Meet Nina Tsao - Philanthropist and ACDC Supporter, Community Volunteer, and Angel Investor

Photo courtesy of Nina Tsao.

Nina Tsao founded Onsett International Corporation, an innovative integrated technology and business management consulting firm focusing on strategic operation and transforming enterprise information infrastructure for Fortune 500 corporations. She advised C-level executives of large financial services organizations and held the Chief GlobalNetwork Architect position for Citigroup Global IT (CGIN) organization for years.

She also believes in mentoring and investing in young companies. Over the last ten years, Nina has been an active angel investor in several startup companies on the East and West coasts.

Currently retired, Nina has become more involved in philanthropy and intergenerational mentoring programs. Nina generously supports ACDC’s Retirement Matched Savings program. ACDC recently interviewed Nina, and we are excited to share more about her passion for supporting financial literacy.

How did you get involved with ACDC?

Knowing that so many low-wage workers do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement accounts, I wanted to create opportunities for people to learn about retirement planning and start saving for their retirement before it’s too late. When I told my friends about a Roth IRA matching program idea, a close friend recommended that ACDC may have shared interest, so I reached out to Angie.

ACDC already has a matched savings program to help first-time homebuyers dig deeper into financial literacy essentials like creating a savings plan, how to spend within a reasonable budget, and building credit. It was a natural fit for me to help them expand on that to create a retirement-focused financial literacy program.

I recently attended one of the workshops and had a chance to meet with the program participants. The participants asked me great questions such as, “When do you know when you have enough to retire?” While each individual’s unique situation and varying economic factors call for different measures, I shared with them a formula that I learned from an AARP article. Generally, an ideal goal is to live off of 3 - 4% per year of your total savings.

Why is financial literacy among the causes you champion?

My father is an economist and successful business manager who taught me the importance of financial and investment acumen. Financial management and investment knowledge is the key to building wealth and preparing for financial independence for retirement. Savings and social security income alone is not enough. Long-term investment with educated risk management helps build a robust retirement nest egg.

For most people, these are very complex subjects that you must seek out and learn about independently, assuming you know where to find such resources. So, imagine navigating this while having limited English skills and not being familiar with the financial systems in the US. It’s great that ACDC can offer this type of education in Chinese to help bridge language barriers and cultural differences in how money is discussed and managed.

How did you get involved in philanthropy?

Helping others is a personal value instilled in me since childhood from several environments - from home, from the Maryknoll nuns at my school, and in Girl Scouts. I always believe that hard work, integrity, and equity are the keys to success. It feels incredibly rewarding to help provide opportunities for economic mobility for people who don’t otherwise have access or means to these resources. I am very fortunate to have benefitted from the knowledge my father passed along to me. I hope that the people in ACDC’s Retirement Matched Savings program can now pass the skills they acquire onto their children to break the cycle of poverty and build generational wealth.

Thank you to Nina for supporting ACDC’s Retirement Matched Savings program and for sharing your story! To learn more about this program, visit https://asiancdc.org/financial-health. 

Get to Know our Interns: Meet Cathy Ching

Next up in the “Get to know our interns'' series is an interview with Cathy Ching, a Communications Intern at ACDC. During her internship, Cathy worked on creating content for ACDC’s blog and social media channels. 

This fall, Cathy will be going into her second year at Northeastern University where she studies journalism.

How did you learn about ACDC and why did you want to intern there?

I’m a part of the Huntington News, which is Northeastern’s independent student newspaper. Every week the editors pitch ideas for the writers to pick up. One of the pitches was about the anti-racism town hall ACDC co-sponsored. I was interested in it, but I didn’t end up picking it up because it was during midterm week when I had a lot of homework. The next day, in my journalism class, my professor assigned us a podcast to make and we had to choose an issue that’s newsworthy. I remembered the pitch from yesterday about ACDC’s anti-racism town hall meeting, so I wanted to do that for my podcast. I reached out to ACDC and Christine, my current supervisor, replied. We did the interview for my podcast and I told her that I’d never done a podcast or video editing before. 

