We will be closing at 1 pm on Thursday, 7/2, and will be closed on Friday, 7/3, in observance of Independence Day. We will resume normal business hours on Monday, 7/6.
70 Mulberry Street Town Hall Meeting
70 Mulberry Street Town Hall meeting will be held today, 6/25, at 6:30 PM. The community will hear more about the impact of the fire on the building including new information from an independent engineer. If you are interested in attending, please visit https://zoom.us/j/98374160079.
Thanks for Your Sharing, Google Volunteers!
Many THANKS to our volunteers from Google for spending your valuable time with our youth program participants during our virtual Career Panel on Wed., June 17th!
Thank you for sharing so many great insights with us, such as your professional experience, your career pathways, your personal and career journeys in college and internship, interview tips, career advice, work culture at Google, and many others. Our youth participants, who will be attending college this fall, learned and benefited a lot from your sharing!
Is Your Business Ready to Reopen?
Partnering with Jia Law Group, we will host a webinar on Business Reopening Guidance and Commercial Lease Issues on Wednesday, June 17th at 2 pm to help small business owners prepare for their reopening, and share how to protect their businesses from commercial lease issues related to COVID-19.
The webinar will be conducted in Chinese Mandarin. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP at bit.ly/2U6b3KZ. For more information, please contact us at larrymei@cmpny.org.
Career Panel Discussion with Google
Partnering with Google, we will host an online Career Panel Discussion on June 24th at 2-3 pm. Presenters from Google will share their professional experience, expert insight, career development tips with our participants. If you are interested in participating, please email us at MichelleChen@cmpny.org.
Webinar on DO's and DON'Ts during Video Interviews
Due to the rapid changes and economic uncertainty in today's job market, video interviews have become more and more crucial. On Wednesday, 6/10, at 2-3 pm, we will host a webinar on DO's and DON'Ts during Video Interviews to share with job seekers the best practices in preparing for a video interview and how they can leverage technology to put their best foot forward.
If you are interested in participating, please email us at MichelleChen@cmpny.org.
CMP MeetUp Group
CMP is on Meet Up! We're having our first event this Saturday, 6/6, at 7 pm. The purpose of this event is to create a free safe space where members can be open and connect with one another! Come join if you're a college student, recent grad, or international student! Let's meet new people and build a community!
Learn more about the event and register here: https://www.meetup.com/New-York-College-Students-Meetup-Group/
For more information, please contact us at cloehuang@cmpny.org.
Mandarin Webinar on How to use PPP funds for forgiveness
70 Mulberry Tenants Statement
Our Temporary Mailing Address
Due to lack of physical presence in Chinatown, CMP has set up a temporary mailing address to receive letters and mails:
CMP
437 Amwell Road, #7557
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
(Please note that the size of the box is 11" x 5". So we can take manila envelop size mails in addition to letter size.)
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Neighborhood Recovery Plan
CMP has joined and united with other 30+ Community Based Organizations to release an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Neighborhood Recovery Plan.
30+ Community Based Organizations Release Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Neighborhood Recovery Plan
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) neighborhoods have experienced the economic devastation of COVID-19 since long before the shelter-in-place began. More than 30 AAPI community based organizations have united to release the following plan to call on New York City and State government officials to prioritize AAPI neighborhoods in recovery efforts. While AAPI neighborhoods were the first to suffer, we will not be the last to recover.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Neighborhood Recovery Plan
We are a group of community based organizations representing the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community of New York City and partnering together to develop a plan to ensure the long-term recovery of the individuals, families, small businesses, and institutions of our neighborhoods. The AAPI community is the fastest growing racial group in New York, making up 15% of the City and 10% of the State. While AAPIs have the highest rate of poverty in New York City, less than 1.5% of the City’s human services contract dollars go to our community.
We remind New Yorkers that this is a public health issue, not a racial, ethnic, or immigrant issue. Unfortunately, prior to the Governor’s Executive Order to put New York State on PAUSE in late March, AAPI businesses were already struggling from COVID-19, threatening the livelihoods of workers and business owners since January. Unemployment claims by AAPIs have spiked 6,900%, by far the largest percentage increase experienced by any racial group. AAPI community members continue to report increased incidents of public assaults, harassment, and hate crimes. Despite these challenges, AAPIs are serving on the front lines, risking their own health as doctors, nurses, human services workers, early childhood teachers, grocers, delivery workers, and more.
