No. 43 | September 1, 2024 - November 30, 2024 | |
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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JAISOHN DEPARTMENT UPDATES | |
Jaisohn Medical Center
This fall, the Jaisohn Medical Center performed a variety of preventive care clinics.
The Medical Center partnered with US Digestive Health to perform colonoscopies, a preventive care requirement from age forty-five. Colorectal diseases are very common, and some can cause recognizable symptoms such as abdominal pain or rectal bleeding. Others may progress silently, detectable only through screenings. Experienced colorectal specialists can help identify symptoms, any risk factors, and causes of colon cancer and other “invisible” colon diseases early on when they are most treatable.
In addition, group mammograms and a free flu clinic were also hosted. Maintaining a schedule for breast cancer screening is essential to ensure that proper care is provided before breast cancer advances. Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses as well as make symptoms less severe and reduce flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
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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A series of senior health classes were hosted by Jaisohn Home Health Care throughout the fall including balance training and fall prevention. Jaisohn Home Health Care also provided health screenings at the AAPI Fall Festival on September 15th. Children and adults alike were able to get their blood pressure and heart rate measured, gaining valuable insights into their current health.
To learn more about Jaisohn Home Health Care, please call (215) 866-0103 for more information.
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“Dios te bendiga!” Said Felix Torres.
Felix Torres's neighbor had called us in February, stating that he lived alone and had become undernourished. When we visited him, the house smelled strongly of incense, laundry was strewn everywhere, and there was no food in the house. Felix had been living by himself for a long time with a language barrier, speaking mostly Spanish and little English.
When we tried to apply for home care services for him, we learned that someone had already helped him apply earlier this year, but his application had been denied due to missing paperwork. As a result, we went to court to obtain a re-assessment and helped Felix through three interviews to get him approved for home care services. He is now receiving thirty-five hours a week of services and two meals a day delivered to his apartment. We are thankful that Felix will be taken care of and that he won't have to worry anymore.
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To learn more about Jaisohn Home Care, please call (215) 224-2137. | |
Jaisohn Wellness Center - Senior Community Center | |
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On November 14th, JWC - Senior Community Center held a cooking class featuring Teri Wassel, a nutritionist from Montgomery County, to promote healthy eating among seniors. During the class, participants learned how to prepare a nutritious salad and dressing using ingredients such as quinoa, lemon, and olive oil. Teri Wassel shared valuable insights on the benefits of incorporating green salads into a balanced diet.
This was the second cooking class hosted at JWC, and it was met with enthusiastic feedback from the participants who appreciated the hands-on approach. We are committed to providing meaningful programs that support the health and well-being of the senior community.
To learn more about the Jaisohn Wellness Center and how to participate, contact (267) 639-9500.
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Jaisohn Mental Health and Social Services | |
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Jaisohn Center Philadelphia’s Senior Program, Life Academy, began its Fall 2024 classes on September 10th and will continue until the beginning of December. ESL classes are held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and line dancing and singing classes are held on Wednesdays. This semester, we had the opportunity to have Yisun Cho, the Executive Director of Jaisohn Home Health Care, lead a three-week special health class, and Professor Sooja Kim from Korea give a special lecture on foot massage therapy.
Special thanks to the staff who give up their parking spaces and park on the street to make parking available to the participants.
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In the Social Services department, we welcomed Songju Chi, a new young staff member with a kind and passionate heart to help serve our elderly community. We hope that she will grow with us for a long time! | |
We are excited to introduce Emma Hall, the newest addition to the Central Team. With a degree in East Asian Cultures and Languages and three years spent living in Korea, she plans to use her experiences to help propel the foundation forward. | |
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Medical Center
- Physician's Assistant
- Nurse Practitioner
- Administrative Assistant
Home Health Care
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Central Team
- AAPI Community Coordinator/Navigation (bilingual, full-time or part-time)
- 2-3 positions (Hindi, Mandarin, etc.)
- Staff Accountant (full-time or part-time)
Care
Click here for more details >>
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Montgomery County AAPI Community Needs Assessment
Phase Two of the Montgomery County AAPI community needs assessment was completed in August. This phase saw seven topical focus groups gather over the span of one month to discuss a variety of issues. Participants came from diverse backgrounds with topical experts attending as well. We are now moving into Phase Three: writing the report and communicating with stakeholders.
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George Choe, President of The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation, led a guided tour of Korea from late September through early October in partnership with Hana Tours. The eighty-eight participants spent ten days traveling around Korea and visiting historical sites related to Dr. Philip Jaisohn, including HyungChoongWon National Cemetery to pay respect to Dr. Philip Jaisohn. This is also where the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation joined with the Suh Jai-Pil (Philip Jaisohn) Memorial Foundation of Seoul.
Other stops on the tour included: The Gwangju May 18th Memorial Park, The Suh Jai-Pil Memorial Park, the famous Boseong Green Tea Farm, Suh Jai-Pil's birth house, and more! The county of Boseong, Philip Jaisohn's birthplace, welcomed the Philadelphia tour group with banners at every destination they visited.
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On October 17th, PA State Representative Liz Hanbidge invited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation to attend her office’s first senior fair at the Peak Center in Lansdale, PA. Approximately thirty organizations attended to provide valuable information and resources to the seniors. We had the opportunity to connect with seniors in the community and provided them with information on services offered by our organization and advocated for the COVID-19 vaccines. | |
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Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza
(New Asian American “One-Stop-Shop” Service Center Project)
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Jaisohn staff and board members had an opportunity to tour the new Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza (JCWP) building and learned more about its future plans.
