YWCA Annual Gala Distinguished Honorees

Week of April 12, 2010 Issue 13

The YWCA of Queens' 32nd Annual Gala will be held Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Dae Dong Manor. In celebratingthis year's theme, "A Healthy Community for a Promising Future," we will recognize Ana L. Oliveira, President & CEO of the New York Women's Foundation, with the Empowering Women Award and Chung-Wha Hong, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, with the Eliminating Racism Award for their work in building stronger, lasting communities.

The Empowering Women Award was introduced to recognize those who relentlessly mobilize women to become strong, self-reliant contributors in society.

Ana L. Oliveira is President & CEO of The New York Women's Foundation®
(NYWF). She has been a voice for change at the NYWF since 2006 and has helped catalyze partnerships in achieving justice for women and girls. NYWF has helped women and girls become self-sufficient by helping organizations sustain and remain effective through financial provisions and developing leadership and organizational potential. The YWCA of Queens thanks Ms. Oliveira for her efforts in eradicating barriers women face and providing them with opportunities to positively transform their lives.

The Eliminating Racism Award honors those who bring a stronghold in advocating for equality and social justice for all.

Chung-Wha Hong is the Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC). She has worked for civil and immigrant rights for over 20 years and has been responded to emerging issues and needs. Through the NYIC, she has organized the largest immigration rally in New York City history, attracting more than 300,000 people for a march on City Hall in 2007. In addition, she has helped win $700 million in state funds for local schools to help immigrant students who don't speak English. The YWCA of Queens thanks her work with the NYIC in securing immigrant rights and advocating for social justice.

The New York Music Competition Grand Prize Winner is...

Week of April 5, 2010 Issue 12


This year's Grand Prize Winner is 14 year old, Kyung A Lee. This Korean born, with many accolades under her belt, is described by one music enthusiast as one "with the music. You can believe she was born with it." The YWCA of Queens congratulates Miss Lee for her outstanding work.

New York Music Competition Winners Concert at Carnegie Hall

Week of April 5, 2010 Issue 12 no. 2

Next Thursday, April 15, 2010, winners of the New York Music Competition (NYMC) will perform at the world renowned Carnegie Hall. The YWCA of Queens is proud to collaborate with The Korean Daily in completing the competition's 13th year. The participants and the competition have matured for over a decade to create an atmosphere that sets itself apart from other competitions. Some occurrences that stand out from this year's competition are:

· First place violinist, Ji Soo Kim, of Category D was accompanied by her pianist brother, a past winner, making this a family affair.

· Friends John Lee and Jean Kim went head to head to both place first.

· Past winners are now being accompanied by orchestras in their recitals.

This competition will continue to promote youth's appreciation of music and give opportunities for young people to showcase their musical talents.

New York Music Competition Winners

Week of April 5, 2010 Issue 12 no. 1

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Kyung A Lee, Piano PIANO

Category A

First Place, Brielle Perez

Second Place, Victoria Kuylova
Second Place, Brendan E. Tang
Honorable Mention, Max Chung