After I was done, I sent it to her to check it out. I guess she really liked it. She told me if I was interested in a communications internship for the summer, I should reach out to her and that’s how I got the internship. I wanted to intern there because I’m a journalism major with a communications minor, so it’s in my field of study. I also really admire what ACDC does and their mission. My mom also works with Asian immigrants in Brooklyn’s Chinatown, so I’ve grown up with the same mindset and values that ACDC has. I feel really comfortable at ACDC.

What is a skill that you’ve gained or developed through this internship?

Interestingly enough, through my communications internship I have learned a lot about communication. This is the first job I’ve done remotely, so it was all new to me to communicate through a computer screen and go to meetings in my bedroom. I had to rely on talking to Christine and the other interns through Slack and email. I also had to learn to keep Christine updated on what I was working on, ask for help if I needed it, and ask to work on new projects if I wanted them.

What was a project you enjoyed working on and why?

A project that I enjoyed working on was writing up the blog post for Gianna Stewart who’s a Boston-based public artist. I liked that project a lot because I love art. I grew up drawing and painting and I’ve always wanted to be a professional artist so it’s really cool to see someone living my dream. I’m an artist in my free time, so I liked learning about how her piece came together. 

It was also really fun researching about the history of Chinatown in Boston. Gianna is so well spoken, and everything she talked about in her interview about her piece was so interesting, like why she wanted to make the swing set installation bright yellow. I think getting to know people and what they do is just something I genuinely enjoy doing.

What challenges did you face in your internship?

A while ago, I emailed the interns to be featured, but I didn’t hear back yet because I think they were busy with their projects or too shy to be featured. I guess a challenge that I have faced is accepting rejection because in the journalism field you’re going to have to accept being rejected a lot. Not everyone wants to be interviewed and you have to be fine with that. You can’t take anything personally.

What has been your favorite part of the internship?

I think my favorite part of the internship has to be being behind the scenes of ACDC’s Instagram and Facebook. It’s interesting to see the organizations that reach out to them. It’s also fun creating graphics, coming up with Instagram captions, and learning about audience engagement.

What do you hope to achieve through the work you do?

For myself, I would like to become a better storyteller and a better writer through it all. I’ve been given the opportunity to write profiles about people, which is one of my favorite things to write.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I live in Brooklyn. In my free time, I like to go to Coney Island, which is a very unpopular opinion for people who live in Brooklyn. It’s not known to be the cleanest or safest beach. I’m also just a train ride away from Manhattan, so I go there after work and on the weekends. Some of my favorite spots are Central Park and Washington Square Park. If I’m not working on this internship remotely in my bedroom, I’m with my friends in Coney or in the city.

Thanks for sharing, Cathy!

Get to Know Our Interns: Meet Yating Chen

Yating Chen, Communications Intern

Every summer, ACDC hires high school and college student interns to join their team. Through hard work and perseverance, our interns have made it possible for ACDC to maintain its mission of empowering the Asian American community in the Greater Boston area during a disconnected time.

We wanted to introduce you to some of this summer’s interns to share their experience at ACDC. 

To start off our series is Yating Chen, a Communications Intern. Yating was born in China and moved to Boston when she was two years old. As a rising senior at Boston Latin School, Yating is involved in many extracurriculars including astronomy club, DECA, art club, and concert band. 

How did you connect with ACDC?

I first learned about ACDC last summer through the City of Boston’s SuccessLink program, and was placed at ACDC as a Development Intern last year. I really liked it, so I applied to intern with ACDC again this year.

What have you worked on in the past and what projects are you working on now?

When I started, I researched blogging best practices, how to reach out to people, how to come up with interview questions, how to interview people, and how to write a blog post. I just wrapped a project on a blog post about some of ACDC’s Summer Leadership Academy (SLA) youth. 

