100 West Clary Ave
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Phone: 626.309.0622
Fax: 626.309.0717
Current News

 

AYC receives 2012 APCF Board of Directors & Friends Giving Circle $5,000 Grant Award!

We are pleased to announce that the Asian Youth Center’s "Emergency Food Program" will be funded by this year’s $5,000 Food Security Grant Award.

The Asian Youth Center's "Emergency Food Program" aims to supply food and household supplies for all families in need residing in the West San Gabriel Valley. AYC collaborates with Dovetail Ministries and the L.A. Regional Food Bank to distribute food and supplies to over 70 families (250 individuals) in need on a monthly basis. The types of food currently available through the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank are somewhat limited. Thus, this funding aims to provide more ethnically familiar foods to the Asian and Pacific Islander community and allow the program to serve more families each month.

Giving Circle members organize around issues impacting the diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Southern California and engage in strategic decision-making to determine which charitable organizations to support. Debra A. Fong, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific Community Fund stated, “I’m thrilled that the Board of Directors and Friends Giving Circle have come together to address some of the invisible issues that are plaguing our community. I commend their awareness and their desire to make a meaningful impact through the grant awards.”

For more information about the Emergency Food Program contact 626-309-0622: Roy Rosell Ext. 102 (English & Spanish) or Florence Lin Ext. 105 (English & Chinese).

 

AYC's Community Service Day in partnership with Cathay Pacific Airways

On March 24, 2012, AYC partnered with Cathay Pacific Airways staff, Project by Project (PbP) friends and community volunteers to beautify our AYC gymnasium. AYC staff, friends and volunteers came together to painted our gym which provide AYC youth with a safe and supervised space to perform recreational activities. 

On behalf of the Asian Youth Center (AYC) and the youth we serve, we thank you for your valuable time and effort to help us improve our facilities. Your gracious support helps sustain our programs to benefit the community.

As you may know, the Asian Youth Center is a private, non-profit, community-based organization providing comprehensive social and health services to youth and families especially to low-income immigrant families in the San Gabriel and Los Angeles areas.

Cathay Pacific Airways is an international airline registered and based in Hong Kong, offering scheduled cargo and passenger services to more than 110 destinations around the world. They are the only airline currently offering three flights per day direct from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific Airways has supported AYC for many years with volunteer support and contributions to AYC’s annual fundraising event. For this event their employees, retired employees, and family members turned out to help.

Project by Project is a 501(c)3 national volunteer organization of social entrepreneurs that serves Asian American community by raising public awareness, volunteerism and capital. By partnering with a different non-profit each year and providing applied skills such as fundraising, marketing & PR consulting, event planning, strategic consulting, recruiting, and other assistance, Project by Project represents an innovative and uniquely valuable approach to community service.

AYC is grateful for volunteers like you that support our mission of assisting our youth in becoming contributing individuals to our multicultural society! We extend our appreciation to each one of you for your service at the Asian Youth Center. 

For more information about the volunteer/community service opportunities contact Aime Chambert at 626.309.0425 Ext. 101 or via email at aime.chambert@asianyouthcenter.org

2012_Board_Installation

2012 AYC Community Service Day in partnership with Cathay Pacific Airways, Project by Project friends and community volunteers

San Gabriel Hilton Generously Donates $5,000!

AYC would like to thank the San Gabriel Hilton for their donation of $5,000 toward the Teen Leadership College & Career (TLCC) Preparation Program.

The TLCC Program provides high-school youth with a safe and supervised after school environment Monday – Friday from the time school ends until 6:00pm. The TLCC Tutors assist youth with homework completion for 90 minutes per day with the goals of increasing understanding of academic subject areas, improving English literacy skills through reading, writing, and group exercises, and improving general school performance. In addition, Staff meet with youth to develop individual college/career plans and implement a schedule of readiness activities (workshops & field trips) relevant to their needs and interests. Participating youth are encouraged to organize their youth events and activities to develop and promote organizational and leadership skills. 
Youth also have time every day to use the indoor gym for basketball, and other AYC recreational facilities including billiards, foosball, table tennis, and computer lab after they complete their educational activities. 

