Non-Profit Participants and their Projects
Apex for Youth
Founded in 1992, Apex for Youth delivers possibilities to under-served Asian and immigrant youth in New York City by recruiting volunteers to be positive role models for them. Through its mentoring and education programs for students from 1st to 12th grade, Apex volunteers guide and inspire youth to become confident, young adults who are ready for college and give back to the community. Today, Apex serves over 1,300 children weekly with nearly 11,000 hours of volunteer service a year.
Communication Project Background:
Apex for Youth relies heavily on our volunteer base--just over 300--and we communicate with them frequently, mostly via email. Our staff communicate with them regularly to update them on our internal programming and sessions they need to attend, as well as details on opportunities or events they can bring their mentees to. We also send them newsletters volunteer social/engagement opportunities, and sometimes promote community events in these as well. The result is information overload and difficulty for our volunteers to process and digest everything, on top of their already demanding schedules. |
Challenge Question:
The information sent to volunteers is all pertinent, but how can we structure our communications better so they don't feel overloaded? Should we utilize our Facebook Groups more? Currently, the Facebook groups only exists for our mentors and not volunteers in other programs; those groups also include mentees, so we would need to create a new, separate group with all volunteers. The information also comes from different staff, so what would be the best way to consolidate the information? |
API Rainbow Parents of PFLAG NYC
PFLAG NYC is part of the federation of our past partner, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA).
API Rainbow Parents provides information and support to Asian-Pacific Islander (API) families with a family member who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The group is open to parents, other relatives and family members, and friends, as well as to LGBT people themselves. API Rainbow Parents helps families in the same way as PFLAG NYC’s other regular support groups, but has a special focus on meeting the cultural and language needs of API families.
API Rainbow Parents provides information and support to Asian-Pacific Islander (API) families with a family member who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The group is open to parents, other relatives and family members, and friends, as well as to LGBT people themselves. API Rainbow Parents helps families in the same way as PFLAG NYC’s other regular support groups, but has a special focus on meeting the cultural and language needs of API families.
Marketing Project Background:
Branding and Marketing for API Rainbow Parents of PFLAG NYC (ARP) ARP is an all-volunteer sub-group under the New York City chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of LGBT People) that has been doing LGBTQ family acceptance work within Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. We address cultural and language needs unique to API communities, which are often not addressed in existing LGBTQ resources. Through the years, we have been able to create a reliable network of support for families of Asian descent through our outreach programs, solidarity work and also through word of mouth. This year, we aim to create a more solid branding and marketing plan in order to reach more families. |
Challenge Question:
LGBTQ stigma along with other cultural and language barriers can make API families difficult to reach. How do we package/present ARP in a way that’s more appealing to and approachable for our audience? How can we reach more API families, especially parents, and encourage them to participate in our events? |
Asian CineVision (ACV)
Asian Cinevision (ACV) is a New York based non-profit media arts organization dedicated to producing, promoting and preserving Asian and Asian American media expressions by artists of Asian descent; to ensure that the full spectrum of Asian and Asian American media works reach diverse audiences in Asian American communities and beyond. Since 1978, ACV has presented the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), the first and longest-running festival dedicated to screening the moving image work by media artists of Asian descent from any nationality and about the Asian and Asian American experience.
Streaming Project Background:
Since 1980, ACV has presented its post-Festival National Festival Tour, a rental program traveling to educational institutions, corporations, cinema societies, museums, and libraries. The Tour provides a larger platform for filmmakers to have their work reach larger audiences and earn additional revenues. With the evolvement of streaming technology, ACV seeks to distribute its 2017-18 tour content via secure password protected online video streaming service. |
Challenge Question:
Help create a plan for migrating the Asian CineVision (ACV) National Festival Tour to an online streaming platform. What are the leading available options? What are their price levels and options for revenue generation? Added value if you are a pro-bono legal counsel with knowledge of online streaming licensing, and strategic tech consultant with knowledge of online streaming platforms. |
Chinatown Youth Initiative (CYI)
Chinatown Youth Initiatives (CYI) is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering progressive young leaders to engage and address Asian American issues in New York City through three flagship programs: Summer Leadership Institute (SLI), Chinatown Beautification Day (CBD), and Chinatown Literacy Project (CLP).
