I became CEO of Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) in June 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise in xenophobia and anti-Asian hate, and two weeks after George Floyd was murdered. Within 48 hours of starting my role, I worked with others to write BCNC’s first statement on racial equity, joining many others’ responses to the tragedy.

BCNC is increasing the capacity of direct service providers to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders by providing Mental Health First Aid Training, thanks to a three year from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Community-based Health Initiative. We had our first training with 21 BCNC staff on November 11th.

Systemic issues such as poverty and cultural isolation contribute to Asian immigrants being drawn to casinos and problematic gambling — and casinos’ targeted marketing efforts exacerbate the issue, a new state report finds.

To celebrate Early Literacy Day on October 28, Jumpstart partnered with BCNC for its 16th annual Read For the Record 2021 Campaign, sponsored by The TJX Companies, Inc. On Friday, October 29th, BCNC preschoolers all joined in a global reading of Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kat Zhang and received a copy to take home.

To address problem gambling, Family Services is implementing comprehensive gambling prevention community outreach for Asian immigrants in Boston, Quincy, and Malden. BCNC is partnering with Chinese Culture Connection (CCC), Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAACC) and Civic Education Alliance (CEA) to deliver outreach strategies and social recreational activities.

Yoyo Yau, BCNC Chief Program Officer, has been appointed as a member of the subcommittee on Addiction Services, led by Gaming Policy Advisory Committee. The subcommittee develops recommendations for regulations addressing issues related to addiction services. Yoyo shared recommendations to bring systemic change to problem gambling from the Asian CARES Research Report at the launch event on October 27th.

The Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways & Means has released S. 2564, an act relative to immediate COVID-19 recovery needs, a $3.67 billion spending plan investing federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and the state’s fiscal 2021 multi-billion-dollar surplus. Please help BCNC meet the overwhelming needs of Asian immigrant and working-class members.