South Asian Council for Social Services

Join us at The Dream Unfinished's VITALS, a health and wellness music festival advancing health equity in communities of color, on Saturday, August 24, from 11 AM to 3 PM outside the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL). We’ll offer resources, information, and engaging activities to promote health and wellness!

We are excited to announce the second graduation 🎓 ceremony this year for students in our sewing, English and computer classes in SACSS’ Workforce Development program!

Join us as we recognize their accomplishments and look forward to their future success in the workforce. 🎉👏🏽

🗓️ Thursday, August 22, 2024

⏰ 11 AM

📍143-02 45th Ave. Flushing, NY 11355

SACSS wishes Albert Chelladurai a happy belated 80th birthday! 🎂🎉 We hope you had a fantastic day and wish you many happy returns! ✨

We extend our gratitude for the generous donations received in honor of your birthday, which will help us continue making positive changes in the lives of those we serve. Thank you 🙏🏽 for supporting SACSS. We wish you a wonderful year ahead!

👏🎉Congratulations to SACSS Director of Health Services, Rehan Mehmood, on being recognized by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for his impactful work in the community during the 77th Pakistan Independence Day event at Queens Borough Hall.

Happy National Book Lovers Day! Today, we celebrate the joy of reading and the beauty of books📕✨We appreciate our SACSS team member Rema Venu sharing her favorite book, The Namesake, by British-American author Jhumpa Lahiri, with our community members. This compelling novel delves deep into identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience.

Whether you prefer to get lost in a captivating novel, learn something new from a non-fiction book, or indulge in the magic of poetry, there’s something special about the connection between a reader and a book. What’s your favorite book? 📖📚🤗

Whether it’s a natural disaster, a medical emergency, or any other unexpected event, having a well-thought-out plan can make all the difference, ensuring the safety and well-being of yourself and others.

Thanks to Jill Cornell and Ion Ho from Ready New York, NYC's Emergency Management's public education campaign, our community members are well informed about how to prepare for all types of emergencies—from flash floods and hurricanes to fires and sweltering heat waves. 🔥⛈

Let’s all take time to stay informed and be prepared. It’s the little things that can make a big difference.

In collaboration with our partners in the Asian American Federation's Asian Seniors Working Group, SACSS Executive Director Sudha Acharya and Family Support Services Director Mary Archana Fernandez attended a productive and insightful meeting on July 31 with NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Park and NYC Human Resources Administration Administrator Scott French.

Several topics were discussed, such as combating SNAP Benefits theft and public benefits enrollment for senior citizens. SACSS looks forward to the significant impact our continued collaboration with our community partners and city officials will have on enhancing the well-being of Asian seniors in our city.

Recently, we welcomed a group of enthusiastic young individuals from the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), SACSS’s Summer Youth Leadership Program, and volunteers who have been gaining invaluable work experience while making a positive impact in the community. Their willingness to give their time and energy to help is truly admirable. ✨🙌

Our seniors continue to showcase their incredible artistic talents in the SU-CASA art program! 🎨✨

At SACSS, we learn and grow together. We’re so proud of our community members' remarkable progress in our computer and English classes. Nita P., who struggled to understand English and find a job, shared her gratitude for the supportive learning environment at SACSS that has helped her thrive.

“I needed these classes to survive here in New York City, and it has helped me a great deal,” said Nita. “I’m happy to be learning at SACSS because my English and computer skills have improved. I feel better and smarter.”

As her time at SACSS ends, we thank Arushi for her incredible dedication to serving the community. We are grateful for her volunteer efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavors! 👏✨

Read more about Arushi's volunteer work at SACSS: https://www.sacssny.org/arushi-gulatis-dedication-to-community-service-shines-through-volunteer-work-at-sacss/

Today, on International Day of Yoga, let's celebrate the ancient practice that brings harmony to our bodies, minds, and souls. At SACSS, our community members always look forward to yoga classes!

"When I do yoga, I'm very calm and feel at peace," shared Madeleine, a SACSS senior who regularly attends our yoga classes. "It's relaxing when you take deep breaths and stretch your arms and legs. Yoga helps keep your body mobile, and I enjoy doing activities like that to stay active and healthy."

Yoga is not just about physical exercise but a holistic practice promoting overall wellness. It helps to reduce stress, improve concentration, and enhance flexibility and strength. 🧘🏽‍♀️🩷✨

✨ Celebrating Father’s Day at the SACSS Senior Center✨ Today, we took a moment to show our appreciation to all the amazing dads and thank them for everything they do for their families and community 🙏🏽💙

✨This is a heartwarming message from a senior who received groceries from SACSS's food pantry. We are committed to supporting our community, and we're glad we can make a positive impact in their lives. ❤️

Our English 📚 and computer 💻 classes are in session! These classes are designed to prepare community members for success in the workforce. From improving your language skills to mastering essential computer applications, we have the tools and support you need to excel in today's job market. By working together, we’re building a brighter future for our community! 🙌

We are grateful to everyone who attended the two events, Art For a Cause, hosted by SACSS in Princeton and Chatham, New Jersey! These events were not only a celebration of culture and creativity, but also an opportunity to raise awareness about the important work SACSS does to support immigrant communities.

It was inspiring to see so many people come together to show their support. Thank you to all the guests and The Rural Painter for their participation and contribution that will go a long way in making a positive impact on the lives of immigrant communities.

“It was exciting and wonderful to see such support from like-minded individuals from New Jersey who shared common values to empower underserved communities,” said Sudha Acharya, SACSS Executive Director.

Today, SACSS staff and clients joined our partners in the 18% & Growing Campaign outside Queens Borough Hall, calling on the city to enhance funding for the Community Support Initiative, Access Health NYC Initiative, and the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund.