I spoke with two of the participants and asked questions about their interests and about their SLA projects. After interviewing them, I transcribed the text, created a blog post on ACDC’s website, and created a social media graphic using Canva.

Have you come across any challenges so far?

A lot of this year’s work is very new to me, such as interviewing people and creating a blog post. It’s not something that I’ve done before. There was a good amount of learning going into the work. 

I think one of the most challenging parts was coming up with interview questions. I had to research the SLA curriculum and what youth would be working on. I took into consideration who I was interviewing and what questions and responses readers would be interested in.

What is a skill you have learned during your internship?

Time management is a pretty huge one — getting everything done on time, working efficiently, and making sure that I prioritize certain tasks. I have a set schedule for everyday and I list out all my tasks. I also keep a calendar and make sure that I know exactly what I need to do and when it needs to be done, which has been helpful.

How has ACDC inspired you?

What first drew me to ACDC was its mission and work in the Asian community. I think my experience at ACDC inspired me to want to get involved with more non-profits in the Boston area and help others.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I really like to draw. I’ve tried many different mediums and always love trying new things. I also like to spend time with my family, especially getting outdoors.

What are your plans for college?

I don’t have specific colleges in mind yet, but I definitely want to stay in the Boston area. In terms of extra-curriculars, I definitely want to stay active and join different clubs. 

Thank you, Yating, for sharing your story!

Meet Abby and Calvin

Abby is a rising sophomore at Andover High School and Calvin is a rising junior at Quincy High School. This summer they participated in ACDC’s SLA program along with other youth in the Greater Boston area to learn about Asian communities and experiences.

About Abby and Calvin

What do you like to do in your free time?

Abby: I like to swim, go shopping, and hang out with my friends.

Calvin: I like to play video games and listen to music.

What is your favorite book, movie, or TV show?

Abby: My favorite movie is Another Cinderella Story with Selena Gomez.

Calvin: My favorite movie is CZ12.

What is your favorite traditional food from your culture?

Abby: I’m half Chinese, so from that side of my family I get to eat soup dumplings, which I love.

Calvin: My favorite traditional food from my culture is BBQ pork.

What are some of your favorite places in the city?

Abby: I like going to Quincy Market in Boston and eating at Ocean Prime nearby. That area is probably my favorite place to visit.

Calvin: My favorite places in the city would have to be B-Cafe and Yocha in Quincy.

SLA

How did you learn about SLA? What inspired you to apply to the program?

Abby: My mom learned about SLA through a family friend, and she encouraged me to sign up. I live in a town where kids are mostly white. Through SLA, I could learn more about my cultural background and history, and to meet more Asian people my age.

Calvin: I heard about SLA from my cousin, and my interest in racial justice inspired me to apply to the program.

What are you currently learning about or working on?

Abby: We recently learned about gentrification and community development, with guest speakers sharing their knowledge and insight on these topics. Jung Shen, an A-VOYCE youth alumni, showed us different parts of Chinatown, what Chinatown was like before it became gentrified, and the backstory on changes in the neighborhood. 

Before, I had no clue about what was going on in Chinatown because I just go there to hang out with family or friends, and I never knew the history of the neighborhood. I’m really grateful for learning all of this through SLA.

Calvin: I’m currently learning about how people are being oppressed in society.

What has been your favorite part of SLA so far?

Abby: The breakout rooms where we split up into smaller groups has been my favorite part. I love talking to the other kids about their experience and what they know about Boston.

Calvin: My favorite part of SLA is meeting new people from different places in Massachusetts that I would not have the opportunity to meet without SLA.

What have you learned or gained from collaborating with other SLA youth?

Abby: I learned that even though we don’t live near each other or come from the same families, we have similar experiences. We have similar stories to share. 

Calvin: I’ve learned a lot about why Asians are being targeted for attacks and how this situation should be counteracted.

Did you find that reflecting on your experiences and sharing them through various mediums was beneficial? Why or why not?

