Forever Lasting Memory

I can’t believe I am only 24 hours away from the last day of my internship at ACDC. I’ve had so many laughable, interesting, and sometimes even exasperating moments here, but ultimately, it was a rewarding experience. It has been a learning and growing experience in which I developed key skills. I gained exactly what I wanted to gain during this process- I am now open to a whole new culture that I’ve come to adore and in the course I helped better the future of a wonderful community. I was part of a team that is developing a video game; what can possibly be cooler? I can handle a 3D sketch-up and have become more organized than I initially was. I do plan to visit and help out during the school year but the experience that I’ve been exposed to this summer will never be replaced. I felt an immense responsibility and duty as the person in charge of the pictures and development of the 3D sketch-up model; documenting everything we had, organizing it and exploring the sketch-up model- although tedious, was very fascinating.

-Lisbeth Pimental

Everything has an End

Summer is concluding, and so is my work at ACDC as the Youth Chair of Films at the Gate. The youth office of A-VOYCE is all too familiar to me; its light-yellow walls, the piles of cardboard boxes, and everyone at the ACDC has found a place to stay in my memory. I have learned much not through classes and workshops, but through the mere experience of working with people, and sometimes non-cooperating computers. Chinatown may not be my community, and non-profit organizations may not be my future, but they are part of me nonetheless.

Films at the Gate was not the only work I did, I also focused on walking tours and learning about Chinatown. I’ve learned so much more about Chinatown’s past, and its future seems clearer to me. I walked the perimeter of Chinatown countless times, whether I am leading a group of observers or briskly walking to get lunch at many place I’ve never realized were there. But my work was not just walking tours and getting lunch, because the city was paying me to do more that.

Organizing Films at the Gate was a satisfying, and enjoyable experience. As the telemarketer as well as the door-to-door advertiser, I realized their efforts were by far greater than I expected. Through my adventures around the Leather District, I learned that even the average person has unique stories. Nevertheless I was rejected just like all other advertisers. Not only did I meet people while advertising Films at the Gate, but also through meeting my co-workers, also known as friends.

The small community at ACDC is friendly and exciting, from telling stories about raising goats in college, to playing wall ball with a foam artichoke, and then of course walking around in a bittermelon suit. It is my fifth week here and I still hear new stories and I’m never bored of listening to the old ones. When I come back to A-VOYCE for the fall, I’ll look forward to seeing them again.

Well, that’s the end of my blog, and I’ll be back in the fall.

Anthony Cheung, Oak Terrace Youth

Our Radio Show Experience

It was my first time here in A-VOYCE this summer, and I was on the radio show for the first time in my life. At first it was really exciting and I was pretty much waiting the whole week for that day to come. But when Saturday came (which is the day we have our radio show), it was really nerve-racking. I wasn’t really mentally or emotionally prepared for the radio show, so I was shaking when it was my turn on the board. I thought the show was going to be over if I was on the board; I thought I was going to mess up everything. But it really wasn’t that bad, except maybe a few mistakes here and there, but hey, who doesn’t make mistakes? Then I pretty much got used to the way a radio show worked, and I love the radio station. There were lots of writings and drawings and posters on the walls, so it was really colorful and decorated. I can’t believe next week will be our last week there.

When I heard I was going to be on a radio show, I became really nervous. What if I mess up and say something really bad or offensive? However that stress seemed to have died down after a couple of radio shows. I also learned a lot from workshops with other groups on Thursday. It was a great experience meeting many new people who were also working at the radio show with me. Next week is our last week here, but I will definitely drop by often to say hi to the youths still working there.=)

Kevin and Jamie, Metropolitan Youth

Random A-VOYCE Dream

You think I don’t get enough A-VOYCE in my life, right? Wrong. While in deep slumber, I have encountered an A-VOYCE dream. It was definitely my first “A-VOYCE” dream and just like and day at A-VOYCE, it was random, bizarre, and unpredictable.

