South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS)

Holiday Celebration at SACSS
2024-12-19 15:00 - 17:00 UTC
SACSS will bring Holiday Cheer and Gifts to Children in the Flushing Community! The families — all SACSS client’s children are invited to stop by the community center to pose for pictures with Santa, pick up gifts, and enjoy the festivities.

Community Health Workshop with Assembly Member Nily Rozic
2024-10-10 11:00
On Thursday, Oct. 10th, Assembly Member Nily Rozic will host a Community Health Advocates Workshop with the Community Service Society of NY (CSS) and SACSS. Join us for an informative session about important health resources and services.

SACSS Workforce Development Program Celebrates Second Cohort of Graduates
2024-08-22 11:00
143-02 45th Ave. Flushing, NY.
We are excited to announce the upcoming graduation ceremony for students in our sewing, English, and computer classes in SACSS’ Workforce Development program! Join us as we recognize their achievements and look forward to their future success in the workforce.

This will be the second cohort of graduates this year from the SACSS Workforce Development program, which has been instrumental in preparing community members for success in various fields.

SACSS’s English class has equipped students with strong communication skills, enabling them to excel in interviews and presentations. Our women’s empowerment initiative, Stitch with SACSS, has provided valuable hands-on experience nurturing creativity and entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, the computer class has empowered students with essential literacy and technical skills, enhancing their competitiveness in today’s job market.

‘BRUCE’ a Private Film screening at SACSS Center
2024-05-15 15:00
Wednesday May 15, 2024, 3:00 PM
143-02 45th Ave, Flushing, Queens.
“Bruce,” directed by Kadi Tsang & Katusha Jin and produced by William Kwok & Martial Arts Education Society, explores themes of immigrant identity, family, and the profound influence of the legendary Bruce Lee’s philosophy, particularly resonating with immigrant experiences.

“Bruce” tells the story of a family that immigrated from Hong Kong to the United States and established a business. A couple of years later, the father, Bruce, succumbs to cancer and leaves behind his wife and young daughter. The mother struggled through financial hardships and psychological challenges. The film focuses on her interactions with her daughter as she rediscovers the meaning of life.

Post-screening, a pivotal Q&A session will feature the insights of Executive Producer William Kwok, in conversation with Satish Kolluri, the Associate Professor of Communications & Media Studies at Pace University and American Film Director Kaveri Kaul.

Light refreshments will be served!
RSVP: sacss@sacssny.org

RSVP

Bolstering the Front Line: Grass Roots Organizations’ role in Women’s Economic Empowerment
2024-03-13 08:30 - 11:00
Panel discussion presented by All India Women’s Conference (AIWC), the NGO Committee on Human Rights, NY, the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS) and South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS).
Women worldwide are the poorest of the poor. They are less likely to participate in the paid labor market, more likely to be unemployed and are paid significantly less than men. All these challenges have led to a feminization of poverty that can only be tackled by strengthening social protection systems and infrastructure at the grass roots level. Grass roots women’s organizations have long been at the forefront of empowering women economically during ordinary times as well as during times of war and in the recent global pandemic. Literacy and vocational training in different fields, computer training, higher studies, socioeconomic projects, legal literacy, and financial literacy all work in conjunction to eliminate poverty and nurture women’s leadership. This webinar will explore best practices and programs at the grass roots level and recommend solutions for realizing the economic empowerment of women.
Wednesday, March 13th, 2024
8:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time (New York)
PROGRAM
Welcome – Kalyani Raj – President, AIWC
Greetings – Dr. Roberta Nassar – Chair, NGO Committee on Human Rights, NY and Representative to the UN(IFS)
Greetings – Sudha Acharya – Executive Director, SACSS, Principal Representative to the UN(AIWC)
Moderator – Dr. Manju Kak – Secretary General, AIWC
Introduction of Speakers – Shevata Rai Talwar – Joint Secretary, AIWC

SPEAKERS
Dr. Medha Puran Samant – Chairperson & Managing Director, Annapurna Pariwar
Ela Gandhi – Chairperson, Phoenix Settlement Trust, and Gandhi Development Trust
Kuljit Kaur – Member in Charge AIWC – Presentation on AIWC Activities
Junias M Kanyinda – Communications Officer, IFS
Mary Archana Fernandez – Director, Family Support Services, SACSS
Nidhi Ashok Goyal – Founder and Executive Director, Rising Flame

SUMMATION
Navina Sitaram – Representative to the UN, AIWC
AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
Dr. Manju Kak – Secretary General, AIWC
VOTE OF THANKS
Dr. Upasana Singh – Treasurer, AIWC.

