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The Asian Center's Smoke-Free Day CampCultural Activities and Healthy Lifestyles for Children and Parents to enjoy! Call 301-3987In 2002, our first year’s smoke-free day camp, we had a very successful event. A large group from the Grand Rapids Chinese Christian Church utilized our day camp and educated the young children in several areas including: Healthy Lifestyles: Living smoke-free, healthy dinner was served.
February 1, 2008 by Douglas Chung Happy New Year to everybody. The beauty of the sunrise is very meaningful to me. Each day in my life, this sunrise not only inspires me, but also reminds me of the tremendous responsibility you have placed on me. The sunrise stands for the unconditional loving energy. I deeply respect and appreciate its caring and tenderness. The rising sun is shining in equality to all things in the universe. I admire its justice. The sun is a living freedom, which empowers us for creative decision making. The sun implies constancy, which expresses an accountabilty for our behaviors. The sun stands tall for love, justice, freedom and accountability, it reflects God's image within me. As Asian Americans in the United States, we have so much to be thankful for... I am grateful for your continued support to the Asian Center, which has given me the strength and courage to work for what is best for our Asian community and our country. I sincerely ask for your prayers and volunteer assistance in responding to our community needs: they are essential, and mean so much to me and our community. My wife Ellen and I wish you and your families a happy, healthy and bountiful New Year. We hope that you take the time, and make the pledge for this year, to protect your families from second hand smoke, and take the smoke free home pledge. We will give you signs and a certificate to display proudly in your home. We know this is a step to keeping a healthy family. 
September 29, 2007 by Douglas Chung Congratulations! We would like to invite you and your business to join the many other Asian owned businesses in establishing a smoke free policy. Stop by, say thank you, and visit the newest smoke free businesses and restaurants today! Far East Restaurant 3639 Clyde Park St. W. Wyoming, MI 49509 Golden Bridge Plaza 4242 South Division St. Grand Rapids, MI 49509 which include these businesses:
Secondhand Smoke Facts: Why Establish a Smoke Free Policy in your workplace?Secondhand smoke is:
Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke because their lungs are still developing Children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from:
Exposure to secondhand smoke is linked to miscarriages and low birth weight. Infants who breathe secondhand smoke are at a higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Asthma and Secondhand SmokeAsthma is a serious lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. The symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath.
Secondhand smoke contributes to the development of new cases of asthma in healthy children.Children with asthma who breathe secondhand smoke have more frequent and severe asthma attacks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that up to 1,000,000 children in the United States have aggravated asthma symptoms due to secondhand smoke. What Can Be Done To Protect Children Secondhand smoke will travel throughout the house regardless of where a cigarette is smoked. Going into another room to smoke does not protect children from the known dangers of secondhand smoke. · Choose not to smoke in your home or car and do not permit others to do so. · Choose to avoid smoke-filled environments. If you smoke, quit! For more information on quitting call The Asian Center at 301-3987 What about the Hookah? Is it safe? There is a lot of misconceptions out there about the water pipe, which is also called Hookah, Shisha, Arghile, etc. The Asian Center want you to know, just like any other tobacco product, the hookah is not safe for consumption. Some of our college youth, think the water and the flavor make the tobacco safe. This is absolutely false. Breathing smoke into your lungs causes serious health issues. There is no exposure to tobacco smoke that is considered safe. 
