Gold Lantern Awards Celebrate Chinese Americans at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Washington, DC – The Chinese American Museum DC (CAMDC) announced that it will hold its third Gold Lantern Awards “An Evening to Inspire” at The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater on October 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. A part of the museum’s anniversary, the event celebrates diverse Chinese Americans for their outstanding accomplishments, leadership, service, and indelible American spirit.

The variety program is an evening for all audiences, regardless of heritage, with inspirational stories, lively cultural and modern entertainment, and a shared purpose. “Our goal is to highlight a great American spirit,” Executive Director David Uy explained.

Gold Lantern Award recipients are recognized for their excellence, leadership, and service to the Chinese American community and beyond. 2023 awardees include poet, author, and activist Maxine Hong Kingston; television host, entrepreneur, author, fashion icon, and humanitarian Yue-Sai Kan; forensic scientist and media personality Dr. Henry Lee; innovator Stephany Yu; former Career Civilian Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and AAPI advocate Bel Leong-Hong; community leaders Larry La and Paul Li, and a posthumous award to student-hero Peter Wang, among others. Honored guests include members of Congress, US diplomats and Asian ambassadors to the US, and prominent leaders in business, arts, culture, community, and media.

The 90-minute program features exciting cultural and contemporary entertainment including Qipao dancers, a members’ chorus, blind pianist Liu Hao, a Wushu demonstration, and the lively tones of the Brian Eng jazz sextet. The event will be co-emceed by former news anchor and TV journalist Joie Chen and museum director David Uy.

Tickets are $60, or $35 for seniors, students, and veterans. For reservations, please visit the CAMDC website or the Kennedy Center at https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/international/2023-2024/gold-lantern-awards-2023/. Dress is business casual, festive, or Asian-inspired.

Media are encouraged to contact the museum for a special reception/media event prior to the program.

The 2023 Gold Lantern Awards is an event produced by the Chinese American Museum DC. This program is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.

About The Chinese American Museum DC

A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the museum advances the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience, by highlighting the history, culture, spirit, and contributions of Chinese Americans to our nation and beyond. The museum first opened in 2019, and then again post-pandemic in 2021. Housed in a five-story, 1907 Neo-Baroque style mansion in downtown DC, just five blocks north of the White House, the museum is the first and only destination in the Washington area dedicated to the Chinese American story. CAMDC features both permanent and special, temporary exhibits as well as online and in-person events. General admission to the museum is free.

Three New Exhibits Open at the Chinese American Museum DC

Thank You, Corky Lee – The Unofficial Photographer Laureate of Asian Americans

Bruce Lee: American Son and International Icon

Fashioning Identity in Qipao: The Image of Modern Women

Washington, DC - July 20, 2023 – The Chinese American Museum DC (CAMDC) has officially launched three, new special exhibits representing dramatically different topics all within the Chinese American story.

“Thank You, Corky Lee – The Unofficial Photographer Laureate of Asian Americans” is a retrospective exhibit of the late journalist-activist-photographer, Corky Lee (1947-2021), and a personal tribute featuring quotes and dialogues from the Asian American community. On display are some of Corky Lee’s most iconic images as well as rarely seen photos. Corky Lee was a beloved, self-taught photographer that documented key historical events as well as everyday life and culture across different Asian American communities. The exhibit is made possible through a grant from Panda Express.

“Bruce Lee: American Son and International Icon” commemorates the cultural superstar on the 50th anniversary of his passing revealing both his Hollywood qualities and his sensitivities as an artist, philosopher, and family man. On display are rarely seen images, personal documents, and objects from Bruce Lee and those who were influenced by his work.

“Fashioning Identity in Qipao: The Image of Modern Women” provides a visual tour of the qipao, the quintessential dress for Chinese women in the Republic Era. Its origin and history are closely intertwined with women’s quest for equality and independence during China’s rapid modernization and urbanization in the early 20th century. Its indelible influence on fashion extends to Western fashion, culture, and the arts.

