HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-03-28-2020-min (Demographic Change Subcommittee)Town of Lexington
Subcommittee on Demographic Change
Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, March 28, 2013
Ellen Stone Room, Cary Hall
Present Albert Huang, Martin Hwang (guest), Bhumip Khasnabish, Dan Krupka, Susie Lee - Snell,
Nancy Ronchetti. Guest Speaker: Charlotte Rodgers, Director of Human Services
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m.
The Subcommittee approved the minutes of its meeting on February 21, 2103
Action Items (to be reported on at the next meeting):
• Continue with interviews to which members have committed themselves, now including all
members of the Subcommittee, not only those of Asian ancestry - All
• Ask Margaret Coppe about origin of lang Jeon so that we can assign an appropriate member to
interview him - Dan
• Send note to Nimisha Asthagiri requesting an interview with Bhumip - Dan
Discussion with Charlotte Rodgers, Director of Human Services
• By far the largest Asian group using the Senior Center is the Evergreen Support Group, elderly
Chinese, many of whom reside in Greeley Village
o Group size :� 100, about 50 of whom participate in meetings, held in the Senior Center
about twice per month. Their numbers have not changed substantially over the past
five years
o In addition to their regular meetings, they organize Chinese New Year festivities in
which they perform and to which they invite other performers. In past years, this
special event has been held in Grace Chapel and St. Brigid's. This year it was held in
Cary Hall and is likely to make its home there in the future.
• They interact with the Senior Center through an interpreter who is hired by the hour.
• The interpreter translates the monthly program of the Senior Center into Chinese.
• They have little or no interaction with the Chinese America n Association of Lexington
(CAAL), and appear not to be interested in such an interaction.
• Most of the Chinese residents of Greeley Village were brought to the US by their children to care
for grandchildren. When their adult children moved from Lexington or when the grandchildren
left home, many of the parents chose to remain in Greeley Village and live on small government
payments and depending, in part on the food pantry in Holy Redeemer Church. The food
pantry is heavily supported by CAAL.
• Apart from the Evergreen Group, there are a few residents of Chinese origin who use the Senior
Center. They participate in a variety of activities including small -group English lessons and Tai
Chi.
• In response to the two fatalities involving Chinese residents in Greeley Village, identity cards
were created, a talking light installed at the intersection of Bedford Street and Worthen Road,
and a crosswalk installed across Worthen Road near the Stop & Shop.
• There is no special program at the Senior Center for Indian residents; they participate as
individuals in a variety of activities and at least one of them serves as a volunteer. An Indian
meal is served about once every three months as part of a program that also includes Indians in
Belmont and Waltham.
• Charlotte Rodgers would like to hire a Mandarin speaker.
• In addition, she is hoping to involve the CAAL and Indian Americans of Lexington (IAI) in monthly
coordination meetings with the Police and Fire Departments and the Health Department.
Interviews
• To complete our interviews by the end of May, we need all members to conduct interviews.
• Members of the Subcommittee committed themselves to conducting more interviews in the
next four weeks. The Excel file with the status of interviews, including commitments, is posted
on line. Dan will provide the link to members who have trouble accessing it.
Next Meeting
Hua Wang, who participated in our September 2012 meeting, heads CAAL's Community Task Force
(CTF). It is seeking opportunities to involve CAAL members and other residents of Chinese ancestry in
Town affairs. Huang will describe the initiatives of CTF.
Our next meeting: April 25 in the Ellen Stone Room of Cary Hall
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Dan Krupka
PJ