May 17, 2007 by Douglas Chung CONGRATULATIONS! The Asian Center's Smoke Free For You and Me programs have obtained for funding for: Reducing Environmental Tobacco Smoke: The Evergreen Club is a culturally sensitive intervention established by the Asian Center's Executive Director, Douglas Chung, a Certified Tobacco Addiction Specialist, a Licensed Master Social Worker and Ph.D. in Social Work. Our first group, the Chinese in Grand Rapids, has been a successful collaboration with the Grand Rapids Chinese Church and the Asian Center. We would like to expand this program to reach the other Asian populations and educate using the Smoke Free Home Pledge (enclosed), along with the cultural sensitivity of bringing the elderly together for mutual aid and mutual support. This program has been successful, and we have had several pledges in the Chinese community. The targeted subgroup populations are from: Vietnam, Korea, India, Philippines, and Japan. We will offer the same Evergreen Club monthly educational meetings, along with group support and efforts to educate with utilizing community leaders from each subgroup community to collaboratively and effectively work with these populations. Prevent Tobacco Product Use Initiation: The Asian College Student Reception, a collaborative intercampus effort to bring the Asian college students together in educating them not to initiate smoking. The Asian populations usually start smoking between 18 to 24, which is the college student populations. Additionally, with the new "Hookah" bars, the Asian college student populations are targeted by tobacco companies even more than before. Our intercampus reception in 2006 had a total of 75 attendees, which included Asian Community Leaders. We would like to continue this program to reach out to this vulnerable population.
• What will be accomplished through this project? The Evergreen Club educates the elderly in the Asian population, who already smoke, to smoke outside of the home and car. We use the Smoke Free Home Pledge, and educate the elderly about second hand smoke exposure. Therefore they can make a decision to keep the smoke away from the family members.
The Asian College Student Reception educates the college students in Grand Rapids and educate them on smoking, initiation, as well as second hand smoke. This is an excellent way to educate the Asian students collectively, and bring the awareness about second hand smoke and smoking to the college aged students who are targeted by big tobacco companies. Additionally, the resources that will be distributed to the students will include: quit kits, Smoke Free Home Pledges, Ex program materials, and translated tobacco prevention materials in the Asian Center's library.
• How does the project prevent tobacco product use initiation and/or reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke? The Evergreen club utilizes the Smoke Free Home Pledge to reduce environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
The Asian College Student reception educates the students to not initiate smoking, and educates about resources in the community if they choose to quit smoking.
• How does this work to eliminate the disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among different population groups? The Asian Pacific Islander population is defined by the U.S. Census bureau as: The Asian category is defined as a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the East Asia, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. The Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander category is defined as a person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other pacific Islands. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are an extremely heterogeneous group, encompassing more than a hundred different languages and dialects, diverse cultural backgrounds, and unique immigration experiences (APIAHF, 2002). Total Asian American in Kent County 10,667 Smoking Rates Michigan National Asian or Pacific Islander 8.7% (29.4% Male, 5.8% Female) 16.6%
Another key point is the women in the Asian community have much lower smoking rates than Asian Pacific Islander men, therefore causing the percentage of smoking rates to be lower. Asian Americans have been a misunderstood population. As Asian Pacific Islander Americans have different cultural needs an expectations, we need to focus our efforts to support these differences. The Asian American history stems from the un-welcomed immigrants to contemporary discrimination (Chung, 2002). Additionally the issues such as Asian youths confluence and conflict, submissive Asian women battled, suffering from the “Model Minority” and the “Triple Minority”, the grave concern of Asian elderly, adjustment issues encountered by Asian males, discrimination in Michigan, and non-culturally competent human service practice encountered (Chung, 2002). As shown through the data on Asian Americans smoking rates, the total is 8% for the State of Michigan (29.4% Male, 5.8% Female). Since our Asian populations are grouped together, we seem as if there is not a disparity, but when we look at a 71-2% rate of smoking by the Cambodian and Laotian communities, our Asian neighbors are in need of our help (APPEAL, 2003). The Smoke Free Home Pledge would benefit many Asian women and children affected. These culturally sensitive interventions work successfully to bring smoke free homes and cars, as well as reduce initiation by youth, through a successful program developed by the Asian Center, using collaborative efforts with partners within the community including: Faith Based Organizations for the elderly, and college campus contacts for the youth. 
January 31, 2007 by Douglas K. Chung, Executive Director Please join us in celebrating the new Smoke Free Restaurants!
Congratulations to:
Please stop by and enjoy the healthy food, and healthy atmosphere!
