Emergency Preparedness Workshop

Disasters happen everywhere. Even in Seattle, where we have earthquakes, windstorms, and flooding. An emergency safety plan can save lives, which is why the International Family Center-Seattle will be having a workshop on Emergency Preparedness on June 3rd. It will be conducted by staff from the City of Seattle's Office of Emergency Management. During this workshop, clients will learn about the hazards we are most likely to face in Washington, how to be safe in different disasters, how to put together an emergency supply kit, and more. Details below:

Date: Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Time: 9:30-11:00am
Location: International Family Center, 611 S Lane St, Seattle WA 98104

For registration and further information, please contact Cheryl Lee at 206.624.5633 x 4150.

Starbucks

A big THANK YOU you to Starbucks and manager Ken Song for supporting our After School Program and donating pastries and goodies for their afternoon snack each week!




Graham crackers and juice gets old real fast when you get it 5 days a week.


If there are leftovers, maybe the staff will get a shot at it??

Elderly Case Management

This update from our monthly staff meeting:  CISC saw a first quarter jump in the number of seniors it is providing case management services to from 526 to 539.

Now this may not sound like very much, but county-wide, there were only 40 new cases, and CISC had 18 of them!

Thank goodness we have a corps of incredibly dedicated and passionate case managers who ensure that each of their 100+ clients gets the proper services and attention they need and deserve!  They help our seniors live healthy independent lives for as long as possible and in their own homes.

New Donation Options

Here's something new.  Now, with Click&Pledge, you can make your donations easier than ever!

You know how on PBS, they always say you can pay your pledge in installments?  Like $10 per month for a total of $120?  Or 4 easy payments of $250?  Well, now you can do the same with CISC!

OK, so we don't have mugs or umbrellas to give you.  But that just means that more of your donation goes directly to services for Asian and other immigrant clients and their families.

Just click on the Donate Now button on our blog or on our website, enter the amount, and choose the frequency of payment. It's safe, it's easy, and it's 100% tax deductible!*

Go ahead - give it a try!  You know you want to!



*Please consult with your tax professional as your individual situation may vary.

Flooring Done

Flooring at the new International Family Center-Kent was installed over the weekend - and it looks great!

A big thanks to our friends at KT Building Supply for donating all the flooring!  Versatile, good looking, and durable.

Our line dancing participants will love its dancability.  Our play and learn families will love its warmth. And our staff just love its attractiveness and easy maintenance!

Next time you're ready to do a little home remodeling, be sure to check out KT Building Supply!

CPR Workshops

The Seattle Fire Department Medic II Program will be holding the following two CPR workshops for Vietnamese clients on Monday, April 19th at the International Family Center-Seattle. All participants will become certified after training. Please contact Mabel Kwong at 206.624.5633 x 4151 with any questions.

Infant/Child CPR class (including injury prevention and safety): 10am-12pm
Adult ESL CPR class (including recognizing and understanding heart attacks): 12:30pm-2:30pm

Fall Prevention Certificate Course

The Sunshine Garden Senior Day Care center at CISC is working with Senior Services to hold a fall prevention course in Mandarin. The program, known as "A Matter of Balance," is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels.

The 8-session class is being held every Wednesday from 1-3pm at the International Family Center-Seattle, at 611 S Lane St., starting on April 7th. A $15 fee for the workbook and snacks will be charged. 

For more information, please contact Andes Kong at 206.624.5633 x 4121.

Kudos to Our Play and Learn Group!

This from our partner at the Beacon Hill Library:

Your hard work has paid off! I was at a Getting School Ready planning meeting at Maple Elementary last night. They will be starting a Play and Learn in the CDSA space at Maple School, starting April 19, so the coordinator told the group that they had visited our Play and Learn at the library. She was full of praises for your program--how well run it was, how smoothly it went, how diverse our families were, how it met all goals they hope to achieve, how much fun everybody was having. I had to let you know how impressed everyone was and how they will no doubt try to replicate your success.

Thanks for your good work,

Diane

Free Nutrition Cooking Course in Mandarin

The Washington State University King County Extension Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) will be providing a series of 6 nutrition cooking classes at International Family Center-Seattle. Participants will learn how to keep up a healthy, delicious, and affordable diet according to the latest nutrition guidelines. Anyone who takes part in all six classes will receive a small gift, certificate, and a recipe. The presentation will be in Mandarin.

