Asia Society Southern California Launches After-School Mandarin Language Program at Urban Entertainment Institute

A pioneering program to teach Mandarin (Chinese) language skills to inner city Los Angeles youth will kick off at the Los Angeles Urban Entertainment Institute on Monday, October 2, 2006. Sponsored by the Asia Society Southern California, this After-School Mandarin Language Program will provide inner-city students an opportunity to learn Mandarin and increase their global cultural understanding.

With the rapid emergence of China on the world’s economic stage, Mandarin language skills can open the door to opportunity in business, government, academic, and NGO (non-government organization) professions. While many private and public schools are now beginning to offer Mandarin language instruction, this is the first such effort aimed specifically towards at-risk youth in Los Angeles.

An activity of the Youth Council of Asia Society Southern California, the After-School Mandarin language program will be offered October through December by the Urban Entertainment Institute, a not-for-profit organization that gives teens and young adults practical and working knowledge and training. UEI currently opens its doors to more than 350 students and reaches 800 through in-school programs in South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

Rosemarie Tang, the 17 year old youth ambassador for the Asia Society Southern California, whose vision and persistence led to the creation of the After School Mandarin Language Program, noted, “As a young child growing up in Whittier, I only understood my parent’s native Shanghai dialect – so I know something about language barriers. These students have many barriers in their lives to overcome. Our classes will give them the skills to understand this important language and the Chinese culture. With this program, they will now have a better chance to succeed not only in their neighborhood, but on the global stage by transforming what was a language barrier into a bridge of understanding spanning the entire world.”

“The students at UEI are fighters,” says Fred Martin, Founder of UEI. “Many come from broken and abusive homes.” The Mandarin language classes will allow them to learn a critical language that will increase their chances to benefit from globalization.”

With future funding, the Asia Society Southern California hopes to expand the After-School Mandarin language program to other underserved Southern California neighborhoods and students destined to be global citizens,” says Deborah Jordan, Executive Director of the Asia Society Southern California.

About the Urban Entertainment Institute
The Urban Entertainment Institute is a non-profit organization headquartered in South Central Los Angeles that gives teens and young adults practical and working knowledge and training. Founded in 2002 by musical director and youth advocate Fred Martin, the UEI is an after-school program where young people gather in a positive, educational environment under the guidance of industry professionals and advisors. http://www.urbanentertainmentinstitute.org

About Asia Society
The Asia Society is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd that provides a forum for building awareness and understanding of the Asia-Pacific region. Since 1985, the Asia Society Southern California is an independently funded regional office that creates its own programs and conferences. Home to the largest Asian population in the United States, Southern California is literally America’s gateway to Asia, and offers a vibrant microcosm of Asian and American interaction.

Press Information: For more information, contact Asia Society Southern California by phoning 213-613-9934 x 11. Visit our website at www.AsiaSocietySoCal.org.

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