Our families and children benefit from clean indoor air, and we are proud to help any restaurant to become smoke free. Please call Douglas Chung, Executive Director of the Asian Center for more information. (616)301-3987
September 30, 2006 by Douglas K. Chung Pastor Cornelius Ting along with the Grand Rapids Chinese Church members, families, children, enjoyed this year's Smoke Free Day Camp. This year the Phillipine Cultural Group of Michigan combined the day camp activities together. Our campers had a great opportunity to breathe the clean air while enjoying their activities. We are so pleased to show a picture from the camp. Our Smoke Free Day Camp was established in 2002 to bring the Asian communties together to discuss the second hand smoke, and how it effects our community. We have a picture from the day camp in 2005. Please call the Asian Center to schedule the day camp activities for this year. Perhaps your group would like to join us? For more information for your Asian community to sign up for the Smoke Free Day Camp, please call (616)301-3987. Thank you! 
October 1, 2005 by Douglas K. Chung This year's Smoke Free Day Camp for the Phillipine community was such a success. We had 52 persons attend, and children enjoyed the activities which included learning Tagalog language. The Phillipine Cultural Group of Michigan spent many hours and dedicated volunteers to make this year such a success. Rudy Ludivico, the director for this year, has his sights set on next year collaborating with the other groups to make the camp even more successful. Please see the great picture from this year's day camp, and make sure to call and ask how you can participate for next summer at 301-3987. Thank you to all the volunteers for such a successful and wonderful healthy day, and for those who took our steps to a smoke free home pledge, many many thanks. Sincerely, Douglas K. Chung 
August 1, 2005 by Douglas K. Chung We are so pleased to have another smoke free restaurant join the other 126 businesses owned by Asians across the state of Michigan. Our congratulations to the owners of Jia Yuan located at 3500 Remembrance Road NW, Walker, MI 49504, (616)735-3388. The customers will enjoy the smoke free atmosphere along with the all you can eat buffet lunch! As most of you already know, the Asian Center looks forward to helping Asian business owners in establishing smoke free policies and worksites. We hope that you will join the many business owners who are enjoying the clean indoor air. Please call our office for more information on how we can help you today! (616)331-6592. 
November 3, 2004 by Douglas K. Chung, MSW, MA, Ph.d., President Our elderly are so important that we have a special party for them every year. This year's was attended by several families. We are very honored to have such wonderful people, who contribute so much to our lives, in our Asian community. Thank you for coming and joining our elderly gathering. I wish for you to have a long and happy life. Douglas K. Chung, MSW, MA, Ph.D., President THE ASIAN CENTER
August 6, 2004 by Douglas K. Chung This year's day camp was a great success thanks to the project director Susan Morales-Barias. Along with another board member, Minnie Morey, a total of 37 children participated in the event. Many fun activities were planned, and healthy lifestyles and healthy living was discussed. The Youth Leaders were very pleased to discuss Smoke Free Home's and the Smoke Free Home Pledge. As the children learned more about the Phillipines, the language, as well as where on the map their parents were from, these activities proved to be fun. Pilipina's Cafe and More as well as Asian's Best Store donated food for the children to eat. We are very thankful for the wonderful opportunity for our youth to join together and learn about their culture as well as healthy living. Thanks to everyone who participated. Douglas K. Chung, MSW, MA, Ph.D., President, The Asian Center 
May 30, 2004 by Douglas K. Chung India House at 3760 South Division, Wyoming, MI 49548 is a restaurant as well as a store, which includes groceries, videos, and much more. Please take the time to stop by and thank them for participating in this year's World No Tobacco Day event. Dr. Douglas K. Chung spend time with the owner and brother-in-law. As already having a smoke-free environment, the Asian Center was able to provide support and technical assistance with signs, a sample policy, and information about second hand smoke. You can call the restaurant and order for catering as well! Please call India House at (616)243-1219 today, and enjoy! Specials: Grand Valley Students get a 10% discount on your order! |
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