The Hilton has been a generous benefactor, donation $5,000 each year for the last three years and AYC deeply appreciate the Hilton’s support.

For more information about the Teen Leadership & College Career Preparation Program, please contact Josh Lee at 626-309-0622 Ext. 115.

AYC's Board of Directors appointed Michelle Freridge as the new Executive Director of the Asian Youth Center

The Asian Youth Center (AYC) is pleased to announce Michelle Freridge as the new Executive Director. Ms. Freridge has more than 18 years experience in non-profit work and has been working at AYC for over 6 years.  She served in several positions at AYC, including Director of Development,  and Program Director.  Ms. Freridge has been serving as Interim Director of AYC since September, 2011.

Michelle Freridge has Masters Degree in Public Administration and her Juris Doctorate at Loyola Law School. She was admitted to the California Bar in December, 2011.

Board President Gay Q. Yuen, PhD., Past President Daniel Deng, Vice-President Jones Moy, Treasurer Angela Chang, and Secretary David Lawton and the members of the  Board of Directors unanimously appointed Ms. Freridge to the position of Executive Director, with the acknowledgement that she is the best person for this position.   She is highly qualified, she understands the needs of AYC, is an effective leader, and is committed to the the goals and visions of the organization. 

The Asian Youth Center (AYC) is a non-profit community based organization whose mission is to meet the social service needs of youth and families of all ethnicities, with a focus on Asian immigrants. Founded in 1989, AYC provides educational enrichment services and juvenile delinquency prevention services in the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles, and Antelope Valley areas.

AYC Board of Directors Welcomes New Officers & Members
On January 11th, the Honorable Cynthia Loo, Superior Court Referee, installed the new 2012 Officers and Board of Directors for the Asian Youth Center (AYC). These new officers will lead for a term of one year, while new Board Members wil serve for a two year term.

The 2012 Board Officers are:

  • Board President, Ms. Gay Q. Yuen Ph.D., a professor at the Charter College of Education California State University Los Angeles.
  • Past-President, Mr. Daniel H. Deng, Attorney at Law
  • Vice President, Mr. Jones Moy, former Chief, Monterey Park Police Department
  • Treasurer, Ms. Angela Chang, Chief Operating Officer, KCAL Insurance Agency; and
  • Secretary, Mr. David Lawton, Chief, San Gabriel Police Department

New Board Members include:

  • Mr. Jimmy Chu, Los Angeles Public Defenders Office;
  • Mr. Tuan Do, Association Government Program Analyst, California Science Center; and
  • Mr. K.T. Leung, C.P.A., Leung Accountancy Corporation.

Renewing Board Members include:

    • Mrs. Lily Baba, Pat Brown Institute, California State University Los Angeles
    • Mrs. Sally Baldwin, Retired Teacher, San Gabriel Unified School District
    • Mrs. Marissa Castro-Salvati, Region Manager, Public Affairs, Southern California Edison
    • Mr. Stephen Chan, President G.E. Property Management Inc.
    • Mrs. Eileen Diamond, Chief Business Development Officer, San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
    • Ms. Pearl Fu, Political Consultant, SG&A Campaigns
    • Mr. Erik Jiang, Director, Business Development & Managed Care, Garfield Medical Center
    • Ms. Anna Jung, President/Owner, WT Investment Group LLC
    • Mr. Hans Liang, Deputy Probation Officers, Los Angeles County Probation Department
    • Mr. Chin Ho Liao, Rotary Club of San Gabriel
    • Ms. Susan Parks, Ph.D., former Superintendent, San Gabriel Unified School District
    • Ms. Helen Romero-Shaw, Public Affairs Manager, Southern California Gas Company
    • Mr. Jim Smith, Chief, Monterey Park Police Department
    • Mr. Ken Tcheng, Vice President & General Manager, Sunny Slope Water Company
    • Mr. Stanly M. Toy Jr., MD, President & CEO, TEAM Healthcare, Inc.
    • Ms. Emily Wang, SVP, Director of Marketing, East West Bank
    • Mr. Chun Fun (Jack) Yao, Deputy Probation Officer, L.A. County Probation Officer
    • Mr. Stan Yonemoto, Yonemoto Physical Therapy Services, Inc.

