No. 42 | June 1, 2024 - August 31, 2024 | |
THE JAISOHN CENTER (Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Asian Americans within the Greater Philadelphia Region.
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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JAISOHN DEPARTMENT UPDATES | | |
Jaisohn Medical Center
The Jaisohn Medical Center is dedicated to providing the best preventive care for patients of underserved communities and patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, etc. In collaboration with Einstein Elkins Park Hospital, group mammogram screenings were conducted in June with the support of our bilingual staff members. Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst women, particularly for AAPI women, making it essential to provide patients with the tools to detect and diagnose abnormalities early on. In addition, we hosted a group colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy screening for prevention of related cancers at the US Digestive Health, East Norriton.
To learn more about the Jaisohn Medical Center, please call our Philadelphia office at (215)-224-2000 or our Lansdale office at (215)-997-2101.
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Jaisohn Home Health Care
Jaisohn Home Health Care provided health screenings at the Korean American Citizenship Day Celebration on June 22nd. Children and adults alike were able to get their blood pressure and heart rate measured, gaining valuable insights into their current health. The health screenings were among the many activities offered at the event, aiming to promote community health and emphasize the importance of preventive care.
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Jaisohn Home Health Care also welcomed a new staff member this summer! We are pleased to welcome Sung Nam Sim, a registered nurse!
To learn more about Jaisohn Home Health Care, please call (215)-866-0103 for more information.
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Jaisohn Home Care has experienced many rewarding moments throughout the years while enabling seniors to remain in their homes. One caregiver shared her moving story with us.
Lee Min Soo became a caregiver after her father passed away and her mother was diagnosed with severe dementia. She had to quit her job in order to care for her mother and felt distraught without her father’s help or knowledge about how to handle this situation. Then she heard that a friend had received help from Jaisohn Home Care. Min Soo contacted Jaisohn Home Care and learned about all the resources and that she wasn’t alone. She would be able to not only get paid for caring for her mother, but also have meals delivered to their home and have her mother attend senior daycare during the day, allowing Min Soo some time for herself!
Min Soo is now taking care of her mother in the comfort of her own home alongside her dog, Salt. She shares that “I am at peace with myself finally”, evidenced by the smile on her face.
To learn more about Jaisohn Home Care, please call (215)-224-2137.
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Jaisohn Wellness Center
Senior Community Center
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This summer was quite eventful for the Jaisohn Wellness Center as innovative programs and activities continued. The Jaisohn Senior Volunteer Group was formed with a group of participants who desired to give back to the community. They have upgraded the Taegeukgi flower bed at the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House and are planning to support our upcoming events. Professor Sooja Kim, Korea’s #1 Foot Massage Therapist, visited and gave a lecture about proper foot care and relaxation techniques. Her engaging and informative session left our seniors eager for more. Our singing class performed at the Parents' Day Celebration in front of 1000 attendees. Their beautiful performance touched the hearts of many and showcased the talent found at the Jaisohn Senior Community Center.
To learn more about the Jaisohn Wellness Center and how to participate, contact (267)-639-9500.
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2024 New American Majority-PA Internship | |
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We were pleased to welcome the Jaisohn Center's third group of New American Majority-PA (NAM-PA) Interns, coordinated by Senator Art Haywood's Office, Esperanza and the Jaisohn Center. The NAM-PA internship program strives to provide Asian, Black and Latine college students with unique and multidimensional experiences that prepare them for their future aspirations. Our interns received $3,000 scholarships to further their studies and invest in their future. We thank each intern for their valuable contributions and unique ideas they brought to our community.
To learn more about this internship program, go to https://jaisohn.org/racial-equity-and-justice-education-and-experience-internship
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Jaisohn Center Internship Program | |
The Jaisohn Center was bustling with passionate young interns during the summer. In addition to the NAM-PA internship, we had 7 other graduate/college/high school interns. Our 4 high school interns held over 100 sessions of one-on-one smartphone classes with local seniors, organized a food drive with over 1000 items for MontCo Anti-Hunger Network (MAHN), and organized leadership and college workshops. Our college interns worked in the medical center to support patient care while the graduate intern worked on publications, conducting social determinants of health (SDOH) surveys and annual Senior Center member surveys. We are so grateful for all of our interns and their exceptional work and contributions this summer. | |
PCA Emergency Fund Coalition for Older Philadelphians Luncheon | |
The Jaisohn organization is a coalition member of the PCA (Philadelphia Corporation for Aging) Emergency Fund Coalition for Older Philadelphians. This fund addresses the emergency needs of local seniors. We contributed to their fundraising efforts and attended the award luncheon on June 6th. Congratulations to PCA and the local seniors on this successful initiative! | |
Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza
(New Asian American "One-Stop-Shop"
Service Center Project)
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On August 17, 2024, we signed all settlement papers for the new "JAISOHN COMMUNITY WELLNESS PLAZA" building. It is a major milestone for the Philip Jaisohn organization and the local AAPI community. This will become a place where the AAPI community and all major service providers connect. | |
JAISOHN MEMORIAL HOUSE & VISITS | |
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Local Visits
The summer season was filled with visitors from the US and Korea. Students from the UPenn Lauder Institute, along with their professor Dr. Katie Lee, made their annual visit to the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House. We hosted the National Association of Korean Schools (NAKS) National Officers as well as a number of teachers from the Washington region who were impressed with what they learned. We also hosted the 2024 Memory Parlor “Towards Unity” sponsored by the Cora di Brazza Foundation with Professor Hope Elizabeth May.
