Behind the Scenes of FCSN’s Successful Art Exhibit, “Through Our Eyes”

From the opening night on September 9 to the public exhibition on September 10 and September 12-14, Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) held their 1st Art Exhibit, “Through Our Eyes,” a celebration of special needs talents in the arts. FCSN has always valued the arts of their students and wanted to organize this showcase to give exposure to their artists and their art. Continue reading Behind the Scenes of FCSN’s Successful Art Exhibit, “Through Our Eyes”

Summer Drama Camp Returns with Disney’s “Cars”

From July 13th to July 16th, FCSN organized its yearly drama camp for special needs students: a four-day program featuring three days of full-cast rehearsals culminating in a performance on the last day. This year, campers performed a production of Disney’s Cars. Read FCSN Voices’ coverage of the event below! Continue reading Summer Drama Camp Returns with Disney’s “Cars”

How 14-Year-Old Aarav Sharma Made an Impact in Creating the FCSN Badminton Summer Camp

From June 27 to July 8, rising high school sophomore Aarav Sharma instructed a two-week badminton summer program dedicated towards introducing FCSN students to the sport. The camp was a major success, receiving plenty of positive feedback from the community. Continue reading How 14-Year-Old Aarav Sharma Made an Impact in Creating the FCSN Badminton Summer Camp

Friends Coffee & Tea: Empowering the Special Needs Community

Newsletter #1

First started in April 2018, Friends Coffee & Tea is no ordinary coffee shop. In addition to offering a wide and unique array of drinks and pastries, it is a community mainly operated by special needs individuals where they can make friends and learn. In collaboration with FCSN, the larger mission of Friends Coffee & Tea is to provide workplace training for special needs individuals, who face high unemployment rates. At this shop, they have opportunities to learn shop management skills, exercise their creativity through baking, crafts, and art, and gain experience in a work environment. Continue reading Friends Coffee & Tea: Empowering the Special Needs Community

FCSN’s Fremont Center Named “Chenming & Margaret Hu Center”

On April 12, 2022, FCSN unveiled a new name for their first Fremont Center: “Chenming & Margaret Hu Center” to honor Dr. Chenming and Margaret Hu for their on-going support and latest donation of half a million dollars to FCSN to help build better programs and improve its facilities. Continue reading FCSN’s Fremont Center Named “Chenming & Margaret Hu Center”

Scouting with FCSN, an Inclusive Social Event

In March 2022, Boy Scouts member Ricky Lin led a project in which special needs individuals got to experience the joy of scouting. Around 30 FCSN participants attended with their families, learning the scouts way of building teamwork, social skills, and unforgettable memories.  Continue reading Scouting with FCSN, an Inclusive Social Event

FCSN and BRI Spread the Importance of Giving Back to the Community

On December 22, 2021, FCSN held a Christmas concert in collaboration with BRI Youth Volunteer Group, a local non-for-profit organization based in Fremont. Aside from the concert, BRI has also been regularly leading a Reading Club for FCSN. Through collaborations such as the concert, reading club, and donations to FCSN, the two organizations are promoting special needs awareness within and beyond our community. Continue reading FCSN and BRI Spread the Importance of Giving Back to the Community

Dream Achiever’s 2022 Premiere

Earlier last month, Dream Achiever had its first in-person performance of the year: a celebration of Lunar New Year. The pandemic put their live performances on hold for over a year, and the band had only recently resumed their in-person concerts in June 2021. Band manager and parent Anna Wang shared the experiences of the band members as they navigated online performances and the inability to interact with their audience, as well as the joy of returning to in-person performances. Continue reading Dream Achiever’s 2022 Premiere