Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Brassard.
Hi Annie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in an old but international concession area of Shanghai, China, and I used to travel and work in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Taipei, New York. I love to live in a big city where there are many big diverse groups of communities so people have many opportunities to meet new friends and learn from others to enjoy our lives in a diverse way. In the past twenty years, my family has moved to and lived in Arcadia and now in San Marino, Los Angeles, CA. While enjoying our family life as we have many wonderful Asian and international restaurants and markets nearby, in addition to excellent public schools to where my children are attending, there is very little cross over and diversity in the community. The Asian and white are the two primary big communities in San Marino.
Although the residents here all like to help support our public schools, there is a huge lack of personal connection between the white and nonwhite communities here. People only like to fit into and socialize with their familiar and exclusive private groups. It is so boring to me and we were not meeting many innovative people here as I always did in the past. In 2016, I had an inspiration to start up a nonprofit East Meets West Parent Education Club (EMWPEC) www.emwpec.org to help parenting education and bring families together to volunteer. After many years of serving the community, my husband and I were honored as National Parents of Year in2019. EMWPEC now is a fast-growing nonprofit. and a Certifying President’s Volunteer Service Award, 501 (c) 3 Nonprofit; 2019 National Parent Volunteer Organization, committed to strengthening families by providing positive parenting training, youth volunteer and leadership programs, and cross-cultural learning opportunities. We serve families of varied economic levels and cultural backgrounds in an atmosphere that celebrates diversity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes, a lots of obstacles and challenges. I have to constantly find new volunteers and recruit right board members to serve as people’s personal priorities change. We cannot always make people to volunteer but only to encourage and inspire the people and friends who like us and are willing to help for the same mission we share. We have our annual fundraising gala coming up on February 21. The cause of the virtual gala is to replenish our Crisis Relief Fund to help families in schools and communities recover from the pandemic. It is our first virtual Lunar New Year Celebration Gala this year. Even during this challenging time, we’ve stepped ahead by contracting with a top-notch virtual streaming technology software company and hiring a professional AV broadcaster to create a fun and inspiring holiday celebration gala program which will be FREE to the community to enjoy. This year, no one else is celebrating the Lunar new year. But EMWPEC is the only nonprofit that takes a chance and embrace the technology. It is difficult to learn to use a new thing at the crazy time. But we work hard, navigate through to reinvent ourselves so we can adapt fast enough for the pandemic recovery for our community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I used to work as a business consultant for many years at various companies in the high tech and marketing consulting industries. After I met my husband Paul and later we started our family with children, I stayed home to be a “real mom” taking care of my three kids… It is more than a full-time job. While working from home, I became an active parenting consultant and advocate when my daughter was a high school student. I am now also a certified Youth Mental Health First Aider and Peer to Peer Counselor. I like to help children in the community especially for the pandemic recovery.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My first mentor who encouraged me was a grandma in our house neighborhood in Shanghai, China in the 80’s. She was the one who encouraged me to go abroad to study and to see the world. She said I will have great future! My dear friend Bonnie Welch who was my mentor mom at church. Bonnie, a former teacher, encouraged to be a stay-home mom even raising children and teenagers is challenging. She said I am raising wonderful children who will be leaders to serve the community and country. Ivy Sun, the congresswoman of the year 2019. Ivy is my role model as a mom, school educator, and community leader. Marchelle Seller, a nonprofit executive director. During my annual meeting with Marchelle, she always gives me advice from her rich experiences. Marchelle also helps connect me with many of her best friends and organizations to work with. Many people’s encouraging words and support have touched on my life of journey. I cannot thank them all just on one page.
Pricing:
- 2021 Gala Platinum Sponsorship:$3,000
- 2021 Gala Silver Sponsorship:$1,000
- 2021 Gala Bronze Sponsorship:$500
- 2021 Gala VIP:$100
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.emwpec.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emwpec/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EMWPEC/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIXMG4YRWTwREz0-YL0gPJw