In November, a dozen staff members moved into the JCWP building to oversee renovations, marking the start of our transition. The Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza will become a place where the AAPI community and all major service providers connect.
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Visit from Montgomery County | |
Dr. Tamra Williams, Montgomery County Deputy Chief Operating Officer, and Elizabeth Kasonde of the Recovery Office visited the Jaisohn Medical Center in Lansdale to meet with Asian American Coalition partners. It was an engaging first session to share our activities including the AAPI Community Needs Assessment Study. We look forward to continuing building relationships with Montgomery County to better support the needs of the AAPI community. | |
Jaisohn Memorial House & Visits | |
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Local Visits
Four Heungsadan (Young Korean Academy) members from Maryland visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House. This organization was founded by famous Korean independence activist Dosan Ahn Changho, who was close to Dr. Philip Jaisohn. Dosan Ahn Changho was the one who first telegraphed Dr. Jaisohn about the March First Independence Movement happening in Korea, which led Dr. Jaisohn to organize the First Korean Congress in Philadelphia.
The Korean United Church of Philadelphia (KUCP) Senior Group and The Korean Bucks Presbyterian Church senior group both visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House for a tour. The Old Korean Legation in Washington D.C. and K-Community Center brought expatriates living in Virginia and Washington D.C. to explore the rich history of Dr. Jaisohn. During their visit, the group utilized the warm weather and outdoor seating to have a picnic.
We happily welcome all visitors to this historical site to learn about Philip Jaisohn and an outstanding moment in Asian American history.
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International Visits
The Philip Jaisohn Memorial House hosted Dr. Haksoon Paik; Jack Nagel, Prof. Emeritus of the University of Pennsylvania; and Dr. Henry Oh, one of our founding members. Dr. Haksoon Paik joined our touring group in Korea from Gwangju to Boseong, which is his hometown. He was the first caretaker of this Memorial House in the 1990s.
After the Media-Boseong Sister City Cooperative Agreement, the Boseong delegation visited the Philip Jaisohn Monument in Rose Tree Park and the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House in Media. Additionally, the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) Secretary General, Tae Yong Ho, and his delegation - along with its Philadelphia Chapter President and PJMF board member, Judy Yoo - visited the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House.
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AAPI Fall Festival
The first Annual AAPI Fall Festival on September 15th was a dual celebration of the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation’s acquisition of a new building as well as various fall festivals throughout Asia such as Korea's Chuseok and Mid-Autumn Festivals in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. This building is a significant step toward improving the quality and accessibility of health and human services in the community.
Bringing together the AAPI groups in the area was an amazing feat and it was heartwarming to see all the groups come together to celebrate and honor each other's cultures. The day was filled with musical and artistic performances representative of the Chinese, Bangladesh, Indian, Korean, Nepali, Philippine, and Vietnamese communities who were in attendance.
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Media - Boseong Sister City Cooperative Agreement Signing | |
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On October 24th, officials from Media, Pennsylvania and Boseong, South Korea met in Media to sign a Sister City Cooperative Agreement. These two municipalities are connected because of Dr. Philip Jaisohn's history and legacy. Boseong is Dr. Jaisohn’s birthplace and Media is the place where he lived for twenty-six years and spent his final days. A new relationship between two municipalities from opposite sides of the globe was formed because of the Philip Jaisohn legacy, and the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation was proud to play a leadership role in celebrating this occasion.
The mayors of Media and Boseong - Bob McMahon and Cheol-Woo Kim, respectively - signed this historic agreement. Bob McMahon was joined by multiple members of the Media Borough council to help officiate the ceremony. In addition to Mayor Cheol-Woo Kim, the Boseong Team included Consul Bumgeun Cho and six delegation members.
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We would like to extend our gratitude for the community's support at our 2024 Jaisohn Gala, which drew approximately 300 diverse participants and supporters. Bob McMahon, Mayor of Media, PA for over 40 years, was awarded the Philip Jaisohn Leadership Award for his impact in his local community and endless support of the Philip Jaisohn Foundation. A portion of the funds raised from the Gala supports the Jaisohn Wellness Center senior programs as well as the transition needs of the Jaisohn Community Wellness Plaza. The Gala serves as an important way to recognize and honor individuals who embody the spirit of service and leadership championed by Dr. Philip Jaisohn.
We would like to thank our sponsors below for their continued generosity and support.
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President’s Volunteer Service Award Ceremony | |
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Twenty-seven awardees, ages ranging from teens to seniors, performed over 5,000 hours of volunteer service this past year. Each individual was awarded with a medal and a signed letter from the President of the United States commending them for their service. Not only was this a great experience for the awardees’ own leadership development, but their services are crucial in making our community stronger and better.
We are so proud of all of this year’s awardees for their passion to continue Dr. Philip Jaisohn’s legacy of serving the community!
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Scholarships
Jaisohn Youth Academy students and alumni received student scholarships from the Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia. Congratulations to Abigail Cho, Janet Cho, Katherine Lafferty, Eunis Lee, and Kirsten Lee for all of their hard work over the years!
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The Jaisohn Center's work would not be possible without the generosity of our partners: | | | | |