2012_Board_Installation

2012 Board Installation at 261 Mission Restaurant

 

Southern California Gas Company donates $5,000 to AYC

The Asian Youth Center (AYC) would is please to thank Southern California Gas Company for its support. On November 2, 2011 Helen Romero-Shaw, the Public Affairs Manager for Southern California Gas Company presented a check fir $5,000 to AYC to support the Teen Leadership & College Career Preparation (TLCC) Program and After-School Program.

The Teen Leadership & College Career Preparation(TLCC) Program provides after-school tutoring and pro-social recreational activities for youth in grades 9- 12 in a safe, supervised environment. The TLCC Program Objectives are to help the participating youth: 1) Maintain good or improve poor academic performance; 2) explore college and career opportunities; and 3) develop leadership and other life skills through workshops, classes, field trips, and special events, that will help them be successful in life. More than 50 youth participate in the each year. The After-school Program provides after-school home-work completion, tutoring, and pro-social recreational activities in a safe, supervised environment to more than 200 youth in grades 1 - 8, each year.

Southern California Gas Company's contribution to AYC will help both of these programs by funding nutrition and healthy lifestyle classes including healthy after-school snacks and age-appropriate cooking classes. On behalf of all the youth and families AYC serves, Thank you Southern California Gas Company!

(Left to right: Daniel Deng, Board Member; Michelle Freridge, Interim Executive Director; Helen Romero Shaw, Public Affairs Manager, Southern California Edison: Gay Yuen, Board President; David Lawton, Board Secretary)

 


2009 Asian American Youth "STFU" Speaking Truth for Unity - Empowered to Be the Change Registration Form
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AYC Partners with TVB for Sichuan Earthquake Victims
AYC is partnering with TVB to raise funds for the Sichuan Earthquake victims. We continue to receive donations from the community. Please make checks payable to AYC- Earthquake.

All donations received will be designated for the Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund, and will be passed to the five relief organizations, namely the Hong Kong Red Cross, World Vision Hong Kong, Oxfam Hong Kong, United Nations Children’s Fund and the Salvation Army for emergency relief operation related to the Sichuan earthquake.

On behalf of the earthquake victims, thank you for your generous donation!




AYC Receives Achievement Award
Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District
Achievement Award
Winter 2008
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich presents the Open Space District Achievement Award to the Asian Youth Center. Pictured are Sally Baldwin, outgoing Board of Directors President, May To, Executive Director, Supervisor Antonovich, and Russ Guiney, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.



The Open Space District’s Achievement Award Program recognizes outstanding and innovative District-funded projects. The Asian Youth Center (AYC) demonstrates excellence in meeting the needs of its service community through a broad range of recreational, educational and social service programs provided to youth and their families in the San Gabriel and Antelope Valleys and in the City of Los Angeles.

How It All Began
The Asian Youth Center was established by the Asian Task Force of the United Way in 1989 to fill an identified gap in critical services for Asian immigrant children and families in the San Gabriel Valley. The Asian Youth Project applied for independent nonprofit status and was renamed the Asian Youth Center in 1990. Over the years AYC has grown from a staff of three and an annual operating budget of $160,000 to a staff of 50 and an annual operating budget of $1,700,000.

In 1996 the Asian Youth Center won a $500,000 At-Risk Youth Competitive Grant from the Open Space District to acquire and then develop their headquarters building, a 5,828-square-foot former warehouse at 100 Clary Avenue in the City of San Gabriel. The building was renovated to include a front entry, office space, classrooms, a meeting room, a kitchen, restrooms and an indoor gym/recreational space that sports a half-court basketball court. Renovations were completed in July 1997, and the building was opened to staff, youth and their families in December 1997.

