This episode of the Nonprofit Report features Wayne Ho, President and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), the nation’s largest Asian American social services organization. The conversation explores how CPC has evolved over six decades to meet the changing needs of immigrant communities while remaining committed to empowering children, families, older adults, and low-income New Yorkers through culturally responsive services, advocacy, and community partnerships.
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Guest:
- Wayne Ho, President and CEO of the Chinese American Planning Council
Key Points
- The Chinese American Planning Council was founded in 1965 to address the needs of Chinese immigrants and has grown into the largest Asian American social services organization in the United States.
- CPC serves more than 70,000 New Yorkers annually through over 60 programs that support children, families, older adults, workforce development, housing, and health.
- The organization provides culturally and linguistically responsive services in 26 languages and dialects, reflecting the diversity of the communities it serves.
- A five-year strategic planning process helps align staff, board members, and community partners while allowing the organization to adapt to emerging needs.
- CPC combines direct services, policy advocacy, and community partnerships to address issues such as food insecurity, public benefits access, workforce development, and affordable housing.
Other Points on the Chinese-American Planning Council
Since its founding, CPC has focused on supporting entire families rather than addressing isolated needs. Programs span multiple generations, from early childhood education and after-school services to senior centers, affordable housing, workforce development, and home care. This holistic approach allows the organization to respond to the interconnected challenges families face throughout their lives.
As New York City’s immigrant population has evolved, CPC has continually adapted its services. The organization has expanded language access to meet the needs of successive waves of immigrants while maintaining culturally responsive programming. Serving individuals in dozens of languages and dialects helps ensure that newcomers can access essential resources regardless of when they arrive or where they come from.
Community partnerships are central to CPC’s mission. The organization collaborates with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private partners to expand services and respond quickly to emerging issues, including food insecurity and changes to public benefit programs. These partnerships enable CPC to leverage resources and strengthen support for the communities it serves.
Wayne Ho also emphasized the importance of leadership that remains connected to frontline staff and community members. Through strategic planning, inclusive hiring, and ongoing engagement with employees, board members, and stakeholders, CPC seeks to ensure its programs remain responsive to changing community needs. This people-centered approach has helped sustain the organization’s mission for more than six decades.