Project intro

The goals for our “Vaccinasians” COVID-19 microgrant project are as follows:

• Support the Filipinx & Chinese communities–two of the most adversely impacted and under-resourced Asian Pacific Islander (API) populations in New York City–with intentional focus on migrants, elders, and houseless and disabled folx.
• Share accessible COVID-19 vaccination kits with educational resources and PPE.

We hope to achieve these goals by working with local businesses facing financial challenges to share educational information with identified communities. We will set-up a public-facing space in front of two restaurants and distribute kits with (1) COVID-19 vaccine information and location pamphlets with accessible language(s) and anti-Asian violence resources; (2) Single roundtrip Metrocards; (3) PPE kit with mask and hand sanitizer wipes; (4) Cultural food or snack.

Project outcomes/deliverables

Successful tabling event with all packages distributed at respective locales to community members. Language accessible covid vaccine information pamphlets in English, Spanish, Mandarin and Tagalog.

English Infographic | Spanish Infographic | Mandarin Infographic | Tagalog Infographic

Team Members

	Catherine Han (she/her/hers) is a second-generation Korean American, and a proud daughter of immigrants. She recently graduated from Columbia University School of Social Work (Class of 2021) with her method being Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming (AGPP) with a field of practice in International Social Welfare with Services to Immigrants and Refugees. Catherine is focused and committed to liberation and justice from a lens of abolition and intergenerational healing. For self-care, Catherine enjoys listening to 2000s R&B music, watching sunsets, and grounding herself through prayer.
	Joshua Binag (he/him) is a recent graduate from the Columbia School of Social Work with a concentration in Social Enterprise Administration. During his time at CSSW, Josh was a co-leader for the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Caucus from 2019-2021. He is now an incoming Social Worker at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Lyons, NJ, where he is expected to start this Fall 2021.
	Quyen Nguyen (she/they) is a first generation student, earning a dual degree at Columbia School of Social Work, with a method concentration in Policy Practice, and at the Mailman School of Public Health, concentrating in Sociomedical Sciences. They are passionate about reducing health disparities across racial groups and increasing access to mental health care. They are also interested in how professionals can conduct meaningful research that can inform evidence-based programs and policies, while at the same time, being ethical so it does not cause further harm to marginalized populations. They are currently volunteering at Columbia’s DEAR Project, whose aim is to provide assistance to community members in Washington Heights by assisting them in applying for government assistance programs.
	Devany (she/her) is a second-year MSW student at Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) studying policy practice in social work with a focus in health, mental health, and disabilities. Currently, Devany's field placement is at the Office of Management and Budget in D.C. where she is working on the President's budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services. Last year, she was a social work intern with the Legal Aid Society with their Education Advocacy Project in the Bronx, NY. She's also at CSSW Social Intervention Group (SIG) working on the WINGS adaptation and the HEALing Communities Study (HCS) and is an RA with Professor Takamura.
	Stacie Tao (she/her) graduated from Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) with her MSW in policy practice. During her MSW, Stacie was engaged in research with CSSW faculty and research centers. She is continuing her education at CSSW to pursue a PhD in Social Welfare Policy, to study intergenerational poverty and child welfare system-involvement, anti-poverty social policies, and welfare participation. Stacie is originally from Washington State.
	Meryl Menezes (she/her) is a 2nd year student at Columbia School of Social Work, where she is specializing in advanced clinical practice with a concentration in health, mental health, and disabilities. In the future, she hopes to work as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and practice cognitive behavioral therapy with children. She is also interested in pursuing forensic social work and plans to continue volunteering with the City Bar Justice Center this year, where she previously interned. In her free time, Meryl enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
	Chris Won (he/them) serves as the Program Coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW). Chris was born on the land of the Han (Corea), grew up on the land of the Massachusett (Boston), spent five years on the land of the Tlingit (Juneau), and is grateful to the Munsee Lenape whose lands (Manhattan) he is able to be a guest on. Chris is a Queer, neurodivergent, Third-Culture Kid educator, artist & advocate, passionate about Indigenization and culturally-sustaining practices. Chris hopes to honor belongingness, inclusion, and ancestral wisdom to foster equitable learning environments in his work.
	Danielle Ocampo (she/her) received her MSSW from the Columbia School of Social Work in Spring 2021 with a specialization in Advanced Clinical Practice and a focus on Contemporary Social Issues. During her time at CSSW, Danielle served as a co-leader for the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Caucus from 2019-2021. Her professional interests lie within the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. Danielle recently received her LMSW and is currently working as a family therapist for a juvenile justice program at The New York Foundling.
	Ramya Chunduri, LMSW, LSW (she/her) recently graduated from Columbia School of Social Work with a Master of Science in Social Work concentrating in Advanced Clinical Social work (health, mental health, and disabilities field of practice). She is currently a Domestic Violence Social Worker at a not-for-profit organization that serves underserved South Asians. She is also a therapist at a mental health tech start-up organization. Ramya’s debut novel about mental health is being published in May 2022. Ramya enjoys reading, writing, and going to museums in her free time.
	Esther (Est) Park (she/her) is a proud first-generation college student from a Korean immigrant family. She recently graduated from the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) with a Master’s of Science in Social Work and a concentration in Health, Mental Health, and Disabilities. During her time at CSSW, Est founded the First-generation and/or Lower SES Caucus and served as a co-leader of the Aging Caucus. Est is passionate about culturally humble community-level research and interventions. Previously, Est has conducted research at the Quality of Life Research Center (QLRC) at Claremont Graduate University in California, and she has also engaged in research at the Columbia Population Research Center and the Social Intervention Group at Columbia University. Outside of the world of academia, Est enjoys producing educational creative content on Instagram (@pups.coffeecups).
	Ana Angeles (she/they) is the Associate Director of Student Leadership and Engagement at the Columbia School of Social Work. Outside of higher education, Ana serves as the League Commissioner of a queer and trans adult basketball league. Ana is proudly from both Vallejo, California and Manila, Philippines. They value social justice, community, wellness, and adventure.
	Caitlin Kay (she/her) graduated from Columbia School of Social Work with a Master of Science in Social Work Degree in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice Method Concentration (Health, Mental Health & Disabilities) and a Minor in Public Policy & Administration. She is currently serving in the U.S. Federal Government as a Presidential Management Fellow.