As recipients of the AAPI Community Support Initiative and the Access Health NYC Initiative - SACSS provides culturally responsive and linguistically accessible case management, health outreach case management, and education services to hard-to-reach populations, especially Asian communities that face numerous barriers to services.

CACF: Coalition for Asian American Children & Families leads the 18% & Growing Campaign, a coalition that unites over 90 AAPI-led and serving organizations across NYC to fight for a fair and equitable budget that protects the needs of our most vulnerable community members.

📣 The campaign is asking for a budget that includes enhanced funding for:

▪️ $7.5 million for the AAPI Community Support Initiative
▪️ $7.5 million for the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund (CCNSF)
▪️ $4 million for the Access Health Initiative

SACSS is proud to co-sponsor Queens Borough President Donovan Richards AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month celebration on Thursday, May 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Queens Borough Hall! This event is a wonderful opportunity to honor and celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of the AAPI community in Queens. To RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rW9-1I66kFFvYALAH6cahS3laS4bjuI9Pm-TjpPr69o/viewform?edit_requested=true

This month, in partnership with the Asian American Federation, we held a community safety training workshop to teach self-defense techniques to community members. We thank our fantastic martial arts instructor, Andre Maldonaldo, for the invaluable self-defense training he taught our community members! These techniques have empowered and made our members more confident in protecting themselves in threatening situations.

These trainings were provided as part of AAF’s Hope Against Hate Campaign, a comprehensive initiative launched in response to an uptick of anti-Asian hate incidents in New York City. The campaign includes various programs and events, such as the self-defense workshop, to empower and protect Asian New Yorkers.

We sincerely appreciate the volunteers from Standard Chartered Bank assisting our food pantry staff in packaging and distributing grocery bags to community members. Thank you to Ram Aildasani, Haseeba Karim, Kiran Kumaranayakam, and Eukyung Hong for their time and assistance in giving back to the community!

Today, SACSS attended back-to-back events on the steps of City Hall! With CACF: Coalition for Asian American Children & Families and other AAPI organizations, we advocated for a fair and equitable budget to support AAPI NYers as part of the 18% & Growing Campaign.

Then, we joined the Hispanic Federation and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to raise awareness about B & C testing, access, and treatment.

On May 10, participated in the NYS of Health Queens Children’s Wellness Carnival in Bellerose. Our team answered questions regarding health insurance and how to enroll or re-enroll in the NYS Health Marketplace.

We also participated in the Beacon Spring Community Health Fair at I.S. 5 in Elmhurst on May 11. Our collaboration with and allowed us to provide the attendees with valuable resources and information!

This week, we welcomed our fourth cohort of students in our Stitch with SACSS program! They have already completed their first project, creating a stunning potli bag, and have begun working on their next project, sewing an apron. We are excited to witness the enthusiasm and creativity they bring to the table!

On April 27, SACSS was presented with the GOPIO Community Service Award for our work serving the South Asian and other immigrant communities in New York City. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) for acknowledging SACSS’ efforts to uplift and empower the community!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. When you hear the words "mental health," what comes to mind? For many of us, it’s negative thoughts and feelings of anxiety or stress.

SACSS’ Wednesdays for Women program discussed overcoming those negative thinking patterns and cultivating a positive mindset. By talking about our mental health, practicing self-care, and supporting loved ones who may be struggling, we’re breaking down the stigma that still surrounds it. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Join us on Thursday, May 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. for an in-person community safety training program in partnership with Asian American Federation.

Martial arts instructor Andre Maldonado will teach self-defense through the art of Jujitsu. Plus, you’ll meet other like-minded individuals and be part of a supportive community dedicated to safety and well-being!

For registration, contact Nushmia at 718.321.7929

On April 18, we celebrated the graduates of our women’s tailoring, English, and computer classes in our Workforce Development initiative. Congratulations to all the graduates! 🎓🎉 With the successful completion of these classes, they’re equipped with the necessary skills to start their careers, enhance their existing ones, or pursue further education.

Thank you to Mukund Padmanabhan, a longtime SACSS supporter and founder and president of the Guru Krupa Foundation for joining us in presenting certificates to our graduates.

We also thank our other guests: SACSS Board Chair Devi Ramchandran; SACSS Treasurer Mysore Gandhi; Badari Ambatti, President of Kannadakoota NY; Mercy Thomas and Baby Mathew, SACSS supporters and volunteers; Rakhi Aggarwal, SVP and Global Head of Sanofi US Pharma; and Sasha Revankar, Founder/CEO of One Minute Saree.

Learning to sew can be a valuable skill, opening up numerous employment opportunities for women in fashion design, tailoring, altering, and more.

At SACSS, we empower women through our workforce development initiative, Stitch with SACSS, which teaches them basic sewing skills and hands-on experience using a sewing machine to create South Asian garments and gain financial independence.

Registration is open for our Stitch with SACSS class, which begins May 6! To register for the program, contact Rema Venu at SACSS at (718) 321-7929 or visit us at 143-02 45th Ave. Flushing, NY 11355.

📣 Registration is now open for SACSS Computer and English classes! Enhance your English language skills and build computer proficiency to find better employment opportunities.

▪️ Computer classes are held every Tuesday starting May 21 from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

▪️ Beginners English classes start May 20 and are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and Intermediate classes are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

If you're interested in joining our Computer and English classes, contact us at (718) 321-7929 or visit us at 143-02 45th Ave. Flushing, 11355.

SACSS is committed to providing our clients with the information and support they need to navigate the healthcare system. Our Health Services team members, Sushmita Diyali and Maria Ariza, recently led an engaging session about the Medicare Savings Program (MSP). The participants learned about eligibility rules, and how to apply for MSP, equipping them with the knowledge to take control of their healthcare.