On July 11th, CCHC “Social Forum’s” advisors gathered at CCHC Flushing center and discussed the future direction for the “Social Forum.” This is Social Forum’s second conference this year for its 23 advisory team. During the conference, CCHC general director Rev. Pak-Cheung Lo also shared his “Blueprints for Social Care.”
The evening conference was presided by Social Forum advisory chair, also the former New York City Employment Service Director Mrs. Nora Chang. She first summarized opinions and suggestions brought forth during April’s 100th Social Forum commemoration ceremony, which include expanding the content, providing a greater selection of discussion issues, extending beyond CCHC perimeters, utilizing the various types of media to influence the society, reaching consensus to act, and combining social resources, etc. Yet Rev. Lo asserted that they will hold onto Social Forum’s “only discussion, no action” policy, and emphasized on preserving the purity of the conversation and motives. He also said that ideas developed through Social Forum will provide CCHC and other organizations the inspirations to strategize their work.
Rev. Lo further explained that the most ideal situation is if all organizations would fully participate in the discussion together for the better of the society. He presented a “Blueprint for Social Care,” within this blueprint, organizations that are willing would strategize together and work within their own fields to achieve a combined result. He compared his plan to putting puzzle pieces together: When all the pieces are placed on the right places, then naturally it will become a beautiful picture.
The blueprint includes directing every group in society to work together toward one common objective – “improve social morals, establish a friendly Flushing.” He also used a parable of placing pearls on a string as an example; he hopes that CCHC may be the string that will connect every organization together, the string will remain unseen to display every pearl that is on it. He said that the hope of CCHC during the past 20 years was to connect all the churches and organizations together: “Allow others to succeed, to humble and make others successful.”
Rev. Lo’s words received applaud from the crowd. Afterwards, the attendants expressed their opinions, among them include suggestions for Social Forum issues, how to put it into action, and how to combine the social strength, etc. New York representative’s assistant Mrs. Sue L. Yang, also a member of the planning committee for Social Forum, during a speech expressed hopes for “Flushing, led by the Christian movement, may become the example for Chinese American communities.”
Although there were many difficulties when performing social services, Rev. Lo encouraged everyone not to give up, rather, it is to realize that “the process is also precious.” If the hearts are united, even though there maybe pressure, there are joy as well. At conclusion of the gathering, Rev. Lo lead the ending prayer, and the Social Forum will proceed onward with suggestions given during this gathering and continue to generate better suggestions for ministry work.
