Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

May 2017


In This Issue

ESL Spring Quarter
Starting April 10, 2017

10 am - 12 noon
Mondays (Beginner Level)
Tuesdays (Intermediate Level)
Wednesdays (Intermediate Level)
Thursdays (Advanced Level)

For more information, please call AACS for more information: 614-220-4023 x.230
Korean Seniors Program

The Korean Seniors Program offers Korean seniors ( 55 years of age or older) in Franklin County with public assistance and culturally appropriate support services.

To learn more about the program or if you have any question, please contact Daniel "Danny" Nam at dnam@aacsohio.org/614-220-4023 x 223.
Women's Quilting Group  
   
Thursdays, 1pm-3pm @AACS

This project seeks to connect women, share stories of  courage, create beauty, and move towards healing in our lives with one another. 

All craft supplies will be provided, and take-home kits will be available. The group will be hosted at AACS (4700 Reed Rd., Suite B, Columbus Ohio, 43220).

To learn more about our quilting group or are interested in attending, please contact our Program Coordinator, Yihong Dong at ydong@aacsohio.org  or 614-220-4023 x 100 .
Ikebana Classes:
Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement
  
Mondays, 2pm-3pm or 3:15pm-4:15pm

Our current classes are full.
Please stay tuned for sign-ups in our next series.

To learn more about our Ikebana classes or are interested attending, contact our Program Coordinator,  Yihong Dong at ydong@aacsohio.org
or 614-220-4023 x 100.
Senior Benefits Program


If you have questions about:
-Medicaid
-Medicare Part A, B, & D
-Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)
-(Medicare Part D) Extra Help
-Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
-Food Stamp Program (SNAP)
-Cash Assistance
-Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
-Homestead Exemption for property tax
-Golden Buckeye Card
-AT&T Lifeline
-Free Clinic
-Other related questions

Please contact  Yihong Dong at  614-220-4023 x100 or  ydong@aacsohio.org for more information and for a FREE screening for benefits eligibility.
Ohio Business and Career Expo

5/17/2017  9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Ohio Expo Center, Cardinal Hall
717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43211
Free Health  Consultation

The second Sunday afternoon, every month
12:45pm - 1:30pm

Columbus Chinese Christian Church
4141 Maize Rd, Columbus, OH 43224

For more information, please contact: Changcheng Zhao, 614-715-2212

Lao Volunteer Donation Association:
Monthly Provisions Giveaway
2017 Produce Market Dates

Saturday, 05/13/17- 10:00 am-1:00 pm

1160 Alum Creek Drive
Columbus, OH 43209

 Please call 614-506-1167 or 614-252-5786 to confirm.
Families living at or below the Federal Poverty Line are eligible to receive free produce. Please bring a bag to carry away your goods.
Apply to Join the AG's Teen Ambassador Board

The Ohio Attorney General's Teen Ambassador Board is now accepting applications for the 2017-2018 academic year. The mission of the board is to empower Ohio's future leaders with knowledge about how government works and to strengthen their ability to develop leadership. 

It is open to Ohio high school students who will be juniors or seniors during the upcoming academic year and are interested in law and government. Students from public, private, home, charter, and online schools are all welcome. 

All selected members will serve a one-year term during which they convene twice in Columbus, propose solutions to issues, and have a great opportunity to meet with officials. 

Asian Americans are underrepresented at all levels of government. AACS encourages API youth to apply to let the voices of our communities be heard! 

Check out the Attorney General's website for more information. The deadline is May 31, 2017. You can apply here
AACS's sexual assault services and production of related content in this newsletter were supported in part by subgrant No. 02560272SA0117 awarded by the state administering office for the SASP Formula Grant Program. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the state or the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

The two Minority Health Month workshops were supported by funding from the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.


 
   

Honor. Celebrate. Empower.
~APA Heritage Month with AACS~

In November 2016, AACS celebrated our 40th anniversary. This milestone marked our continued efforts and our achievements in supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. This Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month, we reflect on the challenges that remain for AAPIs and call on you to join us in our efforts to continue uplifting our communities.

AACS is comprised of four major departments: Community Education, Interpreting & Translation, Health Care & Prevention, and Youth & Family. The various programs under each department address different issues and needs in AAPI communities.

