Quincy Asian Resources Inc

TO FOSTER & IMPROVE THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC & CIVIC LIVES OF IMMIGRANTS & THEIR FAMILIES.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:AS ONE OF NEW ENGLAND'S MOST PROGRESSIVE MULTI-SERVICE PROVIDERS, QARI SERVES THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION (PRIMARILY ASIANS AND THOSE WITH LOW-INCOME) RESIDING IN QUINCY AND THE SURROUNDING SOUTH SHORE. WHEN THE ASIAN POPULATION IN QUINCY BECAME THE LARGEST PER CAPITA IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS, FOLLOWED BY BOSTON AND MALDEN, THE NEEDS OF OUR SERVICES AND THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT THE RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION HAVE ALSO EVOLVED.QARI'S WORKFORCE PARTNERSHIPS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTNER WITH QARI TO CREATE A CONSISTENT AND SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM TO FOSTER AND IMPROVE THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND CIVIC LIVES OF ASIAN AMERICANS AND OTHER IMMIGRANTS, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES, TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY. WORKFORCE ENTERPRISE PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO SECURE JOBS IN THEIR FIELDS OF INTEREST, WHILE ALSO BENEFITING FROM QARI INTEGRATED SERVICES AT THEIR WORKPLACE INCLUDING INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION, ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES, PATHWAYS TO NATURALIZATION, ETC.IN FY 2021, QARI'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES INCLUDE PARTNERS IN THE HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND MANUFACTURING SECTORS. PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOUTH SHORE HEALTH, EASTERN NAZARENE COLLEGE, AND BROOKS BROTHERS HELPED TO SUPPORT CLOSE TO 1,000 IMMIGRANT WORKERS WITH SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. QARI STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO APPLY FOR MAINTAIN THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, ACCESS INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRUS, SAFETY MEASURES, VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS, AND NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK. QARI FOUND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS TO CONTINUE TO WORK FROM HOME MANUFACTURING PPE MASKS TO SUPPORT THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, LAUNCHED JOB COACHING AND REFERRAL PROGRAMS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO WORK IN HEALTHCARE, DELIVER GROCERIES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS, AND PURSUE SEWING AND MANUFACTURING PATHWAYS.QARI ALSO BEGAN A PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW YORK CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION AS THE PAN-ASIAN MEAL PROVIDER FOR THE OLDER ADULT FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM (GETFOODNYC) IN FY 2021. QARI PARTNERS WITH LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND TOUR COMPANIES, WHICH WERE SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC, TO PREPARE AND DELIVER FRESH MEALS TO ISOLATED INDIVIDUALS SIX DAYS A WEEK ACROSS ALL FIVE BOROUGHS OF NYC. THIS PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED STABLE EMPLOYMENT FOR IMMIGRANT RESTAURANT WORKERS AND DRIVERS, WHILE PROVIDING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE AND SENSITIVE FOOD TO THE MOST VULNERABLE NEW YORKERS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES:QARI'S FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES TEAM PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRAL ("I&R") SERVICES TO CLIENTS IN ENGLISH, CANTONESE, MANDARIN, TAISHANESE, FUJIANESE, VIETNAMESE, PORTUGUESE, AND SPANISH TO ASSIST THEM WITH VARIOUS SERVICES ON TOPICS RANGING FROM HOUSING, ELDER SERVICES, HEALTHCARE AND PUBLIC HOUSING TO CHILD CARE, PATHWAYS TO HIGHER EDUCATION, AND CITIZENSHIP ASSISTANCE. CLIENTS RECEIVE ASSISTANCE LOCATING AND COMPLETING FORMS, TRANSLATING DOCUMENTS, AND FINDING RESOURCES.QARI'S MULTILINGUAL STAFF ASSIST IMMIGRANT FAMILIES WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ON-SITE AT QUINCY PUBLIC SCHOOLS' CENTRAL REGISTRATION TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL AND PROVIDE COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO NEW FAMILIES. WITH VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF MEMBERS' INTERPRETATION SERVICE HOURS, QARI HAS HELPED FAMILIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH QUINCY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND GET TO KNOW THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL LIFE.THE OUTREACH TEAM ALSO SUPPORTS QUINCY HOUSING AUTHORITY'S LOCATIONS WITH LARGE ASIAN ELDER POPULATIONS BY PROVIDING (VIRTUAL IN FY 2021) I&R AND SURVIVAL ENGLISH SERVICES TO THE ELDERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO QARI'S OFFICE. QARI PROVIDES SURVIVAL ENGLISH COURSES IN BOTH MANDARIN AND CANTONESE FOR ASIAN ELDERS (OVER 60), AS WELL AS CULTURAL COURSES SUCH AS CHINESE PAINTING.IN FY 2021, WE FACED CONTINUED CHALLENGES POSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE TEAM FOCUSED HEAVILY ON DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES, VACCINE EDUCATION AND ACCESS, AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING ECONOMIC DISRUPTION. THE TEAM ASSISTED 45 IMMIGRANT WORKERS TO APPLY AND TRAIN FOR NEW POSITIONS, MORE THAN 150 INDIVIDUALS WITH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS (AFTER ASSISTING NEARLY 400 CLIENTS WITH UNEMPLOYMENT BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE 2020 AT THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC), AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE QUINCY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ENSURE FAMILIES WERE PREPARED FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING.QARI ALSO EXPANDED OUR FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVES TO RESPOND TO INCREASED DEMAND DURING THE PANDEMIC, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL GROCERY STORES (KAM MAN FOOD) AND TRAVEL COMPANIES TO PREPARE AND DELIVER CULTURALLY SENSITIVE FRESH FOOD TO ELDERS AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE.

