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THE JAISOHN CENTER (Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Asian Americans within the Greater Philadelphia Region.
Our namesake, Dr. Philip Jaisohn, was a pioneer in Asian American activism as an advocate for Korean independence and a volunteer physician for the U.S. Military. In honor of his legacy, the Jaisohn Center strives to champion Asian American causes and strengthen communities through a wide range of health and human services.
We’re excited to keep you updated on our Center’s mission to elevate Asian American communities and foster unity between different ethnicities. Check out this newsletter to see what work we’ve accomplished with the help of your continued support.
Thank you for joining our cause!
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Korean American Citizenship Day
On June 19, 2022, we celebrated Korean American Citizenship Day, a state-recognized commemorative day that honors Dr. Philip Jaisohn, the first Korean immigrant to gain U.S. citizenship. This year marks the 132nd anniversary of his naturalization.
Event speakers included Washington’s South Korean Minister and Consul General Seijoong Kwon, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, Head Consul Jongseop Lee of the Philadelphia Consular Office of the Republic of Korea, Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs Stephanie Sun, Mayor Bob McMahon, President of the Federation of Korean American Associations of the Northeast (FKAANE) Judy Yoo, and our keynote speaker, Central Michigan University professor Hope Elizabeth May. Our celebration also featured performances from the Jaisohn Youth Academy Drum Team and the Jaisohn LIFE Academy Choir, as well as a presentation by the Elementary Division first place winner of the 2022 Philip Jaisohn National Creative Project Contest.
Festivities culminated with the presentation of a Pennsylvania Senate resolution from Sens. Tim Kearney, Maria Collett, and Art Haywood, a PA House citation from Reps. Todd Stephens, Steve Malagari, and Patty Kim, and a Philadelphia City Council resolution from Councilmember David Oh. The Jaisohn Center is proud to receive these documents, which celebrate Korean Americans by acknowledging and appreciating their many contributions to the United States.
View Professor May's speech
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Jaisohn Medical Center COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
The CDC recommends that you stay up to date on COVID–19 vaccines to stay protected against increasingly infectious coronavirus variants.
As of August 2022, the Jaisohn Medical Center has hosted 80 clinics and administered over 6,000 COVID-19 shots. We encourage you to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your loved ones. Contact us at vaccine@jaisohn.org for more information on our COVID-19 vaccine/booster services.
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Jaisohn Home Health Care
Please welcome Sunghoon Moon, DPT/PT, and Eugene Hong as new members of the Jaisohn Home Health Care team! Sunghoon Moon is our full-time physical therapist, and Eugene Hong is our occupational therapy student intern.
Jaisohn Home Health Care is a nonprofit, ACHC-accredited and licensed home health care agency devoted to providing high-quality, patient-driven supportive care. We offer medical care as identified by the physician as well as in-home psychological and social service care after a hospital stay, surgery, illness, or an injury.
Our team of multilingual health care professionals and nurse-supervised staff provides culturally sensitive service for patients of all ethnic backgrounds, because we believe that cultural awareness is integral to proper medical care.
Contact us to learn more about how we can assist you:
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Tel. 215-866-0103
Fax. 215-790-2980
Emergency Call: 267-789-5351
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We Serve: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties | |
Now Open: the Jaisohn Wellness Center
In 2021, we founded the Jaisohn Wellness Center in partnership with Advanced Living Communities, a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable senior housing. The Jaisohn Wellness Center provides resources for Asian residents of senior living facilities to receive health care and social services: we currently offer ESL, preventative health care, technology training, mindfulness exercises, singing, and line dancing classes as part of the Jaisohn LIFE Academy, an educational, activity-driven program for older adults.
This summer, we partnered with the Montgomery County Office of Senior Services to administer a needs assessment survey for seniors. Find out about how you can help improve the lives of seniors in our community here.
We would also like to thank the HealthSpark Foundation, the VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Jefferson Health–Abington, and the Friends Foundation for the Aging for their support in this endeavor.
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To learn more about our services: | |
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JAISOHN WELLNESS CENTER
1290 Allentown Rd
Landsdale, PA 19446
267-638-9500
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2022 Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Scholarship Award Ceremony
The 2022 Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Scholarship Award Ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 13 at 11am at the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House. This year, the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation provided a total of $19,000 to eleven motivated college and graduate students seeking financial aid.
We are grateful to our generous donors, who remain devoted to nurturing our community, and would like to thank them for helping us fund these scholarships.
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2022 NAM-PA Internship
The 2022 New American Majority PA (NAM-PA) Youth Racial Equity and Justice internship concluded on July 29th with a closing ceremony at the Jaisohn Center–Philadelphia.
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NAM-PA is a four-week internship that aims to cultivate the next generation of Black, Hispanic, and AAPI leaders. The internship was created through a collaboration between the Office of Senator Art Haywood, who represents the 4th District of Philadelphia; Esperanza, a faith–based nonprofit that serves Latino communities in Philadelphia; and the Jaisohn Center. | |
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Students selected for the internship receive mentorship from community leaders and are trained to acquire civic knowledge, gain leadership skills, and build meaningful relationships. They are also tasked with presenting a Capstone Project — this year’s cohort chose the topic of how youth voter participation can produce institutional change.
The Jaisohn Center is proud to be a sponsor of NAM-PA. We seek to continue expanding our relationships with the diverse residents of Philadelphia to lay the groundwork for a more equitable and harmonious City.
We would like to thank the Office of Senator Art Haywood and Esperanza for their partnership in establishing this program.
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AAC Mental Health Workshop Series
The Mental Health Workshop Series for Youth and Parents held its final hybrid session, "Stress Management", on August 9.
The Mental Health Workshop Series was created through a partnership between the Jaisohn Center, the Asian American Coalition, and the PA Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. From May–August, participants discussed the importance of understanding and treating mental health in creating healthy family relationships, through three sessions led by speaker Cliff Akiyama.
The Jaisohn Center is committed to de-stigmatizing mental health and providing greater access to mental health care resources for Asian Americans.
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“Seeds From The East: The Korean Adoptee Portrait Project,” an exhibition by artist A.D. Herzel, was hosted and sponsored by the Jaisohn Center from April 30–June 5 at the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House. Herzel, a Korean American adoptee herself, created the exhibition to highlight the transnational Korean adoptee experience and the cultural identities lost in the adoption process.
The Jaisohn Center hopes that by uplifting Korean adoptee voices, like Herzel’s, we can foster greater inclusion for Korean adoptees within AAPI immigrant communities.
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2022 Philip Jaisohn National Creative Project Contest Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 3rd Philip Jaisohn National Creative Project Contest!
We established the Philip Jaisohn National Creative Project Contest — an annual competition where 3rd–12th grade students present creative projects that commemorate Dr. Jaisohn’s life and activities — to connect Korean American students with their cultural heritage and educate them on AAPI history. This year, a total of $5,500 was given in prize money to 26 students.
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We regret to observe the passing of Dr. Chong-Sik Lee, Dr. Wooyoung Lee, and Dr. Byung Chang Choi. Dr. Chong-Sik Lee served as Chairman of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Board from 1985–1988, Dr. Wooyoung Lee served as Chairman of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Board from 1992–1997, and Dr. Byung Chang Choi served as Chairman of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation Board from 2007–2009.
We thank them for their devotion to the Korean American community and many years of service to the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, and offer our condolences to their families.
Statement from the family of Dr. Wooyoung Lee
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The Jaisohn Center's work would not be possible without the generosity of our partners: | | | | |
