursing home.”

Patrick Ho, ($500 Award) Sidney High School, Sidney, Ohio, B,S./M.D. program, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. “…the journey to Eagle Scout as well as the numerous opportunities presented to me helped me realize the importance of philanthropy. Thus I have been volunteering at the local hospital regularly, tutoring underprivileged children every week, and teaching Tae Kwon Do at the local YMCA”

Jessica Parker, ($500 Award) Olmsted Falls High School, Olmsted Falls, Ohio, Nursing Major, Case Western University. “ The time I spent with the refugees has made a significant impact on my outlook on life. It helped me realize the needs in our community and has strengthened my compassion for people in general. I strongly believe that we can learn the most from these interactions. Life becomes more meaningful when we humble ourselves, recognize the needs of others and seek to fulfill those needs with a caring heart.”

Shelby Torre, ($500 Award) Kenmore High School, Biology Major, University of Akron, “I feel that with all the activities I have been involved in and all the achievements I have received, I have a good start to what I want to do. I hope I can do at least half as good at influencing people as Dr. Juan did.”

Li Wei Hung, ($250 Award) Ohio State University, Physics and Astronomy, “”For me, no matter in what place, in what form, my happiness always comes from the time when I help other people. Although I don not have money to people, I am more than willing to offer my time and my energy to anyone who needs them now and in the future. The happiness coming from volunteering is notable and priceless.”

David Tan, ( $250 Award) Ohio State University, Political Science and International Relations, “Thus my spiritual and moral discipline, community service, and diversity has grown considerably through Inter Varsity and Gleaners food bank and I will endeavor to succeed through hard work and continued education whether in school or in the workplace.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Robin Konscak is a recent graduate from the College of Wooster in Wayne Co., Ohio where she majored in anthropology. She is a native Clevelander, having grown up in Westlake. Robin found out about ASIA through the Cleveland Foundation’s Summer Intern Program and was immediately drawn to the exciting cultural resources and challenges associated with their agency. Robin’s anthropology background is specific to cross-cultural studies with an interest in cultural preservation through tradition and language. Many of ASIA’s outreach programs are linked to her interests, making the internship experience especially valuable.

When not exploring other cultures, Robin enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking and canoeing. She is eager to spend the summer in Cleveland getting to know the city and her co-workers better. Robin will be a volunteer with AmeriCorps in the fall and hopes to continue working with ASIA as a part-time volunteer.