1.19.2024 Montgomery County officials visited CCACC to discuss community well-being collaboration

The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) hosted a site visit on January 12th from two Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services officials and an elderly care nonprofit leader. The 2-hour tour and conversations greatly fostered mutual understanding and future collaboration on community well-being.

 

On the morning of January 12th, CCACC Board Chairman Dr. Alven Lam and Executive Director Rita Lewi warmly welcomed three distinguished guests to the CCACC headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD. They were: Dr. Patrice McGhee, Chief, Aging & Disability Services, Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services; Dr. Kimberly Y. Johnson, Director, Area Agency on Aging, Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services; and Dr. Afshin Abedi, CFO/Co-Founder, Loving Care Adult Medical Day Care.

 

Tour the facility

Inviting these distinguished guests was Chih-Hsiang Li, one of the five cofounders of CCACC, former Executive Director and a current Board member. Ned Li, another CCACC cofounder, former Director of CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center (ADHC) and a current Senior Advisor, led a tour of CCACC facility, providing detailed explanations about the 41-year-old nonprofit community service organization, including the gallery wall illustrating the history of CCACC ADHC since its establishment in 2008.

 

When passing by the ADHC Kitchen, the visitors were amazed to witness the diligent staff busy preparing healthy and delicious dishes for the members. Following that, the visitors entered the ADHC dining hall, where they greeted the joyful elderly CCACC members who had just finished bingo, their favorite game of the week. Extending warm wishes to everyone present for good health in the New Year, Dr. McGhee and Dr. Johnson expressed their deep impressions of CCACC's various development. The dining hall was brimming with excitement and happiness with Dr. McGhee walking over to a dining table, speaking to the elderlies, embracing them.

 

When the visitors arrived upstairs at the CCACC Art Gallery, they stood in awe of the immaculate, spacious exhibition hall displaying dozens of beautiful artworks from the “CCACC Photo Club Exhibition.” The moment they stepped into the CCACC Health Center (also known as the Pan Asian Volunteer Health Clinic), however, they were instantly convinced of the necessity and urgency of the health services offered here because they noticed many patients were sitting in the waiting room awaiting their appointments. CCACC Health Center Director Kate Lu escorted the visitors around the Clinic. CCACC E.D. Lewi, concurrently working as Director of the CCACC Art Gallery and Home Care, showed them around the two divisions.

 

Discuss community well-being collaboration

Following the facility tour was a CCACC overview presentation by E.D. Lewi and Senior Advisor Ned Li in the conference room. Immediately, it induced heated discussions on issues related to CCACC ADHC, Home Care and Health Center.

The site visit concluded with Dr. McGhee and Dr. Johnson acknowledging the accomplishments and challenges CCACC has while expressing a commitment to actively assisting in promoting community well-being. Dr. Abedi from Loving Care Center repeatedly expressed his admiration for CCACC's unique mission statement and rapid growth of community services, hoping that the two organizations will jointly work on government relations and advocacy and diverse community member services.

 

In company of CCACC Board Chairman and E.D. during the site visit were Board Vice-Chairman Yao-Yao Zhu, Board Member Mo-Ping Chow, Deputy E.D. Li-Fang C. Liu, Executive Secretary May Zhou, and Health Center Director Kate Lu.

 

(Article by CCACC Administrative Office)

Front row: Rita Lewi (CCACC Executive Director). Back row (right to left): Ned Li (CCACC Senior Advisor), May Zhou (Executive Secretary), Dr. Afshin Abedi (Loving Care Cofounder), Dr. Kimberly Y. Johnson and Dr. Patrice McGhee (Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services officials), Dr. Alven Lam (CCACC Board Chairman), Li-Fang C. Liu (CCACC Deputy Executive Director), and Mo-Ping Chow (CCACC Board Member).

The guests are amazed by the creative aerial photographs highlighting a loving heart and the characters "CCACC 40 (in celebration of the 40th anniversary).”

Passing by the kitchen, the visitors are impressed with the kitchen staff busy preparing delicious steamed stuffed buns.

Dr. McGhee (back row, 5th from right) delivering a speech, extending warm wishes for good health and happiness of the elderly members at CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center.

Dr. McGhee chatting with an elderly lady at CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center, followed by warm hugs and embraces.

The wow moment during the site visit – viewing the artworks created by 24 accomplished photographers from the CCACC Photo Club.

E.D. Lewi' s presentation inducing heated discussions and brainstorming on community well-being collaboration.