Category: Special Interest

Sharing By, Special Interest

FCSN GYVers 2023: Ashley Ma

Every Sunday, Ashley Ma brought not only over ten years of experience as a pianist, but also a heart full of compassion and patience to the FCSN South Bay community through her work at Special Melodies Choir Program, a class for neurodiverse individuals to enjoy singing and dancing in a group setting. Throughout her journey from assistant teacher to Executive Committee member, Ashley’s service over the past five years has been invaluable to special needs students and the Special Melodies program alike. Continue reading FCSN GYVers 2023: Ashley Ma

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Sharing By, Special Interest, Volunteers

FCSN GYVers 2023: Natalie Hsia 

Natalie Hsia, a recently graduated senior from Cupertino High School, has left a profound impact as a volunteer at FCSN over the past four years. Her journey began with a realization that every student possesses the unique needs and qualities that deserve attention and understanding. Through her commitment to tutoring at FCSN, she found a wonderful way to connect with each student on a personal level, gaining invaluable insights into their individual personalities.  Continue reading FCSN GYVers 2023: Natalie Hsia 

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Art, Children Programs, News/Events, Programs, Special Interest, Summer Programs

Drama Camp Performs Another Exciting Play “Despicable Me (With a Twist)”

Have you ever seen a play performed by children with special needs? Ms. Anna Wang, the founder of FCSN, created the FCSN drama camp for children with special needs 12 years ago. In the last 12 years, the drama camp has performed various themed shows, such as Zootopia, Cars, Finding Nemo, and many more. This year, the FCSN drama camp was held from July 26th to July 29th, revolving around the theme of “Despicable Me” and led by Camp and Play Directors Kelly Ko and Penny Sapkunmongkun. With teamwork, beautiful prop designs, well-rehearsed actors, and many funny scenes, this year’s successful drama camp left show attendees entertained and satisfied.   Continue reading Drama Camp Performs Another Exciting Play “Despicable Me (With a Twist)”

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Sharing By, Special Interest

2023 FCSN Volunteer of the Year: Shelley Li

Shelley Li, a graduated senior from Mission San Jose High School, always held a passion for community service. During her sophomore year, Shelley became a history tutor for SNTutoring, a one-on-one FCSN online program that connects tutors with individuals with special needs, and a youth reporter for FCSN Voices, a publication focused on news regarding the FCSN and special needs community. Later, Shelley led weekly social groups and helped guide FCSN Voices’ transition from a parent-led organization to a youth-led organization, which she now serves as the team lead for. She was also involved in her school’s FCSN club, and last year, she served as its vice president. Through her diverse volunteering contributions, she was named the 2023 FCSN Volunteer of the Year. Continue reading 2023 FCSN Volunteer of the Year: Shelley Li

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Art, Children Programs, Programs, Special Interest

Crafting a New Future: Ravi Prabhune Starts Successful Woodworking & 3D Printing Class

After attending an FCSN-hosted event and noticing attendees working with crafts, rising senior Ravi Prabhune had the idea to use his knowledge of crafting and start a series of courses that teach students how to create their own projects through woodworking and 3D printing. Because this course series was Ravi’s original idea, he asked FCSN for permission and then his family for advice and how to approach the task. He was able to launch his course successfully after receiving FCSN’s approval. Continue reading Crafting a New Future: Ravi Prabhune Starts Successful Woodworking & 3D Printing Class

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Art, Children Programs, Programs, Special Interest, Summer Programs

Storytelling Through Art: Spotlight on FCSN’s Landscape Painting Class

As the summer sun bathes the cozy Chenming & Margaret Hu Center in a warm glow, young artists gather around the palettes and paints, eager for another day of imagination and relaxation. Led by Mishika Agarwal, FCSN’s Landscape Painting Class has become a cherished weekly event for both students and volunteers alike. With the first class launched on June 17th, the program takes place every Saturday and provides FCSN students an artistic sanctuary where they can explore the world of art and tell their stories through various mediums. Continue reading Storytelling Through Art: Spotlight on FCSN’s Landscape Painting Class

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Clients, Parents, Sharing By, Special Interest

College of Adaptive Arts Empowers Different Minds

“I realized, in a lot of ways, my sister was more intelligent than me,” DeAnna Purcell, co-founder of the College of Adaptive Arts recalls about her sister. “She never had her full abilities cultivated, honed, or supported properly.” DeAnna’s sister, Angel, was born with Down syndrome, a disorder of the body’s chromosome 21. Throughout her life, all her education has been through the public education system, a system that often isn’t able to fully support students with disabilities and thus, quickly becomes stressful for them. When Angel aged out of secondary school, she had no place that could allow her to continue her education while also providing her with the support she needed. Angel was DeAnna’s motivation for co-founding College of Adaptive Arts, the first lifelong learning model for adults with disabilities, in 2009. Continue reading College of Adaptive Arts Empowers Different Minds

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Programs, Sharing By, Special Interest

FCSN BSA Troop 3468

“Scouting is about building a young man or woman to become leaders, to become self-sufficient, and to expand the values of scouting, which is to help others,” Troop 3468 Scoutmaster David Ma said. Established in the summer of 2022, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) Troop 3468 strives to nurture these qualities of scouting in the special needs community at FCSN. Through semimonthly troop meetings and monthly outdoor events and camp outs, Troop 3468 not only develops individual character and skills, but also helps every member see and become part of a greater scouting community.  Continue reading FCSN BSA Troop 3468

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Announcements, News, News/Events, Sharing By, Special Interest

Celebrating Trailblazers: Anna Wang’s Journey to the Women’s Hall of Fame

On March 25 at the Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Oakland, FCSN’s own Auntie Anna Wang received the Women’s Hall of Fame award for her work with special needs children. ​​The Women’s Hall of Fame is a platform that pays tribute to exceptional women in 13 different categories who have made remarkable strides and valuable contributions to both Alameda County and its residents. Recently, Anna also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Alameda County Developmental Disability Council for her lifetime dedication to the special needs community. These two awards serve as a testament to Anna’s commitment and passion for improving the lives of special needs individuals. Continue reading Celebrating Trailblazers: Anna Wang’s Journey to the Women’s Hall of Fame

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