Chinese Mutual Aid Association

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.

CMAA and the UIC School of Medicine held a free health fair on Saturday, March 14th. Over 125 clients had their cholesterol levels, glucose levels, bone mineral density, blood pressure and vision tested. Screeners from UIC's School of Medicine also provided neurological, heart, lung, eye, ear, nose and throat check-ups.

Chinese Mutual Aid Association celebrated Chinese New Year at Truman College on January 31, 2009. The event was sponsored by State Farm Insurance.

The Honorable Ping Huang, Consul General of the Peoples Republic of China made an historic first visit to Chinese Mutual Aid Association on January 29, 2009.

Thomas Cheng, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, a long -time friend of Chinese Mutual Aid Association made his final visit to Chinese Mutual Aid Assocation on January 15, 2009.