J-1 Designated Sponsor FUSIA Communications hosts the
2016 CCIP Recognition Ceremony at Citi Field

Foreign and local government officials, community leaders, and 75 elite Asian Pacific exchange visitors come together to celebrate accomplishments and efforts in the field of cultural exchange.

FUSIA/CCIP J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (The Cross Cultural Internship Program, www.theccip.com) celebrated another year of accomplishments, bringing together key supporters of its cultural initiative with the exchange visitors themselves to hold the 2016 Recognition Ceremony at Citi Field, home of the Mets, on July 5.

Over 140 guests, including exchange visitors, local and foreign government representatives, university partners, and host representatives, attended the event. The event, entitled "Culture Exchange Event," celebrated the joint efforts of the greater New York City community and students from Asia and Pacific nations to promote cultural exchange through the CCIP.

To recognize the efforts of all the participants in this cross cultural initiative, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer declared July 5, 2016 "Cross-Cultural Internship Appreciation Day".

Government officials attended the event to show their support and honor the achievements of the program:

- NYS Senator Toby Ann Stavisky
- NYS Assemblyman David Weprin
- NYC Councilman Peter Koo
- China Consul Chang Quansheng
- Singapore Consul Eugene Ng
- Kevin H. Crowley from the US Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs

Various government offices also presented greeting letters or commendations to recognize the efforts of the involved parties as well as the achievements of the program in its cultural endeavors:

- US Senator for New York, Senator Charles Schumer
- US Senator for New York, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
- Congresswoman Grace Meng, whose office is also one of the internship host organizations
- Congressman Joseph Crowley
- NYS Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, whose office is also one of the internship host organizations
- NYS Assemblyman Ron Kim, whose office is also one of the internship host organizations
- NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio
- NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer
- NYC Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer
- NYC Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams
- Public Advocate for the City of New York Letitia James
- NYC Councilman Rory Lancman

Mr. Gene Eng (GC Eng & Associates, PC) and Ms. Jolander Headley (Joe's Music Center & Performing Arts Inc.), both program hosts, shared how having the J-1 interns from the Exchange Visitor Program enriched their respective offices.

The event also honored supporters from the community. Honored guests included:

- NYPD Community Affairs for giving safety talks to the exchange visitors
- TD Bank Downtown Flushing Branch for helping students open bank account
- The Flushing YMCA for providing lodging
- Friends of Cunningham Park for facilitating volunteer and community outing experiences

Also in attendance were three former CCIP participants and recent graduates who shared how the program benefitted them.

As a token of appreciation to the host organizations for helping the FUSIA/CCIP exchange visitor internship program further its mission, the students presented handmade plaques to each host.

The program was then commemorated with a video presentation, short films, and a musical performance. Produced and created by the students, these presentations gave the guests a view into the program and the fond memories the students made this year.

It was a pleasure for all the program participants to hear the stadium filled with enthusiastic cheering and applause. They knew they had built meaningful relationships with each other and the community at large.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Marc A. Haken who serves as the Youth, Education, and Library Committee Chair of Community Board 8 in Queens (CB 8Q) and President of Friends of Cunningham Park, as well as a program advisor. He thanked all parties for their collaborative efforts, which contributed immensely to the success of CCIP in its goodwill initiative.

After the Ceremony, the Spirit Award was presented by the Mets to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the local and global communities, which included the FUSIA Communications/CCIP J-1 Intern Exchange Visitor Program. FUSIA/CCIP was specifically honored for its work in bridging relations between the US and Asia as well as developing future global leaders. FUSIA Communications is one of 95 J-1 Visa-designated sponsoring organizations for the Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program. FUSIA sponsors students primarily from partner universities in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

A baseball game between the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins followed the ceremony, providing students with a beloved and classic American experience to end the night. While the ceremony marked the end of the program for the first wave of this year's CCIP participants, it is only the beginning for Session B students who have seven exciting weeks in the US to look forward to.

About

Since 2008, the Cross Cultural Internship Program (CCIP) has taken place every summer from May to August. CCIP is a social enterprise program dedicated to fostering mutually beneficial East-West cultural exchange, tailored to the needs of exchange visitors from Asia and the Pacific region nations.

CCIP is a dynamic transcultural collaboration that brings global communities together. Through CCIP, exchange visitors and host organizations exchange their individual insights, ideas, and experiences from their unique backgrounds. The program allows for exchange visitors to acquire practical knowledge and cultural experiences and for host organizations to connect with the international community and stay abreast of trends in the global marketplace.

CCIP is organized by FUSIA Communications, a designated visa sponsor of the Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 Intern). Participants in the Exchange Visitor Program fulfill their roles by interning and participating in immersive cultural experiences that facilitate a greater understanding of American society.

This year, 75 participants were selected out of nearly 1000 applicants and were matched to 20-plus host organizations including government district offices, law firms, media firms, ad agencies, real estate agencies, and more, all located in the greater New York City area.

CCIP partners with 10 prominent accredited degree- or certificate-granting post-secondary Asian or Pacific region academic institutions:

Hong Kong:
- The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
- The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST)
- Hang Seng Management College, Careers Office (HSMC)
- The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIED)
- The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK)
- City University of Hong Kong, College of Business (CITYU)

Singapore:
- National University of Singapore (NUS)
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Macau:
- Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST)

Participating hosts for 2016 include:

- Aithent Inc. - aithent.com
- APartnership - apartnership.com
- BoConcept New York - boconceptny.com
- C & L Accounting, Inc. - claccountants.com
- CMP - cmpny.org
- Colon & Peguero LLP - cplegalny.com
- Crystal McKenzie, Inc. - cminyc.com
- District Office of Assembly Member Nily Rozic - assembly.state.ny.us/mem/nily-rozic
- District Office of Assembly Member Ron Kim - assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Ron-Kim/
- District Office of Congresswoman Grace Meng - meng.house.gov
- District Office of NYS Senator Toby Ann Stavisky - www.nysenate.gov/senators/toby-ann-stavisky
- Djam Insurance Brokerage Inc. - djaminsurance.com
- Fusia Communications, Inc. - fusia.net
- GC Eng & Associates, PC - gceng.com
- Harry Nurses Registry, Inc - harryhomecare.com/
- Joe's Music and Dance Academy - joesmusiccenter.org
- Liberty Land Abstract, Inc. - LLAbstract.com
- Mary Nittolo, Inc. (the Studio) - studionyc.com
- Padilla & Company, LLP - padillacpa.com
- Sing Tao Newspaper New York Ltd. - nysingtao.com
- Trans Express USA - transexpressusa.com
- Yu & Associates, Inc. - yu-associates.com

For more, visit www.theccip.com or contact the organizer, FUSIA Communications, at 718-643-0311 ext. 18.