It was an adventure, but this time our objective was to go to Antarctica in order to dance. We were at Downtown Crossing Station and Carro (who was renamed Syllabus) and I were waiting for people to come so we could all go to Antarctica. While waiting we saw Aladdin sitting on the stone chairs that were known in Downtown Crossing. The train arrived. Stepping out from the doors was Jason (a staff from ACDC) and Jimmy. They were wearing thick fur coats with bushy fur hoods. Upon arriving Carro and I pushed them back into the train so we would not miss the next train. The scenery changed dramatically after we left the tunnel. The interior of the train changed from the normal Boston metro style to a more Hong Kong subway furnishing. Outside looked like Tokyo and it abruptly changed to a French-countryside in a matter of seconds. On the next stop, Mary and Franny arrived and with each stop a group of youth would enter the train. Eventually we had almost all the youth as the land began to fill up with snow. On our last stop, we had made it, with penguins, and a surrounding desolate snowy tundra.

I don’t know what this dream symbolized but it seems to me that A-VOYCE plays such an important role in my life that it’s possible for me to dream about it. This summer has been nonstop A-VOYCE and I don’t regret the dream or being able to spend time at ACDC. I’m lucky to be able to work with such talented staff and youth. Everyday is an adventure, but not quite like the one I had in my dream.

-Tai Tung Village Youth

End of the Year Party

This Sunday, we had a get-together party at Alan’s house with rest of A-VOYCE. A lot of people came including other ACDC staff such as Amy Cheung, Caroline, Catherine, and Jason. Everyone either brought a dish or chipped in twelve dollars for the party. We had dumplings, rice balls, rice with curry, crepes, egg rolls, chicken wings, hotdogs, etc. (I am running out of things to say here). Also, we got a chance to hang out with Shawn, the new youth coordinator for A-VOYCE. He is really friendly. I really like the game called Snake he introduced to us. A person has to be the head which caught mice. Whoever was caught would become part of the snake in order to catch more mice. Only the head could catch mice, and the other part of the snake got to block other mice. Eventually, the snake (the catchers) would end up really long. Since everyone is new to the game, a lot of people got caught; by the way, Alan won the game!

We got to watch the videos that Diane made on YouTube, and the lovely slide shows by Carro. It was really cool, and all the A-VOYCE members got to mangle and have fun. Also, Alan handed out the superlative awards. Everyone got one! We had a lot of fun at the party, and many people stayed after.

- Oak Terrace Youth

Be a man/woman well met

Carro, Anthony and I go to a workshop called the Martin Luther King Summer Scholars at Boston University from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M every Friday. This week we learned how to put our best selves forward. The workshop was presented by Judith Bowman, president and founder of Protocol Consultants International. They offer training, consultation and coaching services to those who want to enhance their interpersonal skills, communications skills, as well as personal effectiveness in business and social relationships.

“You need to know the rules before you can play the game.” –Shakespeare.

The Game is Life and it’s true because you never get a second chance to make a great first impression! The most crucial skill remains the ability to interact successfully with other people. Like what Ms. Bowman said, “It is your behavior from the outset that will help build a strong foundation in the relationship building process.”

Here is a list of things that I learned from the workshop.

- Name badges go on your RIGHT hand side, as close to eye-level as possible- never shoulder-top.
- Never ask a senior executive for their business card – they will not have one and it will create an awkward moment
- Hold glasses in your LEFT hand, leaving your right hand free to SHAKE HANDS
- Small talk is “huge talk”.
- A social introduction is based on age/gender; a business introduction is based on rank/status
- Always say the name of the most important person first.
- “Hi” is not an appropriate greeting, “Hello” is.
- The social kiss is appropriate in business.
- You show your respect when you rise when someone new enters the room.
- It is better to write the thank you note than to Email them.
- Business etiquette rules are the same for men and women.

Tong Chen, Oak Terrace Youth

My First Week

My first week at the Asian Community Development Corporation was very interesting. I was able to experience a community that I was never exposed to before. The environment is comfortable, welcoming, and the work load is definitely manageable.

