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Tag Archives: Community Service
Horizons for Youth Outing to Journey World
TAP-Chicago members will be pairing up with children from Horizons for Youth (grades K-7) as they explore the miniature city and explore a variety of careers by role-playing.
Friends Beyond Years: Community Service Event
Join us in partnership with Chicago Meals on Wheels to spend time with residents of the Levy Seniors Center this winter.
This is a great way to celebrate the holiday spirit with seniors that appreciate the company of enthusiastic volunteers!
Popular activities include Bingo, card games, and arts & crafts.
“Friends Beyond Years” is a popular program with Meals on Wheels and volunteers who find direct service rewarding should not miss this event! A $5 donation is necessary to provide bingo prizes.
Donate here.
Location/Transportation:
Levy Seniors Center
2019 W. Lawrence (Lawrence and Damen)
1 block from Damen Station on CTA Brown Line
Cost:
$5 (donation to provide bingo prizes to seniors) PLEASE INSERT WEPAY
Questions? Call or E-mail:
Henry So | 607-279-9528 | henriso@gmail.com
Autumn Chim | 773-677-1715 | autumnchim@gmail.com
More About Meals on Wheels: Click here.
Recap: Project Vision
Thanks for supporting Project Vision‘s Fall Soiree & Silent Auction. Your support has helped benefit PV’s after school tutoring program, service learning projects, and college prep workshops. That’s a big difference you’re making!
The event took place in Co-Prosperity Sphere on 3219 South Morgan St, Chicago. A really good artsy space with a good vibe.
Items up for auction included a 5-Course Dinner for 2 at Oceanique, Kindle Fire, dinner for 2 at Table Fifty-Two, private wine tasting party for 6 at Lush Wine & Spiritsm, private jewelry party for 10 at Erin Gallagher Jewelry, original art work, and much more….
Project: VISION is a nonprofit organization that provides teens in the Chinatown and Bridgeport communities with free after school programs like homework tutoring, college-prep workshops, and service learning opportunities.
To continue to make a difference with Project Vision, consider volunteering your time! More information on Project: VISION can be found on their website.
Special thanks to Project Vision
Tamarind for the catered food
The DJ who helped set the mood
and of course, our lovely attendees
[Photos courtesy of Autmn Chim]
Recap: Unmi Song Professional Development Seminar
It’s safe to say that Umni Song inspired us all today. She shared her views on the Asian American identity, her professional experiences, and broadened our perspectives on non-traditional career paths and opportunities.
The Asian American Identity
Growing up as a Korean American, Unmi often felt that others did not see her as an American because she didn’t look like one; she also received surprising comments about how well she could speak English. When she lived in South Korea, working for Gold Star Tele-Electric Company in Seoul, she also felt like an outsider. Even though she looks Korean, her limited Korean fluency made it difficult for natives to accept her as Korean.
The anecdote on this topic is short, but it clearly reflects the world Asian Americans live in. While we may identify with a certain nationality and culture, it isn’t always aligned to the perception of those we encounter.
Finding Your Passion
Unmi began her career in the private sector, holding positions in Gold Star Tele-Electric Company in Seoul, the First National Bank of Chicago, Citicorp Investment Bank in New York City, and Bankers Trust Company. While she enjoyed the work and the perks, she noticed one day that there are many others who want her job more than she wants it. She began to think about what she really wants to do, what would make her truly happy, and where her passion is. She decided that her passion is in giving back, in making a difference to the world, and this is what launched her self-exploration and what led to her career switch into the nonprofit sector.
Learning about a Different Career Path
Switching careers is not easy, especially when the switch is to completely unfamiliar and foreign ground. Unmi did not let that stop her, however. Instead, she spent a lot of time learning about the nonprofit sector through reading up on relevant literature and conducting informational interviews, talking to more than 100 people who work with and work in nonprofits. The information she collected helped her pinpoint where her skills and background could be applied and utilized in this different world.
