FUSIA, a designated sponsor of the U.S. State Department's Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 Visa), recently hosted its annual luncheon to celebrate the 17th year of the Cross-Cultural Internship Program (CCIP). Held at Fraunces Tavern in New York City, the event brought together over 40 attendees, including five current and former U.S. Congress members who came to show their support and congratulate the participants.

Special thanks were extended to Congresswoman Grace Meng, NYS Senators Toby Ann Stavisky and John Liu, NYS Assemblymen Ron Kim and David Weprin, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and NYC Councilwoman Sandra Ung for the citations and certificates.

Acknowledgments were also given to NYS Assemblywoman Grace Lee, former NYC Councilman Peter Koo, Judy, Shiang, Yen, Susan, Sunny, June Jee, Mark Ricca, Harbachan Singh, Lisa, Ying Zhou, Nouhayla Bentmim, Brendan Cheung, and Niki Cheng for their attendance.

Thanks were expressed to Lotus and Sing Tao Daily for reporting this news. The organization looks forward to the 18th-anniversary celebration next summer.
One of the student interns, Bruce from Nanyang Technological University, a year 2 Business Marketing student, shared his thoughts on the CCIP's impact.

"The program has significantly enhanced our skills and perspectives on culture. It has inspired me with many ideas that I can take back to Singapore. The benefits of this experience will be long-lasting," Bruce stated.

Another intern, Xuanle, mentioned that she is currently interning in Boston and came all the way to join the event. She is now in her final year at Nanyang Technological University.

"The mentorship and support from our host companies and supervisors have been invaluable," Xuanle remarked.

The event was marked by heartfelt speeches, shared experiences, and recognition of the program’s positive impact. Participants expressed enthusiasm for applying their new skills and insights in their future careers. These experiences are expected to benefit them both personally and professionally, providing them with innovative ideas and perspectives to bring back to their home countries. FUSIA's CCIP J-1 Internship continues to be a memorable and transformative experience, inspiring participants and fostering lasting international connections.