Project #1 Background:
Fundraising |
Challenge Question:
CYI is over a decade old with well established name recognition among young progressive Asian American leaders and organizations. However, it struggles to establish and run a fine-tuned fundraising operation. How can CYI create a fundraising operation with a wide reach that taps into a diverse set of funders (e.g. small and big businesses, alumni)? |
Project #2 Background:
Alumni Engagement |
Challenge Question:
Since its founding, CYI has touched the lives of hundreds of youth through workshops, large scale events, and volunteer opportunities. However, the changes in leadership has left gaps in the alumni contact database. How can CYI create an outreach plan to reach out to and engage with our alumni? |
ECPAT-USA
Our mission is to protect every child’s basic human right to grow up free from the threat of sexual exploitation and trafficking.
Super Bowl Project Background:
There has been much media attention around the Super Bowl and trafficking. In 2011, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas called the Super Bowl "the single largest human trafficking incident in the United States.” Many news sources in recent years have echoed this same stance. To many people’s surprise, however, there has not been clear evidence to support to a spike in trafficking around the Super Bowl. In reality, human trafficking affects our country across varied locations, communities, and events, and we cannot isolate its impact to only one event per year. Having said that, the Super Bowl offers an excellent opportunity to educate the public on the issue of trafficking. |
Challenge Question:
How can ECPAT mobilize the Super Bowl host city, plus attendees, each year? Is there a way to develop a fundraising and awareness campaign/initiative that could be deployed each year at Super Bowls in different cities? What would that look like? How could ECPAT do this remotely, having an office only in New York? |
Consumer Electronics Show Project Background:
In researching human trafficking and the Super Bowl, our team learned that there is potentially an increase in human trafficking during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a global consumer electronics and consumer technology tradeshow that takes place every January in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, which typically has 170-180,000 attendees each year, includes presentations, booths, and breakout sessions from tech companies like Sony, Samsung, LG, etc. This event could be a great opportunity for our organization to educate a new audience and align ourselves with one more influential brands. |
Challenge Question:
How can ECPAT get involved with CES in a way that does not alienate this audience? How can ECPAT best present itself to tech companies for partnership? |
College Club Project Background:
In order to grow, ECPAT needs to improve visibility across the United States. Large nonprofits such as Amnesty International have successfully created local chapters/clubs in colleges around the U.S. Student-run organizations would be a great way for ECPAT to involve new people, and especially young people, in our mission to end child trafficking. |
Challenge Question:
How can ECPAT, with a small team and limited resources, create a sustainable college club program in states around the U.S.? How would these clubs be structured and how could they generate funds for ECPAT? |
EQUALITY FUND at Asian American for Equality (AAFE)
Equality Fund organizes the next generation of philanthropy to support equitable neighborhoods. Our programs include community philanthropy to support local neighborhoods, donor education to learn about community development in your workplace, and philanthropic leadership opportunities. Equality Fund was founded on the Asian Americans for Equality's 40th Anniversary as a way to increase capacity and sustainability of its 40 year impact in the community.
Job Platform Project Background:
Many New Yorkers are stuck in jobs with limited career opportunity, no benefits, or low wages. In Flushing, Queens, these workers are surrounded by increased opportunity with a booming local economy. Yet they are not able to get those jobs because of limited English ability, issues with immigration, or lack of knowledge of classes and services out there to help them. In addition, while these employers want to help the local workers, they are not aware of organizations that provide comprehensive services that not only place the workers in jobs, but also help low-income residents on all the other challenges that are barriers to economic mobility. Equality Fund has pulled together the Flushing Employment Network of community-based organizations, training programs, and employers to pilot a program that will create 1,000 good jobs and small businesses in 5 years for entry-level workers. |
Challenge Question:
The Flushing Employment Network (FEN) currently meets monthly and consists of community-based organizations, a handful of training programs, and a few like-minded employers from the neighborhood. In a recent survey, FEN discovered that 84 out of the 201 workers surveyed used the internet to find jobs. This was much higher than they had expected. Leveraging the community's digital literacy could allow for opportunity to engage in trainings, casual learning opportunities, and connection to resources in convenient ways. In addition, FEN is aiming to start formally recruiting new members in spring 2018 and needs to have a strong web presence that states its ambitious goals. How can FEN utilize web and mobile technology to help the workers learn while attracting new supporters and partners in creating 1,000 good jobs and small businesses in 5 years? |
International Center NY of Catholic Charities Community Services
Non-profit organization dedicated to providing help, and creating hope.