David Uy, Executive Director of the museum explains, “We are thrilled to have such a wide range of subjects on display simultaneously. These exhibits satisfy three compelling parts of the Chinese American story—the social activism of Corky Lee’s photography; the artistic, humanistic, and athletic inspiration of Bruce Lee; and the cultural influence of the qipao dress.”

The museum is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.  Visitors should check the museum’s web site, https://www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org for updated hours and exhibit dates.

About The Chinese American Museum DC

A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the museum advances the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience, by highlighting the history, culture, spirit, and contributions of Chinese Americans to our nation and beyond. Housed in a five-story, 1907 Beaux Arts-style mansion in downtown DC, just five blocks north of the White House, the museum is the first and only destination in the Washington area dedicated to the Chinese American story. General admission to the museum is free. Web site – https://www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org.

Chinese American Museum to Honor Local and National Luminaries and Heroes from Chinese American Community at Inaugural Gold Lantern Awards Gala

Washington, DC - April 27, 2022 – The Chinese American Museum DC (CAMDC) will honor distinguished local and national members of the Chinese American community for their leadership, service, and social impact at the inaugural Gold Lantern Awards Gala at The St. Regis Hotel in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. CAMDC officially opened its doors last year and is the first museum in the nation’s capital dedicated to the Chinese American story.

Corporate and cultural community leaders will come together to celebrate the honorees, along with distinguished members of the greater Asian American community including the Committee of 100, 1882 Foundation, business leaders, ambassadors including His Excellency Ashok and Gouri Mirpuri, Embassy of Singapore, and Maryland state elected officials.

The Gold Lantern Awards will be awarded to the following:

·       The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), a nonprofit based in Gaithersburg, Md. and one of the largest grassroots organizations serving the greater Washington, D.C. area

·       Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Co-founders, Panda Restaurant Group with over 2,200 restaurants and the Panda Cares Foundation and now the Community Care Fund which has donated millions of dollars in response to the pandemic to combat food insecurity

·       Christopher Tin, two-time Grammy Award winning composer and the first for video games, considered a significant milestone for the critical acceptance of music from video games as a legitimate art form

·       Grace Young, 2022 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year and award-winning cookbook author

·       Mei Xu, Founder and CEO of three global companies including Yes She May, a community and marketplace for women entrepreneurs, and Chesapeake Bay Candle

Additional awardees will be announced at the event.

“We want to shine a light on these incredible Chinese Americans who are the epitome of excellence, leadership and service to the community, not just among Asians but society at large,” said David Uy, CAMDC’s Executive Director. “They inspire by their tenacity, courage, creativity, and success. And most importantly, they inspire by their generosity, giving back to causes close to their heart.”

Performances will include opera singer Frank Zhang and the University of Maryland’s Ethnobeat, a unique multilingual, multicultural a cappella group that looks past cultural barriers and embraces diversity of all people.

Proceeds from this event will help to support exhibitions, programs, and    operations at CAMDC events and webinars designed to increase understanding, awareness, and acceptance of Chinese Americans as an integral part of American history.

The gala is sold out. No more general tickets remain for this live event. For more information, go to: www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org.

                                                                        ###

About The Chinese American Museum DC

A nonprofit 501 ©(3) organization, the museum advances the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience, by highlighting the history, culture, spirit, and contributions of Chinese Americans to our nation and beyond.. Housed in a five-story, 1907 Beaux Arts-style mansion in downtown DC, just five blocks north of the White House, the museum is the first and only destination in the Washington area dedicated to the Chinese American story. General admission to the museum is free.

The Quest to Protect California’s Transcontinental Railroad Tunnels

Shoshi Parks

Built by Chinese immigrants in the 1860s, the caverns cutting through Donner Summit helped unite the country. A summer hike led me straight to the yawning maw of the Donner Summit tunnels high above Donner Lake in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Not even the longer of the two, a man-made cavern 1,659 feet in length, appeared on my map. There was no historical marker, no plaque, no interpretive signs—no signage of any sort. I had no way of knowing that I’d accidentally stumbled on one of the most important engineering marvels of the 19th century, the one that … [Read More]

The Donner Summit tunnels and 13 others in the Sierra Nevada built by Chinese railroad workers remain a testament to ingenuity and industry.

CAMDC joins The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the return of A Lunar New Year Celebration January 27–February 6, 2022

FOR RELEASE (Kennedy Center Release)

January 10, 2022

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces the return of A Lunar New Year Celebration January 27–February 6, 2022

Featuring free activities:

REACH Winter Lanterns display
Chinese and Korean evenings at the REACH
Giveaways, food trucks, and photo opportunities with characters
Millennium Stage performances on January 29 and February 3

(WASHINGTON)—From January 27 through February 6, the Kennedy Center’s Lunar New Year

Celebration returns, honoring the traditional holiday that is observed in countries and territories

around the globe. This year’s free festivities in the “Year of the Tiger,” presented in collaboration

with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment Group LCC, include the return of the popular Winter

Lanterns display outdoors on the REACH campus, performances on the Millennium Stage,

and two weekends of special evening programs—REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS, celebrating

Chinese and Korean arts and culture.

“The Winter Lanterns became an exciting and important part of our annual Lunar New Year

Celebration that began in 2016.” stated Alicia Adams, Vice President of International

Programming and curator of the Kennedy Center’s Lunar New Year celebrations. “The outdoor

spaces of the REACH provide our audiences with a wonderful opportunity to experience the

Chinese and Korean cultures. And after a year hiatus, we are thrilled to return to our annual

celebration and hope visitors of all ages will enjoy the unique and luminous lanterns around the

campus.”

With a stunning display of approximately 100 Winter Lanterns, the REACH Winter Lanterns

are made up of 10,000 colored LED lights and crafted by Chinese artisans. Offering a whimsical

experience for visitors, the Winter Lanterns display includes six outdoor installations: the

Butterfly Garden, Flamingo Lagoon, Coral Reef, Panda Grove, Mushroom Forest, and Flower

Path.

REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS, January 27–30 and February 3–6, will add excitement and

interactive outdoor activities to the evenings. The first week, which will highlight Chinese

culture, offers photo opportunities with Tiger and Panda characters; writing and sending letters

to former National Zoo pandas Bao Bao, Tai Shan, and Bei Bei, who are now in China; Lunar New

Year freebies, and more. The second week of the celebration spotlights Korean arts and culture

and includes activities such as a traditional Korean costume display at the River Pavilion; photo

opportunities with Korean mascot characters, along with further Lunar New Year giveaways.

Both weekends will include food truck offerings on the REACH plaza.

Featuring the 2021 Asian American Music Society (AAMS) competition winners along with

George Mason University student performers, the January 29 Millennium Stage performance

will include performances of traditional classical repertoires of West to East highlighting

instrumentalists (Jasmine Flower String Quartet, Woodwind Ensemble, among others), as well

as AAMS’s Chamber Singers. Korean artists take the Millennium Stage on February 3 to share

performances composed of Korean creative music mixed with Korean traditional instruments

and Western instruments. K-Pop dancers will also collaborate on various music selections.

A full schedule of events follows:

REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: China

Supported by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America, the Chinese

American Museum, Washington, D.C.

Thursday, January 27 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Friday, January 28 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Saturday, January 29 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Sunday, January 30 4:00–9:00 p.m.

Monday-Wednesday, Jan. 31 & Feb. 1–2, the grounds are open for lantern viewing but food service may be

limited.

Outdoors at the REACH

FREE, no tickets required

In the first week of REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS, guests will enjoy interactive activities such as

photo opportunities with tiger and panda characters; writing and sending letters at the

Presidential Grove to pandas Bao Bao, Tai Shan, and Bei Bei, who are now in China; choose a new

year’s wish for 2022; REACH video wall projections; and Lunar New Year freebies such as tiger

masks, zodiac stickers, make your own pinwheel kits, and more. In addition, food trucks will be

located on the REACH plaza.

Asian American Music Society: Prelude to Lunar New Year Young Musicians Concert

Saturday, January 29, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

Millennium Stage, Grand Foyer

FREE, no tickets required

The Asian American Music Society (AAMS) presents a showcase entitled Prelude to Lunar New

Year Young Musicians Concert. The performance features the 2021 Asian American Music Society

competition winners along with George Mason University student performers performing

traditional classical repertoires of West to East featuring instrumentalists (Jasmine Flower

String Quartet, Woodwind Ensemble & more), as well as AAMS’s Chamber Singers.

G – Hwaja: Sound of Korean Soul

Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

Millennium Stage, Grand Foyer

FREE, no tickets required

Presented by the Korean Cultural Center, Korean artists take the stage to share performances

composed of Korean creative music mixed with Korean traditional instruments and Western

instruments. Such instruments include a haegeum (traditional Korean string instrument,

resembling a vertical fiddle with two strings); a janggu (an hourglass-shaped drum with two

sound boxes for percussion music); and gayageums (traditional Korean plucked zither with 12/25

strings); among others. Additionally, performances consisting of K-Pop dancers will collaborate

with a selection of the music.

REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS: Korea

Supported by Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.

Thursday, February 3 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Friday, February 4 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 5 5:30–9:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 6 4:00–9:00 p.m.

Outdoors at the REACH

FREE, no tickets required

The second week of REACH Winter Lanterns PLUS brings a traditional Korean costume display

at the River Pavilion; photo opportunities with Korean mascot characters; choosing a new year’s

wish for 2022; REACH video wall projections; and Lunar New Year freebies such as fan and mask

coloring take home kits, tattoo stickers, Dock-Chee traditional game (as seen on Squid Game),

spinning tops, and more. In addition, food trucks will be located on the REACH plaza.

REACH Winter Lanterns

Presented in Collaboration with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment LLC

January 27–February 6, 2022

Outdoors at the REACH

On display nightly

FREE, no tickets required

The REACH glows with the return of approximately 100 stunning Winter Lanterns crafted by

Chinese artisans and made up of 10,000 colored LED lights, including the Panda Grove,

Mushroom Forest, Flower Path, Coral Reef, Flamingo Lagoon, and Butterfly Garden display.

Along with the beautiful lantern displays, visitors can enjoy food trucks and interactive activities

over two weekends (January 27–30 and February 3–6).

Funding Credits

David M. Rubenstein

Cornerstone of the REACH

REACH Winter Lanterns 2022 is presented in collaboration with Kaleido Arts & Entertainment

Group LLC

REACH Winter Lanterns Plus: CHINA is supported by the Embassy of the People's Republic of

China in the United States of America and The Chinese American Museum, Washington, D.C.

REACH Winter Lanterns Plus: Korea is supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea

and Korean Cultural Center, Washington, D.C.

#KennedyCenter

PRESS CONTACTS

Brendan Padgett

bepadgett@kennedy-center.org

Brittany Laeger

balaeger@kennedy-center.org

D.C. Residents Worry as Its Chinatown Risks Vanishing into the Past

https://theclick.news/washington-dc-chinatown-history-cultural-identity/

Retrospective Exhibit - Dora Fugh Lee: A Lifetime of Art at the Chinese American Museum DC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Retrospective Exhibit - Dora Fugh Lee: A Lifetime of Art at the Chinese American Museum DC
September 20, 2021  

WASHINGTON, DC – The Chinese American Museum DC announced a new exhibit opening Saturday, September 25th, Dora Fugh Lee: A Lifetime of Art. The exhibit is the first complete retrospective of the American artist’s expansive work bridging both eastern and western influences and artforms from traditional Chinese brushwork to impressionist oil paintings. The exhibit features more than 50 works of art including ink paintings, watercolors, oils, and sculpture.

Dora Fugh Lee’s name in Chinese is Fu Duoruo. She was born in 1929 in Beijing into the Manchu Fuca clan.  Generations of high military officials, royalty, and artists are among Dora Lee’s family lineage, with bonds to both the East and West. The Fu family’s ancestors include the first empress of the Qianlong Emperor, Empress Xiaoxianchun, Grand Secretary Fu Heng, and Prince Fu Kang’an of the Qing Dynasty. The spelling of their surname Fu was changed to “Fugh” by Dora Lee’s father in the 1920’s. 

At age four, Dora Lee was singled out as a promising artist by her grandfather, Fu Ruiqing. He served as a national Senator in the late Qing dynasty and in the early Nationalist period of China’s history. She was the only grandchild allowed to sit and learn from him as he practiced calligraphy and painting. At age 11, Dora became a student of Yan Shaoxiang, a renowned master of figure painting. She studied Gongbi, a realistic portrait painting style.

Dora Lee attended an all-girls Catholic school in Beijing and studied directly under Zhao Mengzhu, a master of modern Chinese fine brushwork flower-and-bird painting. He was a member of the Hu She Painting Association, known as “the Cradle of Modern Chinese Painting.”

In 1949, the newly married Mrs. Lee and her husband Richard, left China and resided in Tokyo, Japan, for a time where she became a student of Pu Ru, the foremost literati painter and calligrapher of modern China and older cousin of Pu Yi, the last Emperor of China.

A Washingtonian for more than 64 years, Dora Lee settled in Washington, DC, with her husband in 1957. She studied under the artist and sculptor Pietro Lazzari.  In the 1980’s, she taught traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy at the Smithsonian Institution and George Washington University. Dora Lee earned over fifty awards in her career.  Today, her works are in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of Asian Art (formerly the Freer and Sackler Galleries,) the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the China Institute, the Pearl Buck Foundation, the National Cathedral, and the University of Virginia among other notable institutions.

About the Chinese American Museum DC

The Chinese American Museum Foundation is a non-profit, non-political, non-geopolitical 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to advance the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience, by highlighting the history, culture, spirit, and contributions of Chinese Americans to our nation and beyond. The Foundation, with the support of private and institutional funding, is developing the first and only museum dedicated to the Chinese American story in our nation’s capital. To learn more about the Chinese American Museum please visit www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org.

Straits Times' US bureau chief showcases poetry in Washington

(From left) Ms Tanya Ghosh, Mr Nirmal Ghosh and Ms Liuyu Ivy Chen at the Chinese American Museum's Wild Cranes exhibition in Washington DC.PHOTO: COURTESY OF MS TANYA GHOSH

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/straits-times-us-bureau-chief-showcases-poetry-in-washington

Full Frame: Cultural Diplomacy with CAMDC

Museums are not just places for objects and artifacts. They can also be centers of knowledge exchange and social connection. Full Frame’s Mike Walter talks with David Uy, the executive director of the Chinese American Museum, about what he hopes visitors will gain.

David Uy and David Yao discuss the museum with NBC Washington

Community and Supporters Set To Elevate Chinese American Museum with 2021 Virtual Gala Hosted by Joie Chen and Richard Lui

March 25, 2021 online event features notable figures, entertainment, and honors

WASHINGTON, DC – The Chinese American Museum, the new museum about Chinese American history and culture, currently in development in Washington, DC, will hold a virtual gala event on Thursday, March 25th at 6pm-7:15pm EST (3pm-4:15pm PST) featuring veteran journalists Joie Chen and Richard Lui as co-hosts. The event is a critical fundraiser for the museum and its programs and offers a number of catered “experiences” for supporters to enjoy remotely.

The event features luminaries, visionaries, and performers in an all-star virtual program. Honorees include Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, television journalist Connie Chung, astronaut Taylor Wang, advocate and CEO of TIME’S UP Now, Tina Tchen, the inventor of the N95 mask technology, Dr. Peter Tsai, screenwriter Adele Lim (Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon), and Daphne Kwok, VP of Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy at AARP.

Entertainment will be provided by America’s Got Talent winner, magician Shin Lim, a cappella group, Ethnobeat, contemporary and traditional artists, including a classical guzheng player, and opera singer Huanhuan Ma. The event also features a silent auction featuring items ranging from a Chinese ancestor portrait to tropical animal adventures.

