History
The Chinese Service Center was founded by Sally Wong-Avery. Mrs. Avery started as a case worker for the Chinese Social Service Center in 1974. Since she spoke several Chinese dialects, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka and Toishan; she was able to assist many individuals in the Chinese community. She left the center after one year to finish her UCSD education and eventually went on to earn her law degree from California Western School of Law.
In 1983, she was hired by the Chinese Social Service Center to be their Executive Director. She served in that position for four and a half years and left to open her Chinese Professional Services in 1987; she continued to provide many needed services to the seniors, non-English speaking new immigrants and limited English speaking residents for free.
She later went into private law practice, but she sensed the need for the Chinese in San Diego was still unfilled.
In 2003, Mrs. Avery formally registered Chinese Service Center as a non-profit organization to continue to serve the community. She has dedicated herself in providing these services to the Chinese community for over 30 years.
Mission
The Chinese Service Center's mission is to provide services for the benefit of all ages and families of the San Diego Chinese community. We give personal attention to our clients which enable them to thrive in the San Diego community. The Center aims to provide developmental programs and training towards employable skills so that clients can gain self-confidence, self-respect and make meaningful contributions to their own independence and livelihood.
Goals
We work with a simple goal - to work towards a better future for the San Diego Chinese Community and bring much needed services to those in need.
The primary goals of the service center are:
- To provide essential programs for immigrants, with guidance and resources to facilitate their assimilation into their new environments.
- To provide vital programs for the elderly which coordinate informal support and recreational activities
- To offer crucial bilingual educational curriculums for children that focus on their total development, enrich their appreciation and understanding of their bicultural upbringing.
To accomplish these goals, the Chinese Service Center, conducts English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, under the guidelines outlined by the San Diego Community College District. Eventually, the Chinese Service Center will also develop other programs like house cleaning programs, restaurant cooking classes and training.
Future Objectives
One of the primary goals of the Chinese Service Center is to secure an appropriate long-term facility that would operate as an "active service center."
This active service center would comprise of a day care, and a youth, adult and senior center.
- Day Care Center - for children with working parents, would teach a bilingual and bicultural education.
- Youth Center- where young people have a place to learn and socialize after school, utilizing a recreational facility and a fully equipped computer center.
- Senior Care Center- would house social gatherings, with various programs and activities.The Center recognizes that seniors are a wealth of information that they can pass on to the other generations.
- Adult Center- is designed to help in employment referral, job training and actual skill development. The Center also hopes to house a well designed facility for a cooking facility to train domestic, institutional or restaurant cooks.
Finally, the Chinese Service Center strives to implement a housecleaning program and training classes leading to domestic employment.