Job Project Background:
Many immigrants and refugees face a barrier in re-entering their field of work or study. Our staff attempts to guide refugees and asylees back into their desired fields, but oftentimes we lack the insider's knowledge of how to enter different industries. Immigrants also face numerous barriers to re-entering their fields, such as language and qualification requirements. Volunteers become an important connector in guiding clients back into their professions and providing professional support and mentorship. |
Challenge Question:
Catholic Charities community Services provides various career development opportunities to refugees and asylees to help them become self-sufficient, when they are in our program, and while preparing to reintegrate their original field of study or work. How can we encourage potential mentors to come on board? How can we reach out to different fields, industries, and companies to be part of a career mentorship program? How can we help refugees and asylees effectively bridge the gap between the job they have now and the job they want in the future? |
MinKwon Center for Community Action
MinKwon Center for Community Action seeks to empower the Korean American, Asian American and broader immigrant communities through civic engagement and social services. In our program areas of advocacy, community organizing, voter engagement, youth empowerment and social and legal services, we place special emphasis on low-income, limited English proficient and undocumented community members.
Voter Participation Project Background:
Asian Pacific American New Yorkers' voter participation is the lowest of all major race groups - White, Black and Hispanic. In general presidential elections, APAs' turnout is approximately 10% lower; in midterm years, this gap is nearly 20%. Given its high proportion of first and second-generation immigrants, this is not surprising, but nevertheless this lack of participation is problematic. The MinKwon Center is part of a nationwide effort to bring PA voter participation to parity through grassroots efforts, such as door-knocking, phone banks, media outreach and voter education. |
Challenge Question:
The MinKwon Center is seeking to boost voter turnout among APAs, as well as increase community awareness of issues and their impact on the livelihood and well-being of APA New Yorkers. How can we best encourage APAs to fully participate in the democratic process, in culturally competent ways? How effective can we be in garnering support for policies that are supportive of immigrants and move us all towards social justice? |
Womankind (formerly New York Asian Women's Center)
Womankind works with survivors of gender-based violence to rise above trauma and build a path to healing. We bring critical resources and deep cultural competency to help Asian communities find refuge, recovery, and renewal.
Helpline App Project Background:
Creating an app for Helpline/WK that would support the sharing of resources for the community, sharing stats on DV/SV/HT, and have a help section – where there would eventually be a connection to a chat or text function. |
Challenge Question:
Womankind is dedicated to survivors and victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence a safe space to address and process their trauma. A space to allow them to cope and heal through their trauma in a way that is sustainable and comfortable for them. How can we use mobile and/or web technology to bring awareness to this population and addressing any needs via the communities that we work in? How do we connect with these communities? |
Financial Literacy Project Background:
For the event, we would like some financial literacy handouts to be translated in Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Bengali, Hindi/Urdu, Korean and Japanese. The translated documents would be provided to survivors at Womankind either through workshops on one-on-one counseling sessions to help them with their financial self-sufficiency. The deliverables to be expected are the attached handouts translated in various Asian languages with as much as possible accuracy and thoroughness in the time given. Quality translations are prioritized over quantity and completing translation for every worksheet. |
Challenge Question:
Womankind works with survivors of gender violence, predominantly from Asian communities and supports them through healing, refuge and recovery. Womankind would like to develop a number of worksheets and handouts to help low-income consumers with learning how to manage their money. How can we use mobile and/or web technology to bring resources straight to clients? How do we connect with these communities and provide awareness and access? |
Project by Project (PbP)
Project by Project is a national, volunteer-run 501(c)3 organization that has created a platform by which our members exercise leadership skills through direct work and engagement with partner non-profit organizations.
Leadership Conference Project Background:
Project by Project's mission is to develop leaders through innovative philanthropy. We are fulfilling this for the members of our steering committees but how can we deliver this more broadly outside of our direct organization? |
Challenge Question:
What would be relevant topics/workshops for an Asian American leadership conference? How much of it should be about skills development, community issues, Asia America's history & future, leadership/success in the workplace etc.? Who would be the target audience(s) & what channels would we use to market it? How do you attract funding & speakers? |
Thank you to all of our Community Partners!
Click on the images to find out more about the organizations.