Click here to register

NY-Presbyterian Queens Hospital leads presentation on cardiovascular health and stroke to SACSS seniors
2024-02-15 11:00 - 17:00
February is Heart Health Month, and at SACSS, we had Dr. Simradeep Shina from NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital speak on this critical topic about cardiovascular health and stroke to our attentive seniors.
Dr. Shina’s presentation on cardiovascular health and stroke, provided educational information on how to prevent and control high blood pressure, such as limiting salt (sodium) intake, drinking more water and avoiding sugary drinks, getting exercise, and eating a healthy, balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fruit. She also explained the warning signs of an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks or plugs an artery leading to the brain.

During the Q&A segment, community members were engaged in a conversation with Dr. Shina about how to manage high blood pressure, and what changes they can make in their diet.
According to Dr. Shina, heart disease is the number one leading cause of deaths in the United States.

“It’s prevalent in people who are 65 years and older, and it’s more prevalent in people of color such as Blacks and Latinos who are very predisposed,” Dr. Shina said. “In our South Asian community, we see a lot of people with heart disease as well, and we have done some education for Chinese communities and now Indian communities.”
Thank you to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital and Dr. Shina for helping our communities better understand and recognize the importance of living a healthy lifestyle that can reverse the effects of illness, and promote positive outcomes in our physical and mental health.

SACSS celebrates graduates in women’s tailoring program
2024-01-10 11:00 - 17:00
South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) celebrated the second graduating class of Stitch with SACSS on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
State Assembly Member Nily Rozic attended the ceremony to present certificates to nine women in recognition of their achievement for completing the four-day, 10-week tailoring program that teaches South Asian immigrant women the skill of sewing while gaining financial independence.

(From l. to r.) Padmavathi Kommera, Amina Ahmed, SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya, M. Sita Rama Lakshmi, Nitaben Suthar, State Assembly Member Nily Rozic, Manjuben Darji, Meenakshi Jhaveri, Rema Venu, Amina Rasheed, Khemwantie Boadnarine and Akhi Akter
In support of starting their small business, SACSS gifted each student a sewing machine.
In her remarks, Rozic congratulated the women saying, “Ten weeks is a long time and a big commitment, and I’m very proud of you. Mothers, sisters, daughters, we know we can do anything and there’s a whole social media world out there ready to buy your clothing.”

The Assemblywoman also presented SACSS with a $50,000 check that will support SACSS’ Food pantry and its Job Readiness Program.
“Our heartfelt gratitude to Assembly Member Nily Rozic for the $50,000 grant that will be used to serve the critical needs of 250 families (1,000 individuals) who depend on SACSS’ Food Pantry for their next meal,” said SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya. “This grant will also support 25 students in our Job Readiness Program, and will go a long way in ensuring the economic empowerment of the South Asian immigrant community.”

State Assembly Member Nily Rozic (r.) presents a $50,000 check to SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya
Amina Ahmed, who is a mother of an 8-month-old daughter, thanked SACSS for their support.
“I didn’t know how to use the sewing machine, and now I’m feeling very confident because we learned everything – from how to sew a kurti, pants, a blouse and a lehenga,” said Ahmed. “I think every girl should be financially independent and I thank SACSS for giving me this opportunity to start my own business and earn an income.”
M. Sita Rama Lakshmi said she is “feeling good and confident to sew and will continue to practice and open a business.”
Khemwantie Boadnarine echoed her peers’ sentiments saying, “I’m happy and glad that I learned how to sew, and now I can help others. I thank SACSS for giving us this opportunity.”

State Assembly Member Nily Rozic speaks to the graduates at the Stitch with SACSS graduation ceremony
The SACSS Women’s Economic Independence Program, Stitch with SACSS, was launched in July of 2023. In the program, women learn sewing, pattern making, fabric cutting, garment construction, and alterations. The program is coordinated by Rema Venu and is taught by Manjulaben Darji.
“I feel proud of myself for teaching my students how to stitch the clothes. My students are happy, and I am happy because they learned the business of working from home,” Darji said.
The next Stitch with SACSS class begins on Monday, January 22.