Abby: Reflecting on and sharing my experiences has been beneficial because I’m able to realize the depth in my story and expand on who I am as an Asian American.

Calvin: Yes, reflection definitely contributed to my opinions towards different issues.

How have books, movies, TV shows, social media or other forms of media shaped your identity?

Abby: I’m a teenager, so my life revolves around social media and it’s where I get most of my information about the world. Social media feels like a part of my identity because I use it a lot and everyone around me is so active in using it.

Calvin: Through these outlets, I learned what an oppressive society is and showed the big picture of it and long term impacts.

Part of this year’s SLA focus is building your capacity as a creative storyteller. What role do you think storytelling plays in activism?

Abby: I think storytelling informs us about diverse experiences and the human aspect of issues we’re fighting for. The stories we share and document can help us learn how to make positive changes for the community.

Calvin: Storytelling allows for informational and persuasive talk from personal experience.

Why should youth be involved in conversations about social issues? What makes the youth perspective important?

Abby: Youth are the future. Those who are adults now won’t be around as long as we will. Young people have a different perspective compared to older generations because what’s going on now will continue to impact us as we get older. We aren’t just watching from the margins - we have a stake in this fight, too.

Calvin: Young people should be involved in these conversations because they are the future generation that will shape how society will be. The youth perspective is unique because they have access to advanced technology, which makes sharing information easier.

Do you think some institutions have disadvantaged certain communities? If so, what can be done to address this?

Abby: I think some institutions definitely do give certain communities disadvantages. I think we should fight back, explain why, and just fight until the change happens because change doesn’t happen overnight.

Calvin: Yes, and sharing about this will increase awareness.

2021 Residence Lab: Community Care

Part 1: Introducing Residence Lab 2021

By Qing Qing Pan, originally published on Pao Arts Center’s website.

Hello, my name is Qing Qing, and I am one of Pao Art Center’s summer interns. For the past few months, I have had the honor to provide Mandarin interpretation for and document the 2021 Residence Lab (ResLab) cohort’s journey in their co-creating.  

These artists and residents have been busy! This year’s cohort is made up of three teams of Boston-based artists and Chinatown residents, who have been invited to combine their artistic creativity and neighborhood expertise to re-imagine Boston Chinatown. Each team has drawn inspiration from this year’s theme of collective care to create their site specific installations. Their projects will be on view at Mary Soo Hoo Park at the Rose Kennedy Greenway throughout the month of September, in partnership with the Greenway Conservancy. As teams finalize designs and start building the installations, this blog will serve to document their journey through the activation. Take a peek at what is to come for our ResLab kick-off on August 27th!

Residence Lab is a partnership between Pao Arts Center and Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC) to empower and train artists and residents to collectively preserve the Chinatown community through creative and artistic space activation.

Caption: In their first in-person workshop, artists and residents learned more about the geography and physical space of Mary Soo Hoo Park.

Image description: The red fence at Mary Soo Hoo Park on a sunny Saturday evening on June 5th, with a row of photos and maps of the park taped and hanging across it. Photo Credit: Qing Qing Pan.

---

Caption: To liven up the energy, ResLab artists and facilitators “dress up” for an impromptu dance party with virtual filters! 

Image description: Screencap of ResLab virtual workshop on July 9th. Featured are the 2021 Residence Lab cohort, wearing various goofy Zoom filters, such as a red beret, pixelated sunglasses, and furry bear face.

---

Screencap of Residence Lab’s 2nd virtual workshop on May 21st, spotlighting ResLab artist Yuko sharing her drawing for a prompt with the rest of the group. Her drawing features smiling people exercising and playing around, with labeled open space for residents, fences, exercise equipment, and benches.

---

Three ResLab participants sit at a table in Mary Soo Hoo Park, covered in papers, pens, and bags of snacks. They discuss their design proposals together. Photo Credit: Qing Qing Pan.

This post is part of a series dedicated to Residence Lab’s 2021 program. Click here to read more.