While these are tough fiscal times, we call on the State and City to make smart investments that not only address the immediate need for economic relief but also revitalize neighborhood economies. We also call on the City and State to find equitable ways to raise revenue as opposed to focusing only on budget cuts. We offer the following recommendations – which should be implemented in combination – to ensure that while AAPI neighborhoods were the first to suffer, we will not be the last to recover.
Workers and Economic Security
· Invest in workforce training and placement, including a mass public employment program and private sector jobs
· Expand public benefits, including but not limited to SNAP, SCRIE, and Medicaid
· Support wage replacement for lost wages
· Enact a relief package targeted specifically at workers left out of federal relief, including but not limited to undocumented, gig workers, cash workers, and independent contractors
· Forgive all debt, including medical, loans, rent, utilities, and back taxes
· Provide direct cash assistance to low-income families, including broadband internet access, remote learning equipment, educational supplies, etc.
· Provide ongoing economic support for older adults, such as food, housing, and health care
· Enhance funding for adult literacy, adult education, bridge programs, and other workforce development services
· Extend H1B visas to support businesses to continue employing graduate level workers
Community Based Organizations
· Include AAPI neighborhood leaders in recovery task forces being formed
· Target funding to address anti-Asian discrimination and harassment
· Ensure full funding of FY20 and FY21 City contracts and City Council discretionary funding, modifying requirements and reimbursing COVID-19 costs
· Provide additional funding for recovery grants to address emerging needs and additional services
· Restore funding for summer programming, including the Summer Youth Employment Program, Beacon Centers, COMPASS, SONYC, Cornerstone, and summer camps
· Support food banks and feeding programs that provide culturally appropriate meals
· Increase funding for community based organizations to purchase equipment, including computers, laptops, and tablets, for clients and students to use
Small Businesses
· Designate AAPI neighborhoods as economic distressed zones that should be targeted for investment and support similar to “opportunity zones”
· Waive sanitation tickets and other fines, penalties, and fees
· Implement mortgage, business, and property tax abatements/tax holidays
· Provide small business grants for reopening and rehiring
· Provide rental support for small businesses
· Invest in a stimulus fund to support M/WBEs and to start-up new businesses
Housing and Neighborhood Affordability
· Extend eviction moratorium and enact good cause eviction
· Institute a rent freeze for individuals and families who cannot afford rent, including NYCHA
· Provide rent supports/subsidies for families impacted by COVID-19 job loss
· Provide small capital grants or low interest loans to small residential landlords for necessary repairs and upkeep to their properties
· Invest in community land trusts in AAPI neighborhoods
· Provide subsidies for commercial tenants that cannot afford rent, especially in mixed-use buildings
Public Health and Health Care
· Provide free COVID-19 testing for all
· Invest in public and neighborhood based outreach about health safety precautions on reopening and prevention of relapse
· Provide health care access for undocumented and low-income individuals and families as well as individuals who have lost jobs
· Invest in comprehensive mental health support to address COVID-19 related trauma and anti-Asian stigma
· Increase reimbursement rates and investments in Federally Qualified Health Centers
· Enhance funding for public hospitals
Digital and Language Access
· Reopen public libraries to provide digital access
· Expand broadband access to digitally isolated communities
· Provide digital devices (smart phones, tablets, and computers) for individuals and families without digital access
· Invest in digital skills training for adults
· Invest in high-quality translated information, including dedicated hotlines for top languages, focusing on all relief and recovery opportunities
· Translate all government and COVID-19 related websites into top languages, using the Google extension for translation if necessary
Organizations Signed-On (as of May 16, 2020)
Academy of Medical & Public Health Services
Adhikaar
Apex for Youth
Asian Americans for Equality
Brooklyn Chinese-American Association
Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
Chen Dance Center
Chhaya CDC
Chinatown Manpower Project
Chinatown Rotary Club
Chinatown YMCA
Chinese Methodist Center Corporation
Chinese Progressive Association
Chinese-American Planning Council
Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Council of People’s Organization
Desis Rising Up and Moving
Immigrant Social Services
Flushing YMCA
Hamilton-Madison House
Korean American Family Service Center
Korean Community Services of Metropolitan NY
Mekong
MinKwon Center for Community Action
Museum of Chinese in America
Sakhi for South Asian Women
South Asian Council for Social Services
South Asian Youth Action
United East Athletics Association
Womankind
YMCA of Greater NY
How To Open A Home Daycare
A home daycare can be a great business opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs who love children. Want to open a home daycare but don't know where to begin? Attend our How To Open A Home Daycare workshop on Tuesday, May 19th at 11 am - 12:30 pm!