SACSS Brings Holiday Cheer and Gifts to Children in the Flushing Community
2023-12-21 11:00 - 17:00
Over 100 children received a gift from Santa Claus at SACSS’ Holiday Party held at its community center on Thursday, December 21.
The families — all SACSS clients — were invited to stop by the community center to pose for pictures with Santa, pick up their gifts, and enjoy food. The event also included drinks and sweet treats such as cookies and chocolates.
Every year, we look forward to hosting our holiday celebration that brightens the lives of parents and children. We wish everyone a happy holiday season!

Stitch With SACSS Participants Engage In Business Information Session
2023-11-15 11:00 - 17:00
To equip them with the fundamental tools and knowledge to launch their small business, our ‘Stitch with SACSS’ participants engaged in an informative session on Wednesday, November 15, with an official from the Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) to learn about its programs and services to help small businesses.
Bhavna Punjwani, director of the Business Service Department at QEDC, led a half-hour presentation followed by a Q&A segment on QEDC’s entrepreneurship programs, such as the Queens Women’s Business Center, the Queens Tech Innovation Challenge, and the Made in Queens initiative. Questions were asked about how to obtain a small business loan, selling products, licensing assistance, and more.
The Queens Economic Development Corporation’s mission is to create and retain jobs through programming that grows neighborhoods, assists small businesses, and promotes tourism and business development. The organization assists low- and moderate-income populations, women, immigrants, and migrants.
While our participants continue to hone their sewing skills in our ‘Stitch with SACSS’ program which aims to empower immigrant women, including those from South Asian and AAPI communities, we are also providing them with business development support.
The QEDC information session received a positive response from our participants, who each made sure to take a pamphlet to learn more about the opportunities available to them. We see future entrepreneurs in the making!

Be Seated for SACSS
2023-10-16 17:00 - 23:00
This year, our unique fundraiser ‘Be Seated for SACSS’ was a successful event thanks to our supporters and friends who came together at Dhamaka in Lower Manhattan in celebration of World Food Day to enjoy a delicious South Asian dinner while supporting the incredible work of SACSS.
We extend our love and gratitude to everyone who came out to support the incredible work SACSS is doing to continue meeting the needs of our growing, diverse community in Flushing and beyond. Our immense gratitude to our SACSS Ambassadors Roni Mazumdar, Chintan Pandya, Vijay Kumar and Barkha Cardoz for all that they do.
And special thanks to Grammy-Award Nominated Global Artist Chandrika Tandon and Magician and Mentalist Nitin Ramlall.

Stitch With SACSS Graduation Ceremony
2023-09-27 11:00 - 17:00
It was a wonderful day on Wednesday, September 9th as SACSS hosted its first graduation ceremony for 10 participants in the ‘Stitch With SACSS’ Program that teaches immigrant women the skill of sewing while gaining financial independence.
SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya was joined by City Councilmember Sandra Ung and Congresswoman Grace Meng’s Community Liaison Kyle Salcido to present certificates to each woman in recognition of their accomplishment. Upon completion of the program, SACSS gifted each student a sewing machine in support of starting their own home-based sewing business.
The students’ colorful garments – shirts, blouses, pants, handbags, aprons and baby clothes – were displayed in the SACSS Senior Center, where everyone gathered for the ceremony.
In her remarks, Ung congratulated the class and thanked SACSS for establishing a program that gives women economic empowerment and the confidence to start their own small business.
“Meeting all of you and seeing how you’re going to open your own business, I am really inspired by that, and I want to wish everyone the best of luck,” Ung said.
Students Parvin Akter and Nagina Rehimi thanked SACSS for supporting them.
“Learning how to sew scared me so bad, but now I feel so confident,” said Parvin Akter. “I understand the fabrics, the difference between threads, and learned how to work a sewing machine. I’m so happy and will start my own business.”
“I’m very happy and very fortunate that I got to participate in Stitch With SACSS, make loving friends and learn from the kindest teachers, Manjulaben and Rema. I’m also excited to start my new business,” said Nagina Rehimi.
Launched in July 2023, the SACSS Women’s Economic Independence Program, Stitch With SACSS, is a four-day 10-week program teaching immigrant women, including those from South Asian and AAPI communities, the necessary skills of sewing, pattern making, fabric cutting, garment construction, and alterations.
The program is coordinated by Rema Venu and is taught by Manjulaben Darji, who said:
“They started with cotton and doing simple stitches, such as how to make a straight line and thread a needle in the sewing machine. They made drawstring bags, a handbag, aprons, and learned how to sew on a pocket, and the culmination of it was to stitch a blouse with lining — that was the finale. It was a long journey and there were several layers to it,” Venu said. “I’m very proud of them. This is our first program and we had to see how to teach effectively, and how all of the students were doing so we don’t leave anyone behind.”
While this is her first time teaching a class, Darji said she is looking forward to welcoming the next ‘Stitch With SACSS’ cohort of students beginning Monday, Oct. 2.

