Pui Tak Center

THE PUI TAK CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED TO BE A CHRISTIAN WITNESS TO THE CHINESE COMMUNITY IN GREATER CHICAGO THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.

ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING DEPARTMENTENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES (ESL): PUI TAK CENTER HAS ONE OF ILLINOIS LARGEST COMMUNITY-BASED ADULT ESL PROGRAMS. STUDENTS HAVE A VARIETY OF GOALS INCLUDING GETTING A BETTER JOB, BECOMING A U.S CITIZEN OR CONVERSING WITH THOSE OUTSIDE OF CHINATOWN. WE OFFER ESL CLASSES AT SIX DIFFERENT LEVELS FROM PRE-LITERACY TO ADVANCED. OUR CITIZENSHIP CLASS HELPS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THEIR NATURALIZATION INTERVIEW. CLASSES ARE OFFERED WEEKDAY MORNINGS, WEEKDAY EVENINGS AND SATURDAYS. LATE MORNING CLASSES INCLUDE CONVERSATION AND PRONUNCIATION. 978 STUDENTS RECEIVED AT LEAST 12 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION IN FY2024.ADULT VOLUNTEER TUTORING: MOST OF OUR ADULT ESL (ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE) STUDENTS HAVE FEW OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM TO PRACTICE THEIR ENGLISH. THE ADULT VOLUNTEER TUTORING PROGRAM OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING AND CLASSES TAUGHT BY VOLUNTEERS. 120 STUDENTS RECEIVE THESE SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES IN FY2024. FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATION: PUI TAK CENTER'S RESTAURANT SANITATION COURSES PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND CERTIFICATIONS NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY. COURSES ARE OFFERED IN CANTONESE, MANDARIN, AND ENGLISH. 237 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE CLASSES IN FY2024 WITH 250 CERTIFICATIONS EARNED.

COMMUNITY DEPARTMENTIMMIGRANT WELCOMING CENTER: IMMIGRANTS ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH MOST ASPECTS OF LIVING IN CHICAGO. OUR IMMIGRANT WELCOMING CENTER PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS. 1290 IMMIGRANTS AND OTHERS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY RECEIVED ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE IMMIGRANT WELCOMING CENTER IN FY2024.DISABILITY SERVICES: OUR DISABILITY SERVICES PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT, ADVOCACY AND TRAINING TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DISABILITIES. OUR 1 CORINTHIANS 1:27 FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP FOSTERS RELATIONSHIPS SO THAT FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DISABILITIES CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER. POIEMA COMMUNITY DAY SERVICES EQUIPS YOUNG ADULTS AFFECTED BY DISABILITY WITH LIFE SKILLS TRAINING AND PREPARE THEM FOR WORK OPPORTUNITIES.HOME BASED SUPPORT SERVICES ASSISTS FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE GOVERNMENT FUNDING THAT ENABLES FAMILY MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES TO RECEIVE SERVICES IN THEIR HOME AND COMMUNITY. IN FY2024, 71 FAMILIES RECEIVED SUPPORT.HOPE COUNSELING SERVICES: PUI TAK CENTER OPENED HOPE COUNSELING SERVICES TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING TO BOTH CHINATOWN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN GREATER CHICAGOLAND. THE PROGRAM OFFERS INDIVIDUAL, COUPLES AND FAMILY COUNSELING IN CANTONESE, ENGLISH, AND MANDARIN.COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS: PUI TAK CENTER HAS PERIODIC PROJECTS THAT HELP LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS AND LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKERS TO ACCESS AVAILABLE SERVICES AND BENEFITS. IN FY2024, PUI TAK CENTER COORDINATED VACCINATION EVENTS, PROVIDED INCOME TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE (124 HOUSEHOLDS SERVED), AND HELPED OVER 461 HOUSEHOLDS APPLY FOR VARIOUS CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

CHILDREN & YOUTH DEPARTMENT - PUI TAK CENTER OFFERS ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS TO ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING THE SUMMER. ACADEMIC SUPPORT INCLUDE TUTORING, ESL CLASSES AND COLLEGE PREPARATION CLASSES. THE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDES SERVICE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPUTER CODING. IN ADDITION, THE YOUTH PROGRAM OFFERS INTERNSHIPS THAT EXPOSE YOUTH TO EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. IN FY2024, 213 CHILDREN AND 340 YOUTH PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROGRAMS.