By Carlotta Mohamed
The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce was joined by City Council Member Peter Koo (D-Flushing), business leaders, and entrepreneurs as they welcomed the new Kumon Math and Reading Center to the Flushing community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.
The Sept. 21 ceremony marked the grand opening celebration of the new Kumon Center — located at 149-36 Northern Blvd. No. 101 — with a family appreciation night.
Hundreds of local children and their parents participated in the free back-to-school event that included face painting, games for children, a parent orientation, and free placement tests.
“The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving our community and very happy to welcome Dr. [Shalini] Outram and his new Kumon Math & Reading Center to Flushing,” said John Choe, executive director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. “We all need the help we can get to expand economic opportunities for all those who live and work in our community. Kumon’s educational resources will provide a big boost for local parents and students.”
For more than 50 years, Kumon’s after-school academic enrichment program has helped children achieve success worldwide. In Queens, there are Kumon Centers in Bayside, Fresh Meadows, Forest Hills, Briarwood, Kew Gardens, and Rego Park.
According to Dr. Shalini Outram, director of the Kumon Center, and a New York native who graduated from Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, Kumon’s individualized approach helps children progress by ability rather than age or grade.
“More than 280,000 preschool to high school aged children across the United States are developing their math and reading skills independently and gaining confidence through the Kumon Method of Learning,” said Outram. “The Kumon Center of Flushing North joins more than 1,500 U.S. instructors committed to helping children excel through the self-learning program.”
Outram was introduced to Kumon by a co-worker while working as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Outram enrolled her first child in Kumon and so began a life-changing Kumon journey.
“As a Kumon mom, I witnessed how my 2 1/2-year-old daughter gained self-confidence to tackle holding a pencil for the first time and watching words come alive on the page,” said Outram. “She learned how to study by practicing her work daily and quickly advanced two-years above her grade level in both Math and Reading at the age of 5.”
With unwavering commitment, Outram chose to follow her heart to nurture and develop future brilliant minds as a Kumon instructor, she said.
“I am dedicated to fostering the potential of all of my students in their pursuit of academic success,” said Outram.
Maureen Regan, founder of Green Earth Urban Gardens Inc., said the public school system is the largest in the country and parents need resources to help their children compete in the crowded space.
“The learning environment at Kumon Center can ease some of the anxiety as our children prepare for 21st Century warp speed innovations. It’s a place where our kids can receive the extra help our over-burdened schools cannot give them,” said Regan.
The new Kumon Center in Flushing is a member of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit association that fosters the economic growth, inclusive diversity, and shared prosperity of the community through advocacy, networking, and education.
The center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Class hours are 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.
For more information, contact Dr. Outram at shali
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed by e-mail at cmoha