The Open Space District grant provided a cornerstone for continued financial support which helped with some of the building renovation and to fund AYC programming. "Without the first grant from the District, the other donations would not have been granted to us," explained May To, Executive Director of the Asian Youth Center. Major contributors to follow were 99 Ranch Market and the Weingart, Whitecap, Ahmanson and LA 84 Foundations.

Some of the Asian Youth Center Programs
The Asian Youth Center is much more than bricks and mortar. Its impact on the lives of thousands of youth and their families is a direct result of AYC programming and the basis for the Achievement Award.

Friday Night Club is a very popular program for youth ages 14 to 24. Activities include basketball, movies, dance, table games, computer time and field trips. Workshops teach how to build good relationships, respecting the richness of other cultures and practical skills such as resume writing. Occasional guest speakers discuss their professions with club youth who may want to follow the same career paths.

The Friday Night Club also provides youth with an opportunity to perform community service. Whether court-ordered or to earn volunteer school credit, community service opportunities include helping at AYC and activities such as cleaning beaches and local parks. One teenager providing court-ordered service helps answer the phones, greets people, cleans the windows and makes snacks for the younger children. "I just made ten peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. I come as much as I can, sometimes everyday. I like coming here. It gives me something to do; it’s better than doing nothing."

Basketball in the half-court gymnasium gives kids who might not otherwise get a chance for team play a shot at the game. Hong Da Xu, a recent immigrant from China plays on the AYC basketball team. "The coach teaches me to play basketball. It’s fun," he says. He adds that AYC "has a family feel. People here are very nice."

Coach Lex Agacer says of the team, "They can improve their skills here and then make it onto the school team. The confidence they build will also help them in their studies and in whatever comes to them in life." Team member David Nguyen remembers, "I was not that good when I started. I have learned to look forward to basketball practice. For kids who don’t have much in their life, this is something to look forward to."

Teen Leadership Career College Preparation Program (TLCC) provides afterschool activity for high school students, many of whom attend San Gabriel or Gabrielino High Schools. Tutors are available to help with homework and weekly workshops offer college and career preparation skills. TLCC also features monthly field trips to university campuses, museums and other venues. Weekdays, the teens enjoy recreational activities after completing their homework while SAT preparation programs are held Saturday mornings.

Operation Read, a literacy program, targets fifth through twelfth graders trying to improve their reading skills. The program emphasizes phonics, writing activities, reading games and reading aloud. Tutors use a variety of instructional approaches to help every learner succeed, and Operation Read strives to make learning fun as well as educational. After every twenty hours of class participants take a standardized test until they have achieved their desired literacy level.

The Gang Intervention Program, funded by the Los Angeles County Probation Department, works with youth ages 12 to 18 in a twelve-week program that offers counseling, homework assistance and recreational activities. Participants are on probation and have been identified as gang members, are at-risk for joining gangs or have exhibited criminal behavior. The program was developed at the Asian Youth Center but AYC’s staff will soon expand the program to high schools and community centers in San Gabriel, Alhambra, Rosemead, Pomona, Arcadia, Glendale and Pasadena.

Home-based Social Services, also funded through the Probation Department, helps about sixty families with 14- to 18-year-old-youth each year with parenting and relationship skills, ensuring that these high-risk/high-need youth successfully complete the terms of their probation. The program case workers help youth develop and follow through with practical plans to attend school regularly, improve grades, complete counseling and community service requirements, develop positive peer relationships and be accountable for their choices and actions. Case workers also empower parents to better supervise and monitor their teens and to communicate more effectively in school and court systems.