As we celebrate the achievements of AAPIs in Ohio and beyond this APA Heritage Month, we must not forget that there are many in our community who still struggle or have unfulfilled needs. We hope you will join us and support our programs by volunteering your time to help us deliver critical services to our community members in need. To learn more about our programs, please visit our website.
New American Forum 2017  
Save the date 2017 and invitation in one.png    
DATE AND TIME :
5/10/17 (Wed) 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

LOCATION :
The Columbus Athenaeum
32 North 4th Street
Columbus, OH 43215

This is a  FREE  event but please register  HERE .

About the New American Advisory CouncilThe New American Advisory Council is a coalition of organizations, individuals, and neighbors committed to raising awareness and promoting integration through community engagement. Come learn how you can help in the development of a connected community that values diversity as we build a calendar of events designed to welcome, engage, and empower our region's newest Americans and our neighbors from abroad. AACS is a member of the Advisory Council.
AACS Celebrates Minority Health Month in April with Community Workshops


On April 8, 2017, AACS held a healthy relationship workshop at the Tree of Life Conference Center to raise public awareness of family and relationship issues. The event was held in recognition of both Minority Health Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. About 30 people attended the workshop, mostly from the Asian community. Over the two-hour training, our guest speaker, Dr. Susan Yoon from The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Social Work, addressed the prevalence of unhealthy relationships within the AAPI communities, including domestic violence, teen dating violence, and intimate partner violence.

"It was a comprehensive introduction providing background, statistics, myth and facts to help audience understand these topics," said Yihong Dong, program coordinator of AACS's Family Support Program.

Often, a lack of knowledge can result in biases and ignorance that exacerbate unhealthy family and interpersonal relationships. Misunderstandings of what constitutes healthy relationships may be more common in the Asian American community due to cultural norms and traditional values. Many people consider physical violence as the only component of unhealthy relationships. However, there are different forms of violence that contribute to unhealthy relationships, including sexual violence, emotional abuse, and economic abuse. These types of violence and abuse can physically and mentally impair a person's health and result in the abuser exercising control and power over their victims.

Dr. Yoon explained the various reasons 
that keep a victim in an abusive relationship, myths and facts about unhealthy relationships, and the negative consequences of violence, especially impacts of children's exposure to intimate partner violence. Audience members were encouraged to participate in group discussion and interact with one another to share their own opinions.

According to Yihong, the workshop had a great gender balance because a portion of the audience members were male. Workshops addressing domestic violence and sexual assault often skew heavily female, but in this session, the male audience made important contributions by engaging on the issue of healthy relationships from a "men's perspective."

To help Asian Americans develop healthy relationships, the workshop ended with important information on how to maintain good communication with one's partner as well as information about available community resources. AACS expects that the presentation would effectively educate our community members and help them on how to maintain positive family and intimate partner relationships.



On April 29, 2017, AACS hosted a community workshop on colorectal cancer awareness at the Tree of Life Ministry Center. Dr. Darrell Gray of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center gave an engaging presentation on how to maintain colon health, preventative measures against colon cancer, and health disparities as it pertains to the Asian community.

According to Dr. Gray, while Asian Americans have the lowest rates of colorectal cancer, there are still many unnecessary deaths because screening rates among Asian Americans are also the lowest. There are often options available once colorectal cancer is detected, so regular screenings are very important. Screenings should start from age 50 in general and earlier if there is a family history.
Volunteers Needed!!!
AACS is seeking committed volunteers who can help support our programs!! We have a particular need in our civic engagement program. To learn more about our programs and overview of volunteer opportunities, check out our website or contact Asafu Suzuki (
614-220-4023 x240, asuzuki@aacsohio.org). Inquiries regarding unpaid internships (both summer and during the semester) are also welcome.

To volunteer for our Healthy Asian Youth (HAY) program, please contact Franchesca Brown (216-732-1570, fbrown@aacsohio.org).

If you are interested in volunteering for our Asian Festival booth, please contact Chin-Yin Shih (614-220-4023 x224, cshih@aacsohio.org).
Come Support the AACS Dragon Boat Team!!!

AACS will be back again this year to compete in this year's Dragon Boat Race
! We hope you will come cheer us on!!

The race will be held at West Bank Park in downtown Columbus on May 21 from 9 am to 4 pm. We hope to see you there!!