VITALS MUSIC FESTIVAL
2023-08-19 11:00 - 15:00 | Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
SACCS invites everyone to celebrate National Wellness Month at VITALS, an outdoor health and wellness music festival presented by The Dream Unfinished focused on advancing health and equity in communities of color. The festivities will take place on 8/19 from 11AM-3PM at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.
The Dream Unfinished is an Activist Orchestra whose mission is to use classical music to engage audiences in dialogues surrounding social justice. The Dream Unfinished is supported by New Music USA’s Organizational Development Fund in 2022-23, the Mosaic Network and Fund in The New York Community Trust, and the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Senior Center's Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
2023-07-27 08:00 - 17:00
SACSS hosted a wonderful Mindfulness Meditation workshop at our Senior Center on 7/27, organized with ordained Buddhist teacher and mindfulness meditation expert, Lama Aria Drolma. This event was part of our National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month celebrations.
The workshop aimed to promote mental well-being and self-awareness within our SACSS’s seniors community and thank all those who attended!
Lama Aria Drolma leads corporate meditation retreats, workshops, and programs all over the world. She is a graduate of the traditional three years, three months Tibetan Buddhist retreat, which is an advanced meditation training program. She also studied and trained extensively in the Dharma Path Program of mindfulness and contemplation.
We extend our heartiest gratitude to Lama Aria Drolma for the workshop and all the insights she shared with us!

SACSS Summer Youth Leadership Program July-September 2023
2023-07-10 15:00 - 16:30 | 143-02 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355, 143-02 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355, NY, United States
SACSS’ Summer Youth Leadership Program starts again this July 10 and will continue until September 30.
This program works to empower and help youth aged 13 to 17 develop their leadership and communications skills, unleash their creative writing abilities, engage with their community, and prepare for college.
Participants meet twice a week in the afternoons at our community center in Queens and receive a certificate of completion when the program concludes in September. .
If you know of any youth who can benefit from this program, please ask them to contact SACSS so they can unleash their potential and become the leaders they aspire to be!
The Youth Leadership Program meets every Monday and Wednesday, from 3:00-4:30 pm at SACSS’ community center located at 143-06, 45th Avenue, Queens, New York, 11355.
To register for the program, email divyak@sacssny.org or call (718) 321-7929.
For more information on SACSS Youth Leadership Program, visit: https://www.sacssny.org/youth-leadership/

SACSS hosts Panel on Post Pandemic Realities: The Expanding Role of Community Based Organizations
2023-06-15 12:30 - 14:30 | UBS 1285 6th Ave New York
On Thursday June 15, SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya was joined by Cure CEO Seema Kumar in a panel discussion titled “Post Pandemic Realities: The Expanding Role of Community Based Organizations (CBOs).”
Throughout the pandemic and its aftermath, vulnerable community members have had to rely heavily on CBOs such as SACSS for services and relief including to address loss of livelihoods, food insecurity, critical health information, and vaccination. The panel discussed the lasting impact of this shift and explored what the increased reliance on CBOs means for organizations like SACSS.
The panel was moderated by Impact Entrepreneur Kunal Sood who provided valuable insights into local responses to global challenges and how these impact vulnerable populations. Daniel Rosentien, Senior Wealth Advisor of UBS hosted the Panel and held at UBS headquarters on 6th Ave in NYC.

SACSS Launches New Community Safety Training Program
2023-05-12 11:00 - 12:30 | 143-02 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355, 143-02 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355, NY, United States
The South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) recently hosted a new Community Safety Training Program in partnership with the Asian American Foundation’s Hope Against Hate campaign, which aims to combat hate crimes and discrimination in our communities.
Our first session took place on April 26th with Master William Kwok from the Martial Arts Education Society, and was a great success! The training was attended by 36 community members who learned de-escalation skills, self-defense and safety techniques in both Mandarin and English.
Our next Community Safety Training Program will be held in both Hindi and English and will take place just around the corner on May 12th.
The Community Safety Training program is designed to meet people where they are and help them develop the skills they need to feel confident and secure. Post training, participants can register to volunteer as community safety companions and contribute to keeping their communities safe. Register for the SACSS community safety program to take the first step towards empowering yourself and protecting your community. We look forward to seeing you soon!
To register for the upcoming training session, please contact Nushmia at (718) 321-7929.

