Clients Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year Through Unity
Posted 02/06/2011
Carrissa M. was glowing Friday in her traditional cheongsam, a form-fitting, one-piece decorative Chinese dress. With her hair in a bun, held firm with a chopstick, Carrissa was in full costume for the Chinese New Year celebration hosted by clients of the Pathways ACCESS Center Friday, February 4.
The theme of the annual event was Unity, highlighting the many ways the ACCESS Center has encouraged unity through partnerships and how AspenPointe has demonstrated unity through its recent efforts at integration and branding.
“Unity is important at the ACCESS Center, as it is through our partnerships within AspenPointe and the community that help us accomplish our goals,” said Rudy M, an ACCESS Center member.
President and CEO Morris L. Roth praised the members for their role in unifying the organization internally and externally through the “Spotlight on STIGMA” event, internal focus groups, educational panels in the community and volunteer work.
“The theme of this event is Unity,” Roth said. “We have made many strides toward that end with our recent name change, efforts at removing silos and continued advancements of integrating health care for our clients. You, too, have played an essential role in these efforts.”
Kim Nguyen shows community members how to make origamis
at the ACCESS Center Lunar New Year celebration Feb. 4. Click here to see more pictures.
Member Heraldo P. told the audience of about 40 members that the Lunar New Year is a holiday celebrating prosperity and growth. “All of us have grown since we have been here at the ACCESS Center. Prosperity is not just about money, but meeting new people and building new relationships,” Heraldo said.
And growth is exactly what the ACCESS Center has been doing for the last two years.
“Since the first Lunar New Year celebration two years ago, the center has grown to a remarkable 472 members and have increased monthly participation from 63 members to 150,” said Jonathan Liebert, vice president of AspenPointe Enterprises.
Those same members attend classes, workshops and volunteer in the community for a total of 1,400 hours a month, more than double the hours logged in 2009.
“The more you get out in the community, the less stigma there is going to be," Liebert said.
Another program that continues to grow is Kim Nguyen’s art program. The event allowed Nguyen to showcase her new art room to members of the community. The expanded space features a wall-size mural painted by the members.
For more information on the ACCESS Center, click here.
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