Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of the AANHPI community to our society. This month, we are proud to highlight one of our Nonprofit Catalyst Grantee partner organizations, Fountain of Life.
Fountain of Life provides a welcoming place of belonging for Asian elders that is culturally and linguistically accessible. Their mission is to enrich individuals and offer community support to enhance their quality of life. This organization plays a vital role in supporting Asian-American seniors in the Kansas City Metro area.
Fountain of Life was founded by Jennifer Tung Alexander, MPA, who serves as Executive Director. Two years ago, Jennifer’s mission was to bring senior Asian-Americans together for community events where they can speak their native languages and share their cultural heritage. Jennifer’s grandparents moved to the United States from Taiwan in 1987, and her passion for community building was inspired by their journey. She saw first-hand the struggles of seniors feeling isolated and wanted to provide opportunities for Asian-American seniors to get out of the house and participate in activities that were familiar to them.
Today, Fountain of Life serves over 90 seniors from various Asian countries, providing them with a space to connect, share stories, and celebrate their heritage. One of the most cherished events organized by Fountain of Life is the senior potluck gatherings, which bring together seniors from different backgrounds to share meals and cultural experiences.
Jennifer emphasizes the importance of these events for the younger generation: “I hope they have these kinds of gatherings too. It’s crucial for young generations to get together, understand each other, and build a strong, united community.”
Voices from the Community
Gemma moved to Nashville from Seoul in 1989 where she worked as a United States Postal Worker. She shares that although the USA has always been an ally to Korea, she experienced favoritism and racism in the workplace because of her ethnicity. From Nashville she moved to Overland Park and connected with other Asian-American seniors and became a member of Fountain of Life. One of her favorite events hosted by the organization is the potluck lunches. “This senior potluck gathering is making me so excited. We all have different backgrounds, but when you get to know people, you realize that human emotions are the same everywhere. We are all human. It’s amazing to meet different cultures and get together. It’s very exciting.”
Gemma’s favorite holidays to celebrate are the Full Moon Festival in early fall and Lunar New Year. She continues to celebrate these holidays in the states and hopes that future generations will continue to gather and participate in Asian holidays and traditions.
The biggest obstacle Gemma has had to overcome, along with many other seniors, is transportation. “In Seoul, there’s a lot of public transportation.” Without this resource available in most of America, seniors can feel isolated and have difficulty finding ways to get to activities and events. Jennifer, founder of Fountain of Life, states that the biggest barrier for her members is physically getting to her events. Vehicle costs and insurance prohibit many from having their own cars. She currently uses a church vehicle to transport seniors, but she can only do so much with limited space and staffing. Her goal is to get a bigger vehicle to transport more members.
Dr. Grace Yang Gong, who moved to the USA from Zhuhai, China 20 years ago, was a medical doctor and now practices Chinese medicine and acupuncture in Kansas City. She lives in Overland Park with her family and appreciates what Fountain of Life provides for the Asian-American community. “For me, it’s about connecting with others. My husband is a chiropractor, and we enjoy sharing our experiences and learning from others at these gatherings.” Dr. Yang Gong is happy to bring Chinese medicine to Kansas City, a system that has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of medical conditions.
Our Commitment
At United Way, we are honored to support Fountain of Life through our Nonprofit Catalyst Fund, a program in partnership with the Ewing Kauffman Foundation that is dedicated to supporting BIPOC-led and -serving organizations in the Kansas City Metro. With funding in 2023, Fountain of Life was able to hire a Program Director to help facilitate more events for seniors to participate in.
We believe in the power of community and the importance of cultural heritage. Fountain of Life is not just an organization; it’s a home away from home for many seniors. We are grateful for their dedication and the positive impact they have on the AANHPI community.
Join us in celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month and supporting wonderful organizations like Fountain of Life that make our community richer and more inclusive!