SACSS Hosts Community Safety Workshops
2023-04-26 11:00 - 12:30 | 143-02 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355, 143-02 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355, NY, United States
SACSS is holding an in-person workshop on community safety designed to equip participants with personal safety strategies and techniques to keep their communities safe. We want to thank the Asian American Federation (AAF) for their support in this initiative, which aims to provide a community-based solution to help keep Asian New Yorkers safe.
The workshop will be held on April 26th in Mandarin and English and on May 12th in Hindi and English. The event will feature practical martial arts techniques that can be used in real-life situations. Participants will also learn how to increase their self-awareness by enhancing their sensory systems and how to use body language as a self-defense tool.
Refreshments will be served during breaks where our participants can connect with one another and build the kind of relationships that are key to promoting and fostering community and safety in community.
Finally we want to also extend our appreciation to the NYC Office for Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) for their ongoing efforts to combat hate crimes and promote safety for all communities.
To register for the workshop, please contact Nushmia at (718) 321-7929.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Empowering Girls through Digital Education: Reaching All those Left Behind
2023-03-13 09:00 - 11:00
In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, SACSS is co-sponsoring a CSW 2023 Parallel Event on Empowering Girls through Digital Education titled “Reaching All Those Left Behind!”
SACSS Executive Director and AIWC Principal Representative to the UN, Sudha Acharya, will be participating in this important event, which will examine the troubling impact of the digital literacy gap on the empowerment and future prospects of girls. Panelists will also explore solutions for reaching the most vulnerable girls currently left behind by the Digital Divide. According to the UNGEI “A generation of girls risks being left outside the labor force or trapped in vulnerable or low-quality employment, due to a lack of skills, absence of quality jobs, and gendered expectations of their roles as caregivers.” With digital education being a prerequisite for success in the workplace, it will be critical to bridge the digital gender gap and ensure that all girls receive the training and skills they need to succeed. This webinar, presented by All India Women’s Conference (AIWC), the NGO Committee on Human Rights, NY, the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers (IFS) and South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) will examine the troubling impact of the digital literacy gap on the empowerment and future prospects of girls and explore solutions for reaching the most vulnerable girls who are currently being left behind. This is a virtual event open to anyone, anywhere in the world.
Monday, March 13th
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time (New York)
Click here to register
Registration link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k6lWrOxtRIWUPdgmu5dsJg
To Know more click here

SACSS advocates with partners for healthcare access in the #Coverage4All campaign launch in NY
2023-02-14 12:00 - 18:00 | 633 3rd Ave New York, NY 10017, USA, 633 3rd Ave New York, NY 10017, USA, NY, 10017, United States
On February 14, SACSS, Make the Road New York, Health Care For All New York (HCFANY), and many other partners and community members joined together to advocate for the important #Coverage4ALL Campaign launch, which took place in front of NYS Governor Kathy Hochul’s office in Manhattan.
SACSS Health Services Program Manager, Maria Ariza made a powerful call to NYS representatives to work harder to ensure that Coverage4All becomes a reality for all New Yorkers, including so many members of the immigrant populations, seniors, and others that currently face great challenges accessing comprehensive healthcare.
For more, please watch the video documenting the event with the poignant points Maria makes at the rally [see minute 56 of this video documenting the event, taken and posted by Make the Road NY).
In a follow up to this campaign launch, the #Coverage4All and Health Care for All NY campaigns and Medicaid Matters are holding a webinar on February 17th from 1-2pm to inform partners and community members about how a revised Section 1332 Waiver could help New York provide health coverage to income-eligible New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status or age. The event organizers will also present action steps that advocates can take to encourage NYS representatives and NYS Governor Hochul to update the waiver request.
You can still join and register for this free webinar here!

