Every year, FCSN recognizes individuals that have greatly contributed to its community. Nominated by FCSN South Bay program director Vivian Chung, Bob Carlson received FCSN’s 2023 Volunteer of the Year award for his outstanding work in connecting FCSN with other organizations in the Campbell area. Continue reading 2023 FCSN Volunteer of the Year: Bob Carlson
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
On July 22nd from 9-12 a.m., the Almaden Valley-Willow Glen Rotary Club joined forces with volunteers from FCSN to complete the first phase of the FCSN South Bay Center cleanup project. Friends Coffee and Tea brought refreshments, and the volunteers a cheerful, can-do attitude; the morning of smiles, sweat, and service resulted in a makeover to beautify both FCSN’s clients’ and Friends Coffee and Tea customers’ experiences at the South Bay site. Continue reading AVWG Rotary Club Coordinates South Bay Center Cleanup
“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
On June 3 from 4-7 p.m. at the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Milpitas, FCSN hosted their annual family day celebration, gathering members across the Bay Area for an eventful evening of performances, recognition of achievements, and reflection of the memories made in the past year. With approximately 100 more attendees than last year, the evening blossomed with the joyful unification of friends and families. Continue reading 2023 FCSN Family Day
On an average day, Stevenson Boulevard in Fremont is crowded with busy passerbyers returning books at Alameda County Library or taking a walk at Lake Elizabeth. However, on the morning of July 4th, 2023, the area was crowded for a different reason — for the City of Fremont’s annual Fourth of July parade, in which organizations from across the city prepare banners, flags, and even performances to show their participation in the community. Marking over a decade of participation in the parade, FCSN had around 30 members join the Fourth of July parade in Downtown Fremont. Continue reading Pride in Our Community: FCSN Joins the City of Fremont’s Fourth of July Parade
“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
On April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the beige white surf house of South Bay Yacht Club hosted approximately 60 FCSN members and families and marked the first FCSN family outing since the pandemic. The atmosphere was filled with joy and laughter as families and friends participated in a wide variety of outdoor entertainment: kayaking, birdwatching, hiking, cycling, and bicycling. Continue reading First Family Outing Since Quarantine
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
Art is a fantastic medium for students of all ages to develop their creativity and their imagination. The Cartoon Character Drawing Class, taught by Riley Xu, opens students to the possibilities of art. The students are taught to replicate their favorite cartoon characters through simple lines and shapes, paying attention to the details of their features. Through this class of around four to five students, they develop their attention to detail, their own unique art styles, and creativity, growing with the art skill needed to make their favorite characters from the film world their own outside of the classroom. Continue reading Color Your World: Spotlight on FCSN’s Cartoon Character Drawing Class
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