On Tuesday, June 18, AAFE Housing and Community Services (HCS) held its first ever fundraiser at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA).  Around 60 community members and professionals enjoyed an evening filled with great food and networking.  Guests also took part in a guided tour of the museum in English and Cantonese, including the new Chinese American Designers exhibit.

During the program, AAFE board member Suki Terrada-Ports presented AAFE HCS with a generous $5,000 donation from the Japanese American Association of New York for the department’s relief work during and after Hurricane Sandy.  Additionally, AAFE HCS would like to thank Steven Gee, Helene Hartig, and everyone else who donated and came to the event. 

Later in the evening, AAFE HCS presented the following with awards in recognition of their dedication to serving the APA community in the Lower East Side and Chinatown:

Lydia Tom, Former AAFE Leader

John Gorman, Tenants’ Rights Attorney 

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler 

Yung Kuen Wong, Resident Leader 

Sze Kuen Lee, Resident Leader

AAFE HCS also debuted two new publications.  The AAFE HCS 2012 Annual Report highlights the department’s work over the past year, including statistics on the types of cases with which the department’s housing counselors dealt as well as success stories.  To view the report, please click here.  With the help of Swallowtail Studios, AAFE HCS created a video featuring its accomplishments since its inception. Interviews with John Gorman, Yung Kuen Wong, and Sze Kuen Lee underscore the importance of having an organization dedicated to helping ensure that community members have access to safe and affordable housing.  To view the video, please click here.

“I am very excited that our Housing and Community Services office, led by Peter Gee, held this event tonight,” said AAFE Executive Director Chris Kui.  He added, “This fundraiser really represents the spirt of AAFE’s origin, and that even 40 years after our victory at Confucius Plaza, AAFE continues to fight for and protect tenants’ rights.”

To view photos from the fundraiser, please click here.