With wide support from various communities, Congressional Patrons include U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (CA), Ted Lieu (CA), and Grace Meng (NY). Diplomatic Patrons are His Excellency Ashok Mirpuri Ambassador of the Republic of Singapore, His Excellency Koji Tomita Ambassador of Japan, and His Excellency Dato’ Azmil bin Mohd Zabidi Ambassador of Malaysia.

The event’s primary sponsors are Mei Xu, former CEO of Chesapeake Bay Candle and founder of Yes She May, and Koo and Patricia Yuen through The Yuen Foundation.

The 1882 Foundation, Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, B. Lin Catering, Valley Brook Tea, and Yao Family Wines are Event Partners.

David Uy, Executive Director of the museum said, “We look forward to the day that we can have events in person, but this year’s virtual event promises to be an uplifting and meaningful time for our supporters. It’s been a tough year behind us, but the lift we are getting from the community and our peers is heartwarming and makes moving forward with our mission possible.”

Registrations will be accepted online right up until the event on March 25, 2020 at http://www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org.

The Chinese American Museum Foundation is a non-profit, non-political, non-geopolitical 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to advance the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience, by highlighting the history, culture, spirit, and contributions of Chinese Americans to our nation and beyond. The Foundation, with the support of private and institutional funding, is developing the first museum dedicated to the Chinese American story in our nation’s capital.

To learn more about the Chinese American Museum visit http://www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org.

New US museum’s goal: show how Chinese-Americans are woven into the nation’s fabric

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3104452/new-us-museums-goal-show-how-chinese-americans-are-woven-nations

Chinese American Museum Launches Women in Leadership Speaker Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chinese American Museum Launches Women in Leadership Speaker Series
First Webinar – Tuesday, September 22, 2020

September 20, 2020  

WASHINGTON, DC – The Chinese American Museum, a new museum about Chinese American history, culture, and topics, currently in development in Washington, DC, announced a new program, the Pauline W. Tsui Women in Leadership Speaker Series, beginning Tuesday, September 22, 2020. The series is sponsored by the Ruth H. Kuo and Rhoda How Memorial Foundation.

Currently to be held as a virtual webinar, the first in this series of speaker events is intended to highlight figures and voices of Chinese American women in business, arts, politics and diplomacy, and other disciplines.

Webinar: Pauline W. Tsui Women in Leadership Speaker Series “Pivoting Pathways: Reinventing and Retooling for Successful Careers”
When: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM ET (7:00 AM PT)
Registration: http://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/pivotingpathways
Costs: Free to registrants

The first panel discussion will be moderated by Dottie Li, a journalist formerly with Voice of America. She is the Founder and President of Transpacific Communications. Fun fact: Ms. Li is the Chinese voice of the language program, Rosetta Stone.

The panel includes three prominent Chinese American women who will discuss the unexpected turns in their careers and lives in which they have had to reinvent and retool along their personal and professional journeys.

Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, the first Asian American to be appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1989, started her career in government and the Peace Corps. She transitioned to be a leader in the corporate and nonprofit world and circled back to her roots in China. Ambassador Bloch founded and is President of the US-China Education Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting US-China relations through education and exchange programs.

Syaru Shirley Lin, became the youngest female managing director of Goldman Sachs, before she reinvented herself through a career in academia. Shirley is currently Compton Visiting Professor in World Politics at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

Ting Xu was a computer programmer at the Virginia State Health Department. In launching a second career for her parents, she inadvertently also launched an even bigger career for herself. Ting is Founder and Chairman of Evergreen Enterprises, one of the nation’s largest flag wholesalers, and CEO & Co-Owner of Plow & Hearth.

The event is free to all registrants online by visiting http://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org/pivotingpathways.