Honorable Mention, Grace Gu
Honorable Mention, Aileen Park

Category B
Second Place, Brianna G. Tang

Category C

First Place, Alex Tiratsuyan

Second Place, William Wei

Third Place, Yerin Park

Honorable Mention, Selin Park

Category D

Third Place, Crystal Chen

VIOLIN

Category A

First Place, Michelle Stern

Third Place, Rachel Lim
Honorable Mention, Ryan Chou

Category B

Third Place, Lauren Kahye Ross

Category C

First Place, Hae Ji Kim
First Place, Kenta Nomura

Second Place, Jason Wang

Category D
First Place, Ji Soo Kim

Third Place, Halam Kim

CELLO

Category A

First Place, Marco Biaggio
First Place, Esther Yu

Honorable Mention, Susan Baek
Honorable Mention, Luming Chan

Honorable Mention, Holly Kim

Category B

First Place, Solomon J. Choi

First Place, Derek S. Louie
Third Place, Andrew Kang Rim

Honorable Mention, Jongho Park

Category C
First Place, Jean Kim
First Place, John Lee

Third Place, Eliza Fath

Third Place, Aya Terki

Honorable Mention, Sarah Chung

Category D

First Place, Agisae Kim

Second Place, Yeong Eun Jane Lee

Making New Again

Week of March 29, 2010 Issue 11

As signs of winter are behind us, it's time for the YWCA to look forward to rising temperatures and the annual Summer Day Camp. Last year's theme, "Let's Go Green," was based on the YWCA's efforts to reduce waste and be more mindful of our consumption of natural resources. This environmental endeavor is in efforts to promote wellness beyond the physical aspects. The YWCA encourages social responsibility and in the spirit of recycling, we will be recycling last year's theme for this upcoming Summer Day Camp 2010.

"Let's Go Green" will not only be reused, but it will build on top of foundations from last year. It will continue to serve its purpose through education and practice and will prove to demonstrate that making small changes can have a large, lasting effect. Some of last year's overzealous participants witnessed what little effort it took to recycle and even tried to manage their own compost. The YWCA is encouraged by the efforts of its young members.
This passion seen in the youth has overflowed to the YWCA staff. The staff has made small changes such as purchasing postconsumer recycled paper and reusing the backsides of printed pages . This effort has even reached our upcoming Annual Gala. Invitations have been printed on recycled cards and envelopes. These small changes have reduced costs and have created a more sustaining atmosphere at the YWCA making what was old, new again.

Evergreen Choir performed to celebrate Women's History Month

Week of March 22, 2010 Issue 9

In commemoration of Women's History Month, New York City Comptroller John C. Liu as well as 13 women's organizations, including the YWCA of Queens, sponsored a celebration for women this past Tuesday evening at Surrogate's Courthouse. The evening acknowledged significant female contributors who have improved not only women's issues, but the well-being of society. Recognition went to women from different backgrounds in the field of education, health, business, media, and for a lifetime achievement. The honorees are:

Hazel N. Dukes, President of NAACP,
Virginia Kee, Founder of CPC,
Ethel S. Paley, Honorary Director of WCC,
Jerusha Ramos, Business professional, NL Financial Alliance
Janice Weinman Shorenstein, President of K.I.D.S.
The YWCA of Queens had the privilege of not only co-sponsoring this event, but performing in it as well. The Y Evergreen School, a program of the Center for Seniors, is one of the longest running programs here at the YWCA. This school offers response-driven programs and services focusing largely on education and recreation. Over 30 senior women bussed to Manhattan to perform two of the many songs they have practiced weekly throughout the year. The lasting expressions of pride and excitement lingered the women's faces after their performance leaving much expectation for their next appearance.

March Madness

Week of March 22, 2010 Issue 9 no. 1

Greetings! My name is Moo Young Kim and I am the new Adult and Community Program Coordinator. When I joined the YWCA staff over two months ago, I never imagined I would visit Albany and Washington, DC to advocate for immigration reform. This past Sunday, I, a Southern California native turned New Yorker, marched to the beat of Korean drumming to join over 200,000 people rallying for immigration reform at the National Mall. We all gathered for March for America, a movement that demands immigration reform and economic justice for all Americans. For many, this first rally experience left a deep desire to pursue immigration issues. This experience gave me hope for the future. I was nowhere near awkward as the lone representative of the YWCA. I was impressed and fueled with excitement by the beauty of so many young people excited about a cause that not necessarily affected them directly. This made my trip even more valuable. This day did not serve to surface stories of illegal immigration and Latinos, as is typically depicted by the media, but it portrayed stories often neglected by the public. Family separation, newlyweds torn apart, and students forced to leave after receiving their education are only a few struggles that immigrants have faced in America. To have seen so many people of different backgrounds working in a civil manner convinced me of a promising, hopeful future.