One of the helpful tips she gave was on informational interviews. Informational interviews are interviews that job seekers conduct to help them learn about a specific occupation or organization. These are useful in terms of networking and also in getting an insider’s view on the jobs and organizations. When requesting an informational interview, it’s important to state your purpose, to explain your skills and what you’re good at, and also to admit that there’s a lot you don’t know. When preparing for an informational interview, it’s helpful to think about questions that will guide you to your ultimate goal, for example: what can I do to be useful to the organization. With time, you’ll be able to refine your questions better to get relevant information, and eventually, your hard work will pay off, just like Unmi’s, when she landed her dream job. Twenty years later, she’s stayed at a job that other people still want, but this time, she wants it as much as everyone else does, if not more.
Giving Back
Working for a nonprofit is a lot different than working in the private sector. In the finance world for example, a project can take a lot of time and energy and stress before it is complete, but when it’s done, it’s done. However, when you work for a nonprofit, your work is never done. There is always more to do. While not everyone can or is willing to switch careers to the nonprofit sector, Unmi encourages everyone to give back. She says that Asian American Foundations receive less than 1% of donations. This may be because of the notion of Asians as model minorities– but Asian Americans need help, too. Whether it’s through community service or monetarily, we should all try to give back in ways we can.
After the talk, Unmi stayed with us to answer everyone’s questions. We are so grateful for her time and the inspiration she brought each and every one of us. Some member feedback are below:
“What an awesome and inspiring event! I’m so glad I went.”
“[I]t was a really touching one!…”
“Thanks! Interesting and moving at the same time. Glad I attended… Good job…”
“Had a great time there, thanks for organizing such an interesting seminar!”
Special thanks to Jack and to the Asian Professional Network, who put together this event. We look forward to more successful professional development seminars such as this one!
[Photo courtesy of Phil]
Recap: Urban Farming at Chicago Lights
TAP-Chicago would like to thank all of you who came out to the urban farming event at Chicago Lights last Saturday! We had an awesome tour of the farm grounds, watered plants, harvested tomatoes and green beans, helped with composting, and even discovered what a worm egg looks like! Below are some pictures to share with you in case you missed out.
Laura Lynn, one of the farm staff members, giving us a tour of the grounds.
There are vegetable plots not only for their farm stand but also for summer camp kids and neighbors in the community, a green house under construction, and enormous compost bins.
To thank our members for participating, we had a drawing for the gift certificate to Chilam Balam, a delicious Mexican small-plates restaurant in Lakeview and a strong supporter of sustainable agriculture and local farmers. Congrats to Jay for winning. We hope you enjoy the hard-earned meal!
Special thanks to Henry Y. So and Autumn Chim for organizing this event, to everyone who came out, and of course, to Chicago Lights for teaching us so much and spending time with us.
Please join us for our next community service event at the Asian Youth Services on September 15, 11:00am – 2:00pm, where we’ll be tutoring, mentoring, playing basketball, etc., for at-risk youth!
TAP-Chicago Volunteering at Asian Youth Services
Join TAP-Chicago for a day of volunteer work with the children at Asian Youth Services (AYS), a non-profit organization that supports low-income children and youth. Volunteers will be paired up with children from AYS and do anything from helping with homework and developing reading skills to playing basketball and socializing. While the responsibilities are flexible and can be tailored to the volunteer, this is an opportunity to spend quality time with at-risk youth who may otherwise have limited exposure with positive role models and to support an underfunded local non-profit.
Originally founded to support children of South East Asian refugees families escaping from genocide or oppression, AYS has now expanded to serve children from all low-income families in the Albany Park neighborhood. AYS only has 1 full-time employee and relies on volunteers like us to provide essential services to children, so your time this day will be greatly appreciated by the community and the children.
Requirements: All volunteers MUST arrive on time at 11:00am for orientation
Cost: Free. But please pre-register on WePay so we know how many volunteers we have.
Getting There:
1. Ample street parking
2. 8 min walk from CTA Brown Line – Rockwell
Questions? Email or call
Henry So 607.279.9528 | henry@tapchicago.org
Autumn Chim 773.677.1715 | autumn@tapchicago.org
More about Asian Youth Services: http://www.asianyouthservices.org/
[Photo courtesey of Asian Youth Services (AYS)]