Pauline W. Tsui was born in Nanjing, China in 1920, during a time when women were second-class citizens. She believed it was essential that girls in China were properly educated. At the end of World War II, Pauline secured passage on a boat sailing from China to the United States as a birthright citizen due to her American father. She earned her MA in Music Education from Columbia University and planned to established schools in Shanghai before her plans were halted by the Communist Revolution. She moved to Washington, DC where she worked at the U.S. Army Map Service for 30 years. It was during this time Pauline encountered discrimination against Chinese women. She observed in times of government downsizing that it was always women and minorities whose pay was reduced and titles removed. This became a driving force for Pauline. She was promoted to the position of Federal Women's Program Manager at her agency where she advocated for the equal treatment of 700 female employees. She also co-founded a chapter of the organization for Federally Employed Women (FEW) and founded a childcare center for agency employees. Her job taught her that organizing was the key to gaining equality. She joined the Organization of Chinese Americans and served as Vice President, expanding her understanding of organizing in the community. The United Nations declared 1975 as the International Women's Year and Pauline was named to the Advisory Board of the State Department. In 1977, Pauline co-founded the Organization of Chinese American Women (OCAW), an organization dedicated to empowering Chinese women through education and training. OCAW continues to pursue its mission and now has chapters across the United States.

The Chinese American Museum Foundation is a non-profit, non-political, non-geopolitical 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to advance the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience, by highlighting the history, culture, spirit, and contributions of Chinese Americans to our nation and beyond. The Foundation, with the support of private and institutional funding, is building the first Chinese American Museum in our nation’s capital.

To learn more about the Chinese American Museum visit http://www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org

Chinese American Museum Foundation Donating Respiratory Face Masks to Metro DC Community

OCA’s David Yao and CAMDC’s Penny Yao with staff at Hagerstown Hospital in Maryland.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

Chinese American Museum Foundation Donating Respiratory Face Masks to
Metro DC Community

May 4, 2020  

WASHINGTON, DC – The Chinese American Museum Foundation, a non-profit management team of museum, historical, and operational professionals building a new Chinese American museum in downtown DC, announced the donation of approximately 100,000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE) to local facilities, civic organizations, and first responders on the front lines of the pandemic. After discussions with the different at-risk groups, it was determined that the most critical need was respiratory face masks.

The donation is made possible by two museum board members, Philip Qiu and Neil Chen, who used their contacts overseas to expedite the manufacturing and shipment of supplies.

Donated masks will be divided among various recipients in the District, Maryland, and Virginia. Partner organizations including the 1882 Foundation and OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates are helping to distribute the material.

“Around the time we expected to navigate the shipping and customs for our first delivery, the overseas requirements for exporting and certification for PPE suddenly changed,” explained Executive Director, David Uy. “This delayed us for several weeks, but thanks to the work of many, we are happy to announce that we are distributing our first shipment of 10,000 units to those in need. Because of demand and the logistics involved, we will be receiving masks in multiple shipments directly from the manufacturer.”

The museum is currently closed during the health crisis. Visitor hours will be reevaluated when public areas are given clearance to reopen. The Foundation’s team continues to develop the museum and encourages those interested to visit the web site at www.chineseamericanmuseum.org.

The Chinese American Museum Foundation is a non-profit, non-political, non-geopolitical 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to advance the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience, by highlighting the history, culture, spirit, and contributions of Chinese Americans to our nation and beyond.

Ready for another community delivery.

May the 4th Be With You!

Today is National Star Wars Day. Use the force and join us in building the new Chinese American Museum in DC. You're our only hope.  #Maythe4thbewithyou #StarWarsDay #Maythe4th #chineseamerican #camdc

CAMDC Marches in 2020 Chinese New Year Parade

On January 26, 2020, The Chinese American Museum was honored to march in the DC Chinese New Year Parade. This is the second year the Museum joined the parade. This year is the Year of the Mouse. 

Chinese American Women in History Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

Chinese American Women in History Conference - October 24-26, 2019 – Washington, DC
Hosted by the 1882 Foundation and the Chinese American Museum DC

October 15, 2019  

WASHINGTON, DC – The 1882 Foundation and the Chinese American Museum DC will host a present a conference on Chinese American Women in History, exploring a century of experiences framed by the enactment of the 1875 Page Act, that targeted Chinese women for exclusion from the US, and the 1965 Hart-Celler Act, landmark immigration reform that finally enabled migration of Chinese spouses and families.

The conference will be held in Washington, DC, October 24-26, 2019 at three convenient locations in a 2-block radius: the Chinese American Museum, the historic Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives, and University of California Washington Center.

