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Chinatown Literacy Project (CLP)

"CLP is one of the most thought community service programs that I have been involved with. From my experience, CLP is a great project that helps adult English learners in Chinatown. Also it oepns your eyes to problems in our communities. " -- Emily Liang, 2009-10 CLP Language Partner

"CLP was not merely a volunteering experience but a chance for you to reach out to your community. It was a time for everyone with the same interests and love for Chinatown to come together. Although not all of us were fluent bilingually, we made the best of it, and you can definitely see that our efforts shone through in the participants' progress. CLP rocks!" -- Yang Lin, 2009-10 CLP Language Partner

 

DESCRIPTION

The Chinatown Literacy Project (CLP) is a weekend adult ESL program that offers Chinese-speaking English language learners individual, personalized instruction and the opportunity to practice conversation with youth volunteers free of charge. CLP is a school year project of Chinatown Youth Initiatives (CYI), a youth-oriented leadership program that seeks to foster civic engagement and develop leadership skills among young people in New York City.


HISTORY

The Chinatown Literacy Project, as a part of the CYI School-Year Program, has grown quickly and steadily since its founding in 2004-05. What began as a small idea proposed by various officers and participants of the Summer Program, has quickly expanded into a tight-knit community of volunteers and participants. Since its first year, it has worked with various community organizations such as Project REACH, the Abrons Arts Center at the historically-renowned Henry Street Settlement, and the the University Settlement. Chinatown Literacy Project is now in its fifth year of operation, in cooperation with the Lower East Side Preparatory High School. With new volunteers and coordinators to add to what has begun to feel like a family operation, the CLP community will continue to try and build on its original philosophy literacy should be accessible and available to all, and language is only the beginning of the cross-cultural exchange that can exist to people of different backgrounds.


VALUES

CLP is founded on the beliefs that English language skills are essential for integration into an American society and its ideals of citizenship, that English proficiency should be accessible to all regardless of economic status or class, and that language exchange fosters interaction and communication across cultures and generations. In addition to language classes, CLP also holds workshops on community, immigration history, and civic issues for our youth volunteers, fostering a civic-minded approach to community and a greater awareness of broader social issues, including topics related to immigration and the immigrant community.

 

LEADERSHIP

Kenny Yu, Program Coordinator. Kenny is a senior at Stuyvesant High School. He has been involved with CLP for two years, serving as a language partner from 2008 to 2009 and as a coordinator from 2009 to 2010. He hopes to study math and Asian Studies in college and to continue his work with CYI to bring change to the Asian American community.

Winnie Huang, Program Coordinator. Winnie is a senior at Staten Island Tech. Being involved with CYI during sophomore year, she has participated in CLP, SLI and CBD. She served as a language partner 2007-2008 and coordinator from 2008-2010. She is excited for what CYI’s future may hold.

David Ye, Program Coordinator. David is a junior at The Bronx High School of Science. He began being involved with CYI in 2007. He is the current Coordinator of CLP.

Diana Wang, Outreach Director. Diana is a senior at Hunter College High School. She has been involved with CLP for two years, serving as a language partner from 2008 to 2009 and as Outreach Director for the current 2009-2010 term. In college, she is considering majoring in Psychology and minoring in Asian American Studies, as well as continuing her involvement with the community. She hopes to stay involved in everything CYI and is excited for its growth!


OUTCOMES

In addition to the three levels of classes--Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced--currently offered to the ESL students, CLP recently added the True Beginners level to satisfy the high demand by applicants for another class.


GET INVOLVED

There are many capacities for involvement: Guest speakers; ESL teachers or partners; and financial and in-kind donations.

news and announcements

  • Chinatown Beautification Day and Youth Conference Dates Announced.

    This year's youth conference will be on Saturday, August 14th, in the  Woolworth Building (233 Broadway, New York, NY)

    The Chinatown cleanup will be on Sunday, August 15th, in the New York Chinese Community Center (62 Mott Street, New York, NY)

  • 10th Year Celebration a Success

    Thank you everyone who came out in support of Chinatown Youth Initiatives. 

    Our 10th year celebration was an astounding success!

    Celebrating the milestone of reaching its 10th year, the organization honored three great supporters of the organization.  Gloria Chan, OCA-NY, and Corky Lee.

    We at CYI would like to thank everyone who came to show their support.

     

  • WE DID IT! We won $25,000 in the Chase Community Giving!

    Dear CYI supporters,

    THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!We are PROUD to announce that we are one of the top 100 winning organizations of the Chase Community Giving. YOUR votes and support helped us to win $25,000!

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    GET INVOLVED WITH CYI

    • Summer Leadership Program 2010 Now Recruiting Participants

      Application  due JUNE 6TH 2010

      send your application to apply@cyinyc.org !!

      OPEN TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!
      ----

      Important Things You Need To Know Before You Apply:
      -SLI starts on July 3rd and ends on August 21st
      -Sessions generally run from 11am to 4pm on Saturdays
      -Chinatown Beautification Day (CBD) is August 15th (a Sunday)
      -SLI participants lead volunteer groups during Chinatown Beautification Day
      -participants are expected at all sessions 

    • Join our FINAL Census Advocacy Event!

      We're in the final push of our census advocacy efforts, and Asian Americans For Equality (AAFE) has organized a final Chinatown census outreach event for THIS SATURDAY, April 17th from 11am-4pm. We'll be meeting at 11am in front of AAFE office, 108 Norfolk between Rivington and Delancey (near F, J, M, Z, Delancey/Essex stop). We'll be doing both street outreach and phone banking, so bring your phones and chargers if you can. See the attached flyer for more info.

    • Chinatown Beautification Day and Youth Conference needs a coordinator

      With the success of last year’s Chinatown Beautification Day (CBD) weekend, CYI will continue CBD as a two-day event comprising of a Youth Conference and Beautification Day.  The Youth Conference emphasizes the strength and importance of youth activism and solidarity, while Beautification day demonstrates unity in action.   

    • Chinatown Youth Initiatives is now hiring summer staff!

      CYI is currently in search of candidates to fill the following positions:

      Coordinator, Facilitator and Participant Outreach Committee Member

      All positions are unpaid, but CYI is more than willing to work with colleges so that summer staff can receive internship and/or school credits.

      All applications must be received by 11:59pm EST on Sunday, February 21st, 2010, via email to apply@cyinyc.org.