SACSS Participates In Virtual Discussion On Open Enrollment
2022-12-15 11:00 - 12:00
SACSS’ Program Manager, Maria Ariza, will be joining a distinguished panel of speakers in a virtual discussion on open enrollment on Thursday, Dec 15th, from 11am-12pm. The panel will be hosted by the Access Health NYC initiative and the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), and will focus on ways to reach community members for open enrollment and how to overcome barriers to open enrollment.
Maria will be joining representatives from the Arab-American Family Support Center and Make the Road New York to share their experience and best practices about open enrollment, and facilitate a post-discussion group share session.
Event registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvduyupjIiHNY93hNFzaLgCBtTFWB3hj0g

SACSS participates in Queens community health and other events with Council Members and Queens Borough President
2022-09-24 12:00 - 17:00
On September 24, SACSS participated in several Queens community events including a resource fair from 12-5pm, organized by the office of Council Member Shekar Krishnan. We then joined the Council Member and other members of the community in a lovely street renaming ceremony for “Little Thailand Way”’ in the Elmhurst neighborhood in Queens!
On the same day, other members of SACSS joined Council Member Linda Lee for a Fall Health Fair at Alley Pond Park, near APEC, from 12-3pm.
Finally, and last but not least, SACSS joined and participated in an all-day Queens Wellness Day hosted by none other than our Queens Borough President Donovan Richard Jr.
Yes, SACSS participated in all these in ONE day because we want to be everywhere we can be, to best serve our community!

SACSS partners with Korean-American CBOs to provide Covid 19 awareness and testing, healthcare access assistance, and free Hep B screening events for Korean-speaking community members
2022-09-21 09:30 - 12:00
On September 21st, SACSS hosted a Korean language COVID 19 awareness and testing kit distribution event with the MinKwon Center. On the same day and also for our Korean-speaking community members, SACCS held a healthcare access assistance session with NY Cares and other health insurance options providers from 9:30am-12pm.
The next day, September 22, SACSS partnered with Korean Community Services NY to offer free screening for Hepatitis B in addition to a NY Cares enrollment event.
SACCS was so pleased to partner with these wonderful Korean American community-based organizations in order to provide these Korean-language health access and support services, as we all know how important it is to have information available for community members in their mother tongue, especially the elderly and newly-arrived immigrants.
These were free, walk-in events and open to the public.

Seniors learn the craft of soap making at SACSS Senior Center
2022-09-01 12:00 - 17:00
This September, one of the activities our seniors enjoyed at the SACSS Seniors Center was soapmaking! On September 1st, SACSS invited a local volunteer craftsperson to teach our seniors the art of soapmaking. Soap making is a fun craft that’s easy to master, and like any other craft, it is not just good mental and physical exercise, it is therapeutic in that it helps people practice attention to detail and unleash creative skills!
The creative session was so much fun and our seniors were pretty excited to create something that they could actually take home and use!

Panel Discussion on South Asian American Community Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2022-08-24 17:00 - 18:00
Registration link: https://bit.ly/SACOVIDTalk

Webinar livestream link on APIAHF’s Facebook page: https://facebook.com/apiahf

On Wednesday, August 24th, 2022 (5pm-6pm ET), Sushmita Diyali, Senior Manager of Health Services, SACSS, will be contributing to the panel discussion and conversation on South Asian American community experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, hosted by the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH). In this one hour discussion, SACSS and sister organizations: the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), the Coalition for Asian American Children + Families (CACF), the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) will not only converse about South Asian American community experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic but also conduct a deeper conversation about health care access.
The panel will be moderated by Medha Ghosh, Health Policy Coordinator, CACF and will include panelists:

Sushmita Diyali, Senior Manager of Health Services, SACSS

Lan Doan, Assistant Professor, NYU CSAAH

Rhea Singh, Healthcare Program Manager, SALDEF

Live interpretation will be available in Bangla, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, and Urdu.

Audience Q&A will take place after panelists’ presentations.

To register for this virtual event, please click here: https://bit.ly/SACOVIDTalk

The one-hour discussion will be livestreamed on APIAHF’s Facebook page: https://facebook.com/apiahf

Contact sacss@sacssny.org or covid@apiahf.org if you need more information or have questions or concerns regarding the event.

SACSS Community Center: Free Hepatitis B Testing Event
2022-08-24 09:00 - 12:00 | SACSS Community Center, 143-06 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355
SACSS is pleased to announce a FREE Testing Event for Hepatitis B (Hep B) at our #Flushing Community Center on Wednesday, August 24th, 2022. This Free HepB Testing Event is being conducted in partnership with The Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York and the CheckHep B Patient Navigation Program in NYC.