After School Program provides first through sixth graders help with homework, art classes, snacks and videos. Joselyn Rodriguez, an eighth grader, explains, "I like AYC because they have really good tutors here. They help you with your homework because at home no one can help you with English. You don’t have to be Asian. You can be any race. They give out snacks to give you energy so you won’t slack off. I’ve been coming here for three years."

When asked what he likes about the Center, sevenyear- old Andy Liang responds, "My tutor gave me a word search. You have to find words in a square." Nine year old Phoenix Gong chimes in, "When I need help with my homework, my tutors help me. They are nice and don’t yell at me and are funny." Emily Hhang also enjoys the program saying, "Once they check your homework, they help you fix it. One of the tutors, Vu, is very funny. He makes jokes." Activities also take participants outside. Nine year old Jennifer Do explains, "We do homework. Sometimes on Friday when it’s not raining or cold, we go to the park. We play."

Success Stories
Duy Truong, now 23, started at AYC when he was a freshman in high school. He recalls that a staff member invited him to the Friday Night Club. "Without that program I could have gotten into trouble. Now I am a Youth Service Specialist for the Los Angeles County Probation Department and I work with at-risk youth and their parents to help them promote healthy relationships with other people." Also, on Fridays, Duy supervises kids that come to AYC for recreation. James Yokoyama, a part-time therapist at AYC who has known Duy for several years explains, "It brings joy to my heart to see some of the kids who used to come here now work here. Kids have a place to come and be silly. The staff can teach them how to act right. We can be a good example for them. I’m really proud of Duy."

Richard Villegas, a full-time personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness and a former Congressional Youth Scholar in high school, now tutors geometry and other higher-level mathematics at AYC. "I started here for what I thought was just going to be a summer job. Kids need a place to keep them out of trouble. Some of their parents are not watching them. I don’t blame the teachers. They have 30 to 35 students in a class. The kids need more attention and more clarity. Here at AYC we have more peer group learning. I try to get the kids to help one another. On weekdays, we do two hours of homework, and then they can do the fun stuff. On Fridays it’s more like recess here."

Chin Diep, an immigrant who left Vietnam at the age of ten, began at AYC in 1993. He now works as a counselor for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. "I came here in eighth grade. I started coming Friday nights to play basketball. They had a theater program. We thought it was boring and silly, but we stuck with it. We didn’t know the intentions behind it. I came here through all four years of high school. In my undergrad work, I worked for AYC’s AIDS program, and I ran the Friday Night Club. I learned a lot about social justice here. When I was in high school there was racial profiling and police profiling going on. I wanted to study cultural anthropology, but the counselors here guided me to get a Master’s Degree in social work. I went into the field because of my interaction with staff. I realized the kids here need a place to go and do something positive. As I got older I saw I had an opportunity to help the kids as I was helped. The first time I went hiking was with this Center. So when I became part of the staff I was able to give the kids the same opportunity. It was cool because a lot of my peers came back and volunteered here to provide transportation and to supervise. Kids I coached are now coaches. It happens naturally. I’m sure it will continue."

Expansion
The Asian Youth Center has two satellite offices. The downtown Los Angeles satellite opened in 1998 and serves youth from kindergarten through middle school. It provides an after school tutoring program as well as field trips to local historical sites. The Lancaster satellite opened in 2007 and offers the Operation Read and Home-based Social Services programs.

Executive Director, May L. To
The staff at the Asian Youth Center provides programs in an extraordinary way and no one is more responsible for this than May L. To. The Hong Kong native signed on as program coordinator with the organization when it first opened in 1989. In 1990, Mrs. To became its first executive director, and under her guiding hand, the Asian Youth Center has flourished to become a leading provider of recreational, social and educational services to both Asian and non-Asian youth and families in the San Gabriel Valley and beyond. Mrs. To explains, "My job allows me to help the next generation reach their greatest potential and to assist them with overcoming the hardships they experienced as new immigrants."
The Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District congratulates the Asian Youth Center for its exceptional contribution to youth and their families.
 
 
Copyright 2011 Asian Youth Center