In one week, I acquired extensive knowledge on topics I once overlooked, that are now a part of my life. I loved my first week and surely looking forward to the next five.

As a Hispanic teenager growing up in east Boston, I knew there were different cultures that I inevitably would be exposed to. Working at ACDC unveiled a whole new world to me. Everything surprised, interested, and intrigued me. The historical tour I received enlightened me in the sense that I got familiar with the community. Learning about Chinatown is essential for my job because it makes me more passionate about what I’m doing at ACDC. The DML Project is an awesome experience. I’m developing new skills and exploring Chinatown more and more each day.

- Lisbeth Pimental

A-VOYCE’s new project

This is MeiHua and Karen presenting you the most exciting project of the summer, Digital Media Learning (DML)! There are many descriptions of DML. In a nutshell, it is a virtual world where anyone can participate and communicate without having to physically be there. The goal of this project is to give people an opportunity to view Chinatown differently.

During the past two weeks, we worked with Victor and Lisbeth. Photos of Chinatown were taken and used for the 3D models in Google Sketch-Up. Labels of specific were also put on the Chinatown model.

Karen and I worked on the avatar development. We took photos of people in Chinatown, and came up with descriptions for each character. A street vendor yelled at us on the first day. However, this didn’t deter us from taking more photos. Karen fell in love with the people in Nam Boc Hong, a Chinese herb store next to Bao Bao Bakery. They are the coolest people on earth. They were very generous in giving us permission to take photos of them!

Currently, we are creating interview questions. We can’t wait see to the finished product. Stay tuned for our next post!

- MeiHua & Karen

The Topic of Prejudice Yet Again

“One [of a series of studies], from the University of California at Los Angeles, generally found decreased prejudice among students with different-race roommates — but those who roomed with Asian-Americans, the group that scored the highest on measures of prejudice, became more prejudiced themselves.”

- New York Times, Interracial Roomates Can Reduce Prejudice

This article targeted more of the racial issues with African Americans and Caucasians, but the minute statement above is disappointing yet true. Most believe it is right to treat everyone equally, but actions may not follow what one thinks.

One reason for the high prejudice Asians have, but which can be debated, is the very few generations that the Asian community has in America. When the first significantly large group of Asians came over permenantly for the gold rush, they were looked down upon by others, and therefore were forced to form their own community. As time passed, the community shut themselves off from interacting with other ethnicities, creating a social barrier.

First impressions became lasting impressions as some Asians passed down the stories and opinions of how other Americans treated them. Today the extremity of this isolation evolved into a passive notion. Asian clubs exist in my school, and though I and many other Asians have a diverse social web, others choose to stick to other Asians, creating the big Asian clique every grade has in my school.

In my opinion, the two ways the world can become socially colorblind is through prohibiting influence and reaching out to everyone. Without influence, the only impression one can put on a race is through the people, not other’s opinions. And by socializing with everyone, diversity will be expected, not shunned.

Anthony Cheung, Oak Terrace Youth

Don’t Forget About Us!

“If a black man can become chairman of the Republican National Committee, then anything is possible.” -Michael Steele, the first black chair of the Republican National Committee.

Steele, as the first black chairman of the Republican National Committee, is an important role model for African Americans. This quote should be highlighted because of the impact it has on African Americans, and minorities in general. The Republican party is often viewed as the party of wealth, and minorities are often viewed as low-income. Since Steele, an African American, has become the chairman of a Republican committee, this shows that anything is possible.

This also links to another historic event concerning Sonia Sotomayor. Sotomayor was nominated by President Barack Obama for the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would be the Court’s 111th justice, its first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice.

Now,  I see hopes for me, as an Asian American. I see opportunities for everyone, among every race. That we can, and we will, have our voices to be heard. Not only among our community, but also this country.

Tong Chen, Oak Terrace Youth.