Chinese Mutual Aid Association

On October 29, 2009, the Chinese Mutual Aid Association was proud to host their 2009 Annual Dinner: New Beginnings: New Connections, celebrating success and hard work invested in many of CMAA’s programs such as: citizenship, family literacy, youth programs, and many more. The night was introduced with appetizers and dance performances, and later speeches from alumni youth participants.

Chinese Mutual Aid Association held a mini immigration workshop on Saturday, August 22, 2009. 

235 members of Chinese Mutual Aid Association's Golden Age Club attended Mayor Daley's Annual Senior Fest at McCormick Place on August 13, 2009

On August 8, 48 people—children, parents and volunteers—attended a field trip to the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park to hear popular children’s entertainer Ella Jenkins.  Ms. Jenkins has performed internationally for over 40 years and appears at Ravinia nearly every year.  After the performance in Ravinia’s historic Martin Theater, CMAA hosted a picnic on Ravinia’s grassy lawn.

National Night Out was held on August 4, 2009 to work for a safer community.  Over 140 staff and clients of Chinese Mutual Aid Association participated at the event which was held at McCutcheon School a few blocks from CMAA.  

A rainy Friday on June 19, 2009 marked the first day of CMAAs Summer Family Literacy Program, called “Read, Learn, Go!”. Connie Chang, the Family Literacy Coordinator, brightened the rather wet morning with free breakfast for the children, from 6 to 12 years of age. As the children settled, Connie introduced the four youth volunteers helping out through the duration of the program, which runs until August 22.

Representatives of CMAA from a variety of departments joined hundreds of representatives of social services groups on Thursday, June 18, 2009, in an attempt to cull the barrage of budget cuts facing their programs.

Chinese Mutual Aid's Golden Age Club visted Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry last Thursday on June 4th, 2009. The CMAA group joined a group of seniors from Peterson and Lincoln, adding to a total of 157 individuals. The diversity of the group was obvious as Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Filipino, and Russian seniors explored and enjoyed the museum exhibits.

On April 25th, 2009, Chinese Mutual Aid Association, in partnership with the Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Cultural Center, Cambodian Association of Illinois, Ethiopian Community Association of Illinois, and the Lao American Community Services Center, held a Citizenship and Immigration Workshop.

The mission of the Family Literacy Club is to build a bridge between the immigrant families and help them to merge into the mainstream of American society.   The children from the Literacy Club dreamed of having a fun-filled day during the Spring Break, even though their parents still had to work their long, odd hours.   Not a promising start for a Spring vacation.