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International Visits
Mayor Cho, Yong-eek of Bucheon City and his delegation visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House in early August. Seoul National University (SNU) Foundation Chair and President, Professor Joonhwan Lee, and his wife, Yonsei University Professor Soojin Jun, visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House and Monument with Dr. Manual Lee, Head of the SNU Foundation USA and Philip Jaisohn board member. Despite being familiar with his contributions in Korea, they were impressed to learn about Dr. Jaisohn's independence activism in the USA.
Daniel Pyungse, CEO of the 1776 Institute, led 50+ young people from Korea who visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House. Two other youth groups, The North Korean Refugee Community Young Leaders in Korea and USA and The Christian Alternative School in Pohang, visited this summer as well.
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5th Philip Jaisohn National Creative Contest Award Ceremony | |
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On June 15th, the 5th Annual Philip Jaisohn National Creative Contest Awards Ceremony was held at the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House. The National Contest requires 3rd-12th grade students to study Dr. Philip Jaisohn’s lifework and incorporate AAPI history into their artwork. A total of sixteen elementary students, ten middle school students, and one high school student received awards. Congratulations to all the winners!
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Starting July 10th, the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House began hosting a series of movie nights! Four Korean films were shown during two months with free popcorn, drinks, and Korean snacks. | |
During the 42nd National Association for Korean Schools (NAKS) National Conference, keynote speaker Professor Edward Chang, one of the first professors to teach Ethnic Studies in the country, visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House with a group of teachers from the conference where they listened to a short lecture from our staff. | |
Korean American Citizenship Day Festival | |
Despite the hot weather, our community came together to celebrate Korean American Citizenship Day on June 22nd with great enthusiasm. The day was filled with a vibrant mix of events, starting with a grand procession march through Rose Tree Park to the Philip Jaisohn Monument. Attendees from all over Delaware County were treated to captivating Korean cultural performances that showcased the rich heritage and traditions of Korea. Thank you to all who participated and helped make this day a memorable one for our local community! | |
Organized by our high school interns, we held a youth workshop on July 31st and August 1st. Day one was led by Nancy Walsh, owner and founder of tbdNOW, who provided guided conversations and training on leadership with engaging activities. On day two, a panel of interns from previous years came to discuss the college application process and their college experiences. | |
Scholarship and Internship Ceremony | |
The 2024 Jaisohn Scholarship and Internship Award Ceremony was held at the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House in Media, PA on August 10th. With 7 internships and 16 scholarships, this was the largest ceremony yet! Approximately $50,000 were awarded to college and graduate students. | |
We are excited to invite you to the AAPI Fall Festival on Sunday, September 15, 1-5pm, at the Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza (1180 Welsh Road, North Wales, PA). The afternoon will be spent celebrating festivals from all over Asia! | |
Join us on Saturday, November 2nd for the 2024 Annual Jaisohn Gala! We had over 350 diverse attendees at the 2023 Gala. You won't want to miss out on this special night so make sure to RSVP before October 21st! | |
The Philip Jaisohn organization is pleased to announce that we received grants from the Sarah Ralston Foundation as well as the Scattergood Foundation. These grants support us in our continued efforts to provide a variety of services and programs for our seniors. | |
Awards
At the Parents' Day Celebration, Kyunghee Seo, our Outreach Specialist at the Jaisohn Center, received the Service Award for her dedication and passionate service to the community's seniors. During the pandemic, she had over 5,000 phone conversations with seniors, providing much-needed companionship and alleviating loneliness and depression.
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Farewell to Mi Kyung Kim
Farewell to Mi Kyung Kim from the Social Services Department at the Jaisohn Center. We appreciate her hard work and dedication and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
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The Jaisohn Center's work would not be possible without the generosity of our partners: | | | | |