The online workshop will provide interested individuals a step by step guidance in opening a home daycare. It will be conducted in Korean. For more information or registration, please email JaeeunKim@cmpny.org.
How to Use Online Food Delivery to Promote Your Restaurant Business
We will host a webinar on How to Use Online Food Delivery to Promote Your Restaurant Menu on Thursday, May 21, from 8 PM-9 PM. We will be providing strategies to help restaurants promote business and increase revenue. The webinar will be conducted in Chinese Mandarin. Please RSVP at bit.ly/2020MAY21. For more information, please contact Larrymei@cmpny.org.
Thank You, Broad U.S.A. Inc!
Thank you, Broad U.S.A. Inc. , for pledging to donate $2 from your sales of each AirPro Mask to CMP Rebuilding Fund from May 1st, 2020 through October 31st, 2020. Your generous donation will help us further and better recover from the January 23rd devastating fire!
About Broad U.S.A Inc: BROAD U.S.A. is based in Hackensack New Jersey and is the U.S. arm of the BROAD Group, a global supplier of environmentally sustainable HVAC systems, Air Purification technology, and Fresh Air units. BROAD is also the inventor of B-CORE™, a revolutionary prefabricated hardened stainless steel structural material that improves energy efficiency and enables buildings to be built at a speed 10 x faster than traditional construction.
Please click here for more information about Broad U.S.A Inc.
Would You Support CMP?
Today is #GivingTuesdayNow! People all around the world are coming together to tap into the power of human connection and strengthen communities at the grassroots level. Will you be one of them?
Together We Stand!
We always stand with our community by providing much-needed critical services. And our mission to help people achieve economic self-sufficiency and career advancement does not change because of COVID-19.
We will continue helping aspiring entrepreneurs, including older adults, develop self-employment skills and learn the ins and outs of starting a small business by hosting a Work For Yourself@50+ webinar on Tuesday, May 12th, at 3 pm - 5 pm in Chinese Mandarin. To register, please visit aarp.cvent.com/d/dnq5b2/.
Our next Chronological Vs. Functional Resume Workshop on Wednesday, May 13th, 2 pm - 3 pm will also go virtual! We will share with participants advantages & disadvantages of Chronological and Functional Resumes, what makes an employer interested enough to invite a job seeker for an interview, etc. For more info, please contact jaeeunkim@cmpny.org.
Together We Heal!
To address and meet the changing needs, we are also reacting and expanding our services to serve a greater community in times of crisis.
Since the pandemic started and the community's growing needs of unemployment benefits and other safety net programs filing assistance occurred, we have made temporary service and staffing adjustments to best adapt to the needs. Although hours need to be spent with each client over the phone for application and follow-up process, we are happy to see people are getting the support they need. For more info, please contact michellechen@cmpny.org.
Our newly launched program - Shu Dong (“Tree Hole” / “樹洞”）is providing a free, safe, and confidential platform for Chinese international students to share their concerns and anxiety with us during this time. Other resources or services will be referred if extra support is needed. For more info, please email cloehuang@cmpny.org.
Partnering with the Census Bureau, we are providing remote paid internship opportunities to our youth program participants during the on-going pandemic. Participants were trained to phone and text New Yorkers to promote and help complete the Census 2020 questionnaire. And if you haven't responded to the census, please do so as soon as you can. Let's make sure every New Yorker is counted.
And Together We Give!
