This year, our organization, as well as the rest of the world, has faced some drastic changes and challenges. As an organization, we have learned to navigate these changes by sticking together and remembering our mission and commitment to all immigrants, refugees, and low income communities.
Even though we have not been able to hold events and interact with everyone as we used to, we are making the most of it.
In the early months of this year, Community Engagement Manager, Henry Liu, started a GoFundMe to provide groceries to the various CID residents. It soon surpassed the initial goal, and we were able to get even more groceries in bulk from local grocery stores. We had the help of many, many, many volunteers during this process. After a few months, we started partnering with our friends at the Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS), who help us package hundreds of bags per week for us to deliver to different households in the neighborhood.
On top of this, we have helped senior residents fill out the 2020 Census and even register to vote! We had a great turnout this year and it was great to see the residents excited and engaged in their civic duties.
The Danny Woo Community Garden has also seen some changes. We have seen an increase in crops being utilized in the garden, and have even heard from gardeners that their groups have helped them during this time. It gives them time to be outside, exercise, and even helps them grow food for their families. Lizzy Baskerville, Environmental Design & Sustainability Manager, quotes gardener Deng Xia Tang, “Very happy because [otherwise] there is nothing to do. My husband labors in the plot. At home we feel very lonely but we go to the garden to enrich our lives. We have this plot to have fun.”
You may have even see Matt Chan’s video of the Danny Woo Community Garden, which honors the annual Pig Roast that was unfortunately canceled this year.
Our Employment Navigation department has also been hard at work during this time. Employment Navigation Managers, Vincent Kwan and Carmen Hom, have continuously helped community members file for unemployment or find jobs, which are both especially important during this time. They work tirelessly each week to check up on clients and have even set up several events and workshops!
InterIm has also been a part of the I-5 Steering Committee, which is working to revitalize the freeway underpass on Jackson & King St. in an effort to create more open space and a sense of public safety, as well as better connect Little Saigon to the rest of the CID neighborhood. Be sure to join the upcoming Community Meeting on December 16, 2020 at 4:00pm!
Another way that InterIm has been engaging with senior residents is by leading weekly cooking and exercise classes. Community Engagement Manager, Henry, and Nutritional Education & Food Security Manager, Eliza Guan, purchase ingredients for dozens of senior residents each week and hand deliver them. Based on the ingredients for the week, each resident comes up with their own dish and shares what they made with other participants in a WeChat group chat. From these group chats, the residents have made friends with each other and keep each other company even on non-cooking class days!
Our administrative team has also been hard at work. Administrative Assistant, Lynette Seigafo, and accounting team Anca Bolden and Shegaw Masresha, have been hard at work at the InterIm office making sure that everything behind-the-scenes is seamless and that the rest of the team can do their jobs effectively and by the book. They truly are the backbone of InterIm CDA.
There are several other departments that have not been captured in this video, but deserve the recognition just as much – Housing Services, Real Estate Development, Equitable Development Policy Advocacy, Wilderness Inner-City Leadership Development (WILD) youth program, Homelessness Prevention, and Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault services have all done amazing work for the communities that they serve.
While this year has been both challenging and different, we at InterIm are grateful for each other and our community. We continue to do our work as best as we can, under the circumstances, and uphold our commitment to the community. At this time, your support means the world to us and we cannot thank you enough. Please consider to continue supporting us during this time so that we can continue our neighborhood advocacy efforts.
Thank you all – we are excited for 2021 and all that it may bring!
Connect with us:
Instagram: @interim_cda; @dannywoogarden
Facebook: @interim_cda; @dannywoogarden