2023 February Newsletter

Let’s Begin!

CIDA Families and Contributors.

After a first month of 2023 filled with New Year celebrations and excitement, I am very happy to announce that we are now ready to roll our new projects soon. As mentioned, CIDA is opening a new additional space, the CIDA Community Center, where a variety of enrichment and after-school programs will be provided starting mid-February. In addition, some of the young adults who have been trained at our Workforce Development Program will be employed as part-time employees. 100% of the revenue generated from the Community Center programs will be used for the Workforce Development of young adults with disabilities and Family Support Services for Asian parents.

Another good piece of news is that CIDA has been selected as a partner of the New York City Emergency Management. CIDA will deliver a project to create a crisis/emergency network for people with disabilities and the elderly during emergency situations including natural disasters. CIDA will work with families with disabilities in our network as well as three large Korean churches in Queens to develop the program. Once the project is developed, it will help people with disabilities live safer lives in the community.

I wish everyone a safe and happy February!

Young Seh Bae, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Education News

Possible Changes in NYS High School Diploma Requirements?

New York is one of just 11 states that requires high school exit exams. Despite a rising graduation rate, however, diploma requirements may be hurting the state’s most disadvantaged students.

In New York, students are generally required to earn 22 course credits in high school and take five Regents exams, including one each in English, math, science, and social studies. The Regent exams may be removed as state officials start the final leg of a lengthy process to rethink the state’s graduation requirements. The Coalition for Multiple Pathways to a Diploma, a group that has pushed for changes to graduation requirements for more than a decade, compiled a 1,200-signature petition last month calling for the state to immediately remove Regents exams from diploma requirements. Currently, the Commission, the Board of Regents, the State Education Department, and the Blue Ribbon Commission are utilizing ThoughtExchange to gather feedback from the field.

What’s Up at CIDA

Highlighting Our Partner, KACF

This month, we would like to shed light on KACF, who has supported CIDA as our partner. KACF is a philanthropy that has been raising funds for Korean and Asian-American non-profit organizations in need of support for the past 20 years. The organization is also providing opportunities for community members to participate in the culture of giving. KACF has provided CIDA with capacity-building training for non profit operations since its establishment in 2016. Throughout the process, we received training on organizational culture, transparent financial management, and effective communication. Through this, we were able to lay the foundation so that CIDA would not lag behind large institutions in terms of results. Moreover, since 2019, we have received funding support to run a program for Korean families with disabilities. As a result, CIDA has grown from a small institution with about 200 Korean families to a large network of over 940 Asian families that focuses on disability-related service issues, employment programs for young people with disabilities, and rights advocacy activities. CIDA is infinitely grateful to KACF for helping CIDA establish itself as a non-profit organization, improve the lives of many Asians with disabilities and their families, and create a more inclusive society for people with disabilities.

CIDA Community Center Opens in March!

We are very excited to announce that our beautifully renovated community center will be ready around the middle of February. The location of the community center is 36-28 Bell Blvd, Bayside, which is only two blocks from our main office. The center is equipped with a practice kitchen, art studio, and more. The opening ceremony will be in early March. More detail to come. You may preview the programs offered at the new community center by visiting here: https://cidainfo.com/community-center-classes/

CIDA will facilitate Emergency Preparedness Project with NYC

CIDA is approved for a partnership with the NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) to develop an emergency plan for families with disabilities. In collaboration with NYCEM, CIDA will be conducting a needs assessment, community training, and the creation of an emergency contact network. We anticipate that this will create an important foundation for our individuals with disabilities to become included and live safely in the community.

CIDA Event