Over the past few weeks and months, the entire world has been coming together to stand up, help out, give back, and heal. Whether that's through donations to community organizations, celebrating doctors and nurses at shift changes, or reaching out to a neighbor to help with groceries, so many people are generously GIVING, which is helping the entire world get through this global pandemic.
And only with your support, we will be able to continue serving those in need in the community, people like Qing Ye.
Qing Ye, who owns a small jewelry store in Midtown Manhattan, is one of the many small business owners suffering from the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, and has closed the store for more than 6 weeks. Qing has been overwhelmed by the sudden loss of income for the family, burden of high rents and other expenses, as well as emotional pressure. Knowing that many small business owners like Qing are suffering from the crisis, CMP has been actively reaching out and offering the community assistance with disaster relief programs.
With help from our business counselors in clarifying concerns, explaining complicated application procedures, and gathering required documents, Qing successfully submitted applications of Economic Injury Disaster Loan to SBA and Small Business Grants Program to Facebook. We will continue providing follow-up services, and keep Qing updated on any new programs.
“The pandemic is definitely a crushing blow for many small businesses. It was even more difficult for new immigrant small business owners like me. I'm very grateful for the support CMP offers. They have been so patient and helpful. Thank you!”
--- Qing Ye
Tomorrow is GivingTuesdayNow!
Tomorrow is May 5th, the #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19!
As you know, CMP is committed to continuing our role as a community service organization by not only keeping our much-needed critical services available, but also creating temporary services to best adapt to changing community needs, such as providing the latest COVID-19 related updates and resources available to the community, helping people with Unemployment Insurance, SNAP benefit, rent and food concerns, assisting small business owners in applying for economic relief funds/loans, etc.
But we can’t do these without you! Not only do we need your support, we need your help to spread the word. Please tell your friends and family why you believe in our work and encourage them to support us too!
Here we ask that you join us and get involved in #GivingTuesdayNow in our own community! Let’s come together, get prepared and join the movement tomorrow!
Here is how you can get ready to give:
1. Give. Tomorrow, on May 5th, go to https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/ChinatownManpowerProjct/Donation.html, show your support to CMP and donate.
2. Follow. Please follow us on Facebook(CMPNewYork), Twitter(CMPNewYork), WeChat(CMPNY70) and invite your friends to do the same.
3. Spread the word. Encourage your friends and family to join you in creating real impact tomorrow by sharing what our mission means to you and why you support CMP. Make sure to use hashtag #GivingTuesdayNow.
Shu Dong – Chinese Student Services Center
To practice social distancing, Chinese international students have drastically decreased outdoor activities. At CMP, we care about the students' well-being and have launched the "Shu Dong" (meaning a tree hole) program.
Shu Dong is an one-on-one informal chat service. It is free and confidential. Its purpose is to create a safe space for students to engage in a conversation. Students can sign up for this service whether they are experiencing some hardship or just want to find someone to talk to. A staff, a graduated international student, will be talking to them. This is not a counseling service. It is audio-only.
Disclaimer: CMP reserves the moral responsibility to take reasonable steps in the event of potential harm and danger.
To sign up for this service, please visit this link.
To share this service with others, here is the program flyer.
Additional Relief Funds for Small Business
The Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program have been expanded with $310 billion in additional funds, which will be available very soon.
It's a first-come, first-served basis and demand is already extremely high. So act fast! Contact us at Larrymei@cmpny.org for application details and assistance.
We encourage you to talk to your banker over the weekend, if possible. We can also refer you to a lender if you don’t have one already.
Adult Literacy Program Starts a New Cycle Today!
Despite all the challenges, we start a new cycle of Adult Literacy Program (ALP) today with 64 students in total, with 32 in morning sessions and 32 in afternoon sessions.
In addition to helping participants improve their English skills through remote learning and communication, the program will also serve as a platform for them to share and express their life stories and concerns at this moment. We will help each other and together we will overcome all obstacles ahead of us!
CARES Act for Small Businesses
The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty and stress for many American small businesses. Part of the government’s response to assist businesses during this time is the recent passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
The CARES Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses and nonprofits keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn.
Want to learn more about what to expect and how to prepare to file for a loan? Contact our Business Outreach Center (BOC) at larrymei@cmpny.org for assistance.