The goal of this Hep B Testing Event is to link people who test positive for Hep B to Patient Navigators at CheckHepB so that they can get access to the following services at no cost:

Hep B health promotion,
Referrals to supportive services,
Linkages to Hep B medical care,
Accompaniment to or reminders for medical appointments,
Alcohol and drug counseling,
Case conferencing,
Treatment readiness and adherence support, and
Medication access support.

Why get tested?
Getting tested can lead to early treatment that may help prevent a longer-term infection. It can also help determine if you are a carrier, or detect a resolved infection, and/or determine if immunity has developed due to vaccination!

Who should test?
The CDC recommends that everyone who was born in countries with prevalence of HBV infection, or who were born in the US but were not vaccinated as infants (and whose parents were born in regions with high rates of HBV infection), should get tested, among others. See here for more about Who Should Get Tested: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/hbvfaq.htm#:~:text=CDC%20recommends%20that%20the%20following,prevalence%20of%20%E2%89%A58%25)

For more about this Free Testing Event, email SACSS at: sacss@sacssny.org or call us: 718-791-2197

For more information about Check Hep B, email: hep@health.nyc.gov or check this website: https://hepfree.nyc/check-hep-b-patient-navigation-program/

To find more about Hep B-related services in NYC, visit: https://hepfree.nyc/site-locator/

SACSS at Queensborough President's Immigrant Resource Fair
2022-08-23 16:00 - 20:30 | Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
SACSS is excited to join Queensborough President Donovan Richards Jr.’s Immigrant Resource Fair to help connect Queens residents to services you need – from information on free or low-cost healthcare, legal consultations, financial assistance, job placement, and more. The fair includes city agencies and local community organizations, including SACSS. Come and check out the “Borough Hall on the Block” in action.
Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/3QK2W23.

New York Presbyterian Hospital Physiotherapist
2022-08-23 12:00 - 15:00
On August 23, SACSS held a presentation for our senior community members at our Senior Center for managing neck and back pain. The presentation was made by a physiotherapist from New York Presbyterian Hospital in English, accompanied with live Hindi interpretation.
Physiotherapists can have an important role in senior communities and their health — they can help seniors catch problems that might not seem like a big deal, but could lead to bigger issues down the line. This very informative presentation was then followed by a Yoga class that focused on the issues discussed with the NYP physiotherapist.

SACSS Senior Center: How to Manage Neck and Back Pain Lecture
2022-08-23 11:00 - 13:00 | SACSS Senior Center, 143-06 45th Ave, Queens, NY 11355
Is back or neck pain part of your daily life? If you’d like to learn about strategies to relieve and prevent back and neck pain, join us at our Senior Center on Tuesday, August 23rd at 11 AM. SACSS is partnering with experienced physical therapists at New York-Presbyterian Queens to bring our community valuable and reliable health information with a lecture on Managing Neck and Back Pain.
This lecture is part of our collaboration with the Community Health Initiatives team at New York- Presbyterian Queens. This session will be in English with simultaneous Hindi translation. All community members are welcome to this event, and we invite you to spread the word to anyone who could benefit!

SACSS At Council Member Lee’s Community HealthFair
2022-07-30 12:00 - 15:00 | Cunningham Park, 196-10 Union Turnpike, Queens, NY, Cunningham Park, 196-10 Union Turnpike, Queens, NY, NY, United States
Do you need your blood pressure or blood sugar checked? Want to find out about free mental health resources? Or, simply need a PCR/Rapid Covid test? All of this – and more! – will be on hand at Council Member Linda Lee’s Community HealthFair on Saturday, July 30, at Cunningham Park.
SACSS will be there sharing our resources, and speaking your language! Join us – get a health screening, and enjoy the beautiful park, all free, all at once.
Cunningham Park is a 358-acre park! So make sure to enter the park via the Union Turnpike and 196th Place parking lot entrance. Once in the parking lot, the fair will be on the lawn to the left of the lot (when facing away from Union).

SACSS’ Computer Classes Begin July 19th!
2022-07-19 - 2022-10-04
They’re back! SACSS Computer Classes begin on July 19! They will take place every Tuesday from 11am-1pm for 12 weeks. All are welcome to join us at SACSS community center in Flushing for these in-person classes.
Class participants will learn practical computer skills like how to use e-mail, browsing the internet, typing, basic Microsoft Office skills, and more! These skills will help participants prepare for the job market, connect with family and friends, and become more comfortable with technology. If you are interested in joining our Computer Classes, please email us sacss@sacssny.org or call us at 718-321-7929 to sign up or ask any questions.