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM:YEAR-ROUND, OUR ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM OFFERS COURSES TO STUDENTS IN THE MORNING AND EVENING TEACHING ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES ("ESOL"). IN THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS, IMMIGRANT STUDENTS IMPROVED THEIR ENGLISH AND OTHER SKILLS NEEDED TO THRIVE IN THE U.S. IN ADDITION TO ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS, STUDENTS HAVE PREPARED FOR THE WORKFORCE WITH TASKS LIKE JOB APPLICATIONS AND MOCK INTERVIEWS. IN FY 2021, QARI RESTRUCTURED THE ESOL PROGRAM TO CREATE FIVE 8-WEEK SESSIONS PER YEAR, WITH ALL CLASSES FREE AND OFFERED ONLINE. THIS NEW MODEL LOWERS THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY WITH ADDITIONAL STARTING POINTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR NEW STUDENTS AND A MORE FLEXIBLE CLASS SCHEDULE.THE FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM OFFERS FREE CONTEXTUALIZED ENGLISH AND PARENTING SKILLS FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE LOCAL PUBLIC-SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THESE PARENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY STUDY BOTH ENGLISH AND PARENTING SKILLS COMPONENTS. THE PROBLEMS FACING IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ARE NOT ONLY LINGUISTIC, BUT CULTURAL AS WELL. IN MANY ASIAN CULTURES, PARENTS GET THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND EDUCATION IS FULLY ENTRUSTED TO TEACHERS WITH NO EXPECTATION OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. ACCORDINGLY, THE CONTENT IN THE FAMILY LITERACY CURRICULUM IS DIVIDED INTO THREE MAIN SUBJECT AREAS, OR MODULES: SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING AT HOME, PARENT INVOLVEMENT AT SCHOOL, AND NAVIGATING QUINCY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.QARI ALSO OFFERS CITIZENSHIP CLASSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH U.S. CITIZENSHIPS & IMMIGRATION SERVICES ("USCIS") AND PROJECT CITIZENSHIP. FREE CITIZENSHIP CLASSES MEET FOR THREE HOURS ONCE A WEEK FOR TWELVE WEEKS, WITH SIX SESSIONS HELD IN FY 2021. TOPICS IN THE CITIZENSHIP CLASS RANGE FROM U.S. GOVERNMENT/GEOGRAPHY TO HOW TO FILL IN THE NATURALIZATION FORM N-400. STUDENTS ALSO MEET GUEST SPEAKERS TO DISCUSS THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN MOCK INTERVIEWS AT THE END OF THE CLASS TO HAVE A REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE ON THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

IMMIGRANT YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT:YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MISSIONQARI YOUTH PROGRAMS ENABLE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH EMPOWERMENT WITHIN A PEER LEADERSHIP MODEL. YOUNG PEOPLE BUILD SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS TO BECOME ACTIVE AGENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BEYOND. YOUTH SERVICECORPSTHE QARI YOUTH SERVICECORPS IS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH IN THE QUINCY AND SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITIES. THE YOUTH SERVICECORPS ALSO PROVIDES WORKFORCE READINESS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SKILL BUILDING THROUGH VARIOUS WORKSHOPS, EVENTS, AND ACTIVITIES. YOUTH LEADERSHIP IS DEVELOPED THROUGH AN 8 - 12-PERSON YOUTH BOARD WHO ENGAGE WITH A NETWORK OF 300+ STUDENT VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.U&I MENTORINGTHE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO FOSTER EMPOWERING YOUTH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RECENT IMMIGRANT MIDDLE SCHOOL MENTEES AND THEIR HIGH SCHOOL MENTORS. BY SUPPORTING THE MENTEES' ACADEMIC PROGRESS, THEIR TRANSITION INTO HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEIR ADJUSTMENT TO LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES, OUR HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS ARE EXPOSED TO RESPONSIBLE, ADULT ROLES OF SERVICE TO A YOUNGER AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE GENERATION. ENTRUSTED WITH THE UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES FOUND IN THEIR ROLE AS MENTORS, OUR HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS NOT ONLY LEARN COMMUNICATION, INTERPERSONAL, AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, THEY GAIN MARKETABLE CAPITAL THAT WILL BE INVALUABLE TO THEIR FUTURE. QARI WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO OFFER NEW STUDENT ORIENTATIONS, CHINESE-LANGUAGE PARENT ORIENTATIONS, AND PARENTING CLASSES TARGETING THE RECENT IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. THESE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES ALSO INTRODUCE NEWCOMERS TO PROGRAMS QARI HAS TO OFFER.TRANSITIONUPQARI'S TRANSITIONUP SUPPORTS ELL HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO OFTEN STRUGGLE WITH THE TRANSITION TO THEIR NEW HOMES. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THESE YOUTH WITH DEVELOPMENT IN WORKFORCE READINESS AS WELL AS THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO OFFER YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO FOSTER THEIR CULTURE AND BUILD WORKFORCE READINESS SKILLS IN A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT. BY SUPPORTING THESE YOUTH'S ATTITUDE TOWARD SCHOOL AND MOVE INTO THE U.S., PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS GAIN COMMUNICATION, INTERPERSONAL AND 21ST CENTURY SKILLS (WHICH INCLUDE OUTCOMES RELATED TO TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND LIFE AND CAREER SKILLS) TO SUPPORT THEIR TRANSITION TO POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, RECOGNIZED CREENTIAL, OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM.