Herb Wong's love for teaching began before college when he taught summer school.

The Citizens Bank Chinatown Branch Manager and AVP has been in the banking industry for 15 years. For ten of those years, he has volunteered at AACA providing financial literacy workshops and financial coaching.

"I love teaching. They ask great questions mainly about credit, loans, building credit, what's a credit score, what do numbers mean, mortages, how to fix their credit. When they're learning something, that's what I love," said Wong.

He added, "I go through everything step by step." In addition to providing mock interviews and workshops, Wong spends half an hour with each client during one-on-one coaching making sure to answer all of the client's questions. "They tell me the differences between credit scores in China and Asia," he said. Some of the clients come back to Wong many times. He recalled one client from the Building Energy Efficient Maintenance Skills training program who came to see him week after week asking for advice on how to save more and how to get his financials back on track.

Wong's desire to help immigrants at AACA through financial coaching has deep roots. "My mom was an immigrant. When she came over, I wish there were people who helped her," he said.

Three of Wong's employees at Citizens Bank in Chinatown (pictured above) are graduates of AACA. 

 

 

When Yuanyuan Wang's husband landed a research job at Harvard University, she made the decision to immigrate to Boston and leave behind her well-established career as an investment manager in Beijing.

After working as a Human Resources Assistant, she eventually joined the New Roots to Employment class at AACA which helps highly skilled immigrants to reclaim their careers. Through the class, Wang was able to land a job at Citizens Bank in Chinatown as a Small Business Representative. Wang's new job is not exactly the same field as her last job but she is excited about it and plans on getting her Master's one day so she can move up the ladder.

Wang said, "It's been extremely difficult. When you don't know the language and culture, obviously you can't get the same job. It took me awhile to realize that reality. It's not only a problem for me."

But Wang said the New Roots to Employment class really helped her to feel like she wasn't alone. In New Roots, she met a lot of professionals from China, Europe, Ukraine and South America. "They all had years and years of experience. They try their best to be optimistic," she said. 

Wang said the Burlington English component of the course helped her in particular. It helped her to focus on preparing for networking in a professional environment. "This program helped us all to achieve our goals," she said.

Wang said the New Roots program is beneficial to society as a whole. "There are a lot of well-educated immigrants but when they move to a country, they don't take jobs that fit their skills and qualifications."

She added, "We contribute to society if we find better jobs. We pay more taxes one day. We could help people."

 

 

Before enrolling in AACA's banking training program, Keila Rodrigues, 25, used only two fingers to type. The banking program, which includes a computer class, taught her how to type "professionally" using all of her fingers. "I didn't know how to do that before," she said smiling. Previously employed at Dunkin' Donuts, she just landed a job as a Teller at East Boston Savings Bank. Keila, who is a Cape Verdean immigrant, said, "In my country, to work in a bank is a big thing! I feel great. Excited! It's a new career in my life."

Once in Boston, Keila entered high school for two years at Boston Adult Technical Academy. There someone let her know about AACA. After completing four levels of ESOL training at AACA, she enrolled in the banking program. Rodrigues said that the class taught her all the basics of sales, customer service and cash handling. Her favorite part of the class, however, was learning how to distinguish real bills from counterfeit ones.

 

 

Paul and Edith Babson Foundation: $4,000 for the Youth Employment Center 

U.S. DOL Strengthening Families grant: CBF and New Roots: TBD 

     

Gala Sponsors

Tufts Medical Center: Underwriter
Stanley Chen: Orchid
Cathay Bank: Gladiola
State Street
Double Tree Hotel
Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation
ABCD
Carol Rose
South Cove Community Health Center
Tufts University-School of Dental Medicine
Home Depot
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
Keolis Commuter Services, LLC
Tony Kwan
Richard Soo Hoo Insurance
Alexander Bove
Webster Bank N.A.
East Boston Savings Bank
Peabody Properties, Inc.
BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts
Chin & Curtis, LLP
University of Massachusetts, Boston
Neiman Marcus
Emerson College
Boston Foundation
Hallmark Health System
Boston Medical Center
Global View Communications, Inc
People's United Bank
East Ocean Enterprise  

Updates:

AACA is offering a three day customer service skills building seminar. Learn what employers are looking for in a customer service associate/representative. This is an informative seminar to help you find and keep a good customer service position. Employer partners will give priority to seminar attendees.The seminar starts on September 12 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at AACA on 87 Tyler Street on the fourth floor. To register or for more information, e-mail [email protected]. 

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