LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Immigrant Social Services upon the
occasion of its Children's Day Block Party on June 7, 2009

WHEREAS, The greatest asset of any society is its children and the hope
and promise they represent for the future; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend organizations and institutions of high purpose and worthy accom-
plishment whose endeavors have a significant impact on the quality of
life of others, especially the youth of the community, and on the
culturally diverse communities they serve; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to
commend Immigrant Social Services, Inc. (ISS) upon the occasion of the
ISS Children's Day Block Party, to be held on Sunday, June 7, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Immigrant Social Services is a non-profit organization dedi-
cated to improving the quality of life of youth and families in the
Greater Chinatown and Lower East Side communities; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1972, over the years ISS has provided English
language instruction, recreational activities for youth, after-school
and summer camp programs for children and high school immigrant youth,
summer youth employment programs, instruction to youth in drug
prevention, and cultural programming for the whole family; and
WHEREAS, Today, Immigrant Social Services provides after-school
programs serving 750 primary grade immigrant children in five after-
school programs it sponsors throughout the Lower East Side; its Academic
and Career Development Program, which the Block Party helps to support,
assists Asian immigrant high school students, many of whom are recent
arrivals from Mainland China, increase their proficiency in reading,
writing and speaking the English language and provides tutoring in math
and the sciences, as well as in completing homework assignments; and
WHEREAS, Immigrant Social Services also continues to offer extensive
Family and Child Counseling programs and services, an academically
focused Summer Day Camp program serving more than 800 children each
year, Youth Recreation and Athletic programs providing a safe haven for
adolescents and young adults and including participation in the popular
community basketball tournaments, and a Summer Youth Employment Program
which, in addition to work, includes valuable educational, financial
literacy, and economic understanding components; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Immigrant Social Services, in partnership with
other Chinatown organizations, sponsors an annual Block Party to cele-
brate Children's Day, traditionally celebrated in China, the homeland of
many of the immigrants ISS serves, on June 1; and
WHEREAS, This year's ISS Children's Day Block Party will be held on
Henry Street, between Rutgers and Pike Streets, in Manhattan's Chinatown
on Sunday, June 7, 2009, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 P.M.; and
WHEREAS, The theme of the Block Party is, of course, children, and
there will be fun activities, competitions for children and their fami-
lies, and performances by students in some ISS programs throughout the
afternoon; and
WHEREAS, Events and occasions like the ISS Children's Day Block Party
exemplify and add strength, vigor, and inspiration to the cultural
diversity and quality of life of the communities of the City and State
of New York; it is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor organizations such as Immigrant Social Services, which faithfully
devote their resources and purposeful endeavors to improving the lives
of those they serve and to promoting, preserving, and sharing their rich
cultural heritage; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Immigrant Social Services, Inc. upon the occasion of its Chil-
dren's Day Block Party on June 7, 2009, and to recognize the signif-
icance of its contributions to the enhancement of the dignity and quali-
ty of life of those it serves; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Immigrant Social Services, Inc., 137 Henry Street, New York,
New York 10002.