On Saturday, August 9th, the Bay Parkway Association (BBA) held a closing trip for its summer program on Governors Island in New York, attracting over 60 participants including summer program students, participants from the New York Youth Employment Program (SYEP), volunteers, and parents. The activities included team cycling, kicking shuttlecocks, playing soccer, tug-of-war, and chess matches. Against the backdrop of the sunny and picturesque Governors Island, participants engaged in lively interactions fostering communication and friendship.
Many students expressed that through their involvement with BBA, they experienced many “firsts”: it was their first time setting foot on Governors Island and the first time gaining various new experiences through the BBA platform – acting as “junior teachers”, learning about management, engaging with education and psychology, participating in voter registration, understanding community politics, and experiencing martial arts training. These “firsts” not only broadened their horizons but also strengthened their sense of community belonging.
BBA Chairman Huang Qi Wang pledged to continue organizing such events next year, with a commitment to the “Four Core Demands”: heritage – passing down Chinese culture to the next generation; platform – providing opportunities for seniors, adults, and young people to showcase themselves; window – disseminating resources and information, broadening perspectives and future possibilities; glass ceiling – breaking the invisible ceiling that limits the social mobility of Chinese-Americans in society.
Supporting organizations have also expressed their intent to continue cooperation. Leaders from the New York Toisan Association, the Huawu Martial Arts School, the New York Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, and the American Fujian Qianyang Fellow Villagers Association all stated that this event holds significant meaning and they will continue to support BBA’s educational and public welfare initiatives.
BBA emphasized that this closing trip was not just a summer outing, but a practical exercise in cultural heritage and community education, embodying the association’s mission and commitment in the fields of education, culture, and community service. The association calls for more residents to participate in public welfare activities, including a street cleaning volunteer event scheduled to take place on Monday, August 11th, on 8th Avenue and 61st Street in Brooklyn.