Dates: 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/13, 5/20, and 5/27
Time: 1:30-3pm
Location: CISC/International Family Center-Seattle (611 S Lane St, Seattle, WA 98104)

To register or for more information, please contact Mabel Kwong at (206) 624-5633 x 4151.

Line Dancing Class

Have you ever wanted to try line dancing? CISC's International Family Center held a class last Saturday, and the next session will begin on May 1st. The cost is $24 for 8 weeks. And if you've never seen a line dance before, check out our class in action in the video below.

For more information, contact Mabel Kwong at (206) 624-5633 ext 4151 or mabelk@cisc-seattle.org.

Where Are We?

Some of you may be wondering where the International Family Center-Kent is moving to.

We used to be located in the Great Wall Shopping Mall, near 99 Ranch Market. But we found a larger (and more affordable) space across the street next to Staples.

This new space is closer to bus stops, has plenty of parking, and is still just across the street from all the great shopping and dining options at the old site.

We'll be located at 18123 East Valley Hwy, Ste B105 in Kent, between Image Family Dental and Happy at the Bay Teriyaki.

The phone number remains the same: (425) 251-4300.

Construction Update

Work continues on the new International Family Center-Kent.

Increasing in size from 600 to 1,400 square feet, we're adding two offices, meeting/classroom space, and a restroom to the main activity area.

Light and bright, this new center will give us more flexibility to provide multiple activities at the same time - play and learn groups, ESL classes, recreational and social activities, and information and assistance services to our Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian and Latino friends and neighbors.

International Family Center-Kent

Work has begun on our new space for the International Family Center-Kent. We're moving to a larger space across the street from the Great Wall Shopping Mall where we have been located for the past 3 years.





This new and enlarged space will allow us to provide even more programs and activities serving our South End neighbors.

Check back often to see the progress!

Here are some "before" pictures.

Riding the Light Rail

To address the new changes in bus stops at Sea-Tac Airport and the extended service of the Light Rail to Sea-Tac Airport, staff and volunteer's from CISC's Sunshine Garden recently led a group of 20 seniors to the airport by light rail.

As more than 20 seniors are still on the waiting list, another trip will be scheduled in April. Seniors over 60 are welcome to join, but advanced reservation is required.

Minority Issues in Seattle

As part of its program for nonprofit leaders visiting from Thailand, CISC's Crime Victims Program Director Alan Lai will be part of a panel discussion on minority issues in Seattle hosted by the World Affairs Council on March 26.

Admission is free, but reservations are requested. RSVP here or call the Council at 206-441-5910.

Block Prints

Check out these cool block prints done by our after school program youth!



Last one is actually a collaborative project by 6 different kids making one unified picture.

Thanks to the Pratt Fine Arts Center for sponsoring this project and making it all possible!

Human Trafficking

For those of you interested in what is being done to address human trafficking across the US, or for those of you just looking for a little light reading, here's the final report on a study CISC participated in with the Department of Health and Human Services.

One of the main findings was that many in our community still do not have a clear understanding of what human trafficking is, and how victims can be identified and helped.

If you'd like to learn more about human trafficking, or just want to talk about CISC's crime victims services, give us a call!

The full study can be downloaded here.

Census 2010: A New Portrait of America

1st Annual Lunar New Year Walkathon

Photos from our first walkathon at Safeco Field. Nearly 500 participants, perfect weather, and amazing performances! Walkers spanned the generations, from 2.5 months to 93 years old.

A huge thanks to our sponsors: Cathay Bank, Community Health Plan of Washington, Pepsi Bottling Group, PCC Natural Markets, 2010 Census, Gee Oak How Tin Association, and Massage Envy!

This festive family event raised over $15,000 for CISC programs to help immigrants and their families transition to a new life while keeping later generations in touch with their rich cultural heritage.

Join us next year on February 5, 2011 and get the new year off to a great start!

Legislative Day

On February 4th dozens of staff, clients, and volunteers represented CISC at Asian Pacific American Legislative Day in Olympia. CISC was just one of several organizations providing a voice for Asian Pacific Americans in Washington State, as the state government considers solutions to its current budget crisis. Further cuts to the budget would undermine the services that CISC and other organizations provide to the Asian Pacific American community, and this event was an opportunity for CISC to make the Governor and state government aware of our clients' concerns. It was also a chance for our clients to educate themselves about the legislative process and the budget issues facing our state.