The conference will include scholarly panels, community storytelling, and film screenings that feature the pioneering work of Chinese American women filmmakers. The conference is open to anyone interested in the topic whether as professional scholars or as individuals personal curiosity.

The conference consists of several sessions. A single registration fee of $50 allows admission to all the sessions plus Thursday evening's welcoming reception and a pre-screening light refreshment and meet the film makers gathering before Friday movies. The fee also covers continental breakfast and lunch boxes during the two-day conference. Individuals can pay a separate $10 fee to attend the film screening on Friday evening.

Registration for the conference can be found at https://1882foundation.org. Participation in Saturday's community activities is generally open to the public but requires an RSVP to womensconference@1882foundation.org.

The 1882 Foundation promotes public awareness of Chinese American history and culture with a particular focus on the continuing significance of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943). The organization, formerly the 1882 Project, was originally established as a nonpartisan, grassroots effort spearheaded by major Asian American organizations to educate the American public about the history and consequences of the Chinese Exclusion Laws, their extended impact on persons of Asian descent, and their continuing significance for all Americans.

The Chinese American Museum Foundation is a non-profit, non-political, non-geopolitical 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to advance the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience by highlighting shared cultural exchanges and stories of the spirit, resilience, and contributions of Chinese Americans throughout our past, present, and future. The museum will open its permanent museum in late 2020, but will feature special exhibits and events beginning in October 2019. The museum’s web site is http://www.chineseamericanmuseum.org.

Safe Harbor: Shanghai Jewish Refugees in World War II -- Exhibit, Screening, and Conference in October 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

Safe Harbor: Shanghai Jewish Refugees in World War II
Exhibit, Screening, and Conference in October 2019

September 10, 2019  

WASHINGTON, DC – The Chinese American Museum, a museum currently in development in Washington, DC, announced a special, six-month exhibit and one-day conference focusing on Jewish refugees and “Shanghai-landers” that found safety in Shanghai after fleeing Europe and Russia during World War II.

An interpretive exhibit, “Safe Harbor - Surprising Stories of Shanghai Jewish Refugees in World War II,” will be open for six months, Monday, October 28, 2019 – Friday, May 1, 2020. The installation will highlight the life and challenges of Jews living in the Shanghai ghetto during the brutal Japanese occupation of the city. The exhibit also follows the stories and legacy of immigrants who eventually settled in the United States. The museum is located at 1218 16th St. NW, Washington, DC near Scott Circle.

The museum will screen the documentary film, Above the Drowning Sea, on October 28, 2019, 6:30pm at the University of California Washington Center, next door to the new museum building. Shot in six different countries, the film recounts the courageous intervention of Dr. Feng Shan Ho, the Chinese Consul in Vienna who often defied authorities and the Gestapo to issue exit visas to Jewish refugees. UCDC is located at 1608 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, DC.

On Thursday, October 31, 2019, a one-day conference features lectures and discussions from historical and cultural experts and personal accounts of Jewish refugees and Shanghai-landers. The one-day event is open to the public, but registration is required. The conference will be held at the Capital Hilton, 1001 16th St. NW, Washington, DC.

The exhibit’s developers have been working directly with the Shanghai Jewish Refugee Museum in Shanghai, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Jewish Museum of Maryland, among others. The event draws on a number of subject experts on this period of history as well as those who personally lived it. Executive Director, David Uy, said, “This is an opportunity for visitors to get a sneak peak at our museum space. It is also indicative of the kind of cross-cultural themes that we want to tell across the Chinese American story.”

The Safe Harbor exhibit is part of two conferences and two special exhibits in October hosted by the museum. The museum will also display an exhibit related to a Chinese American Women in History conference held October 24-26th.

Registration is required for the conference and documentary at www.ChineseAmericanMuseum.org/safeharbor. Since the museum is currently under development, the public should visit the museum’s web site, www.chineseamericanmuseum.org, for upcoming visitor hours.

The Chinese American Museum Foundation is a non-profit, non-political, non-geopolitical 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to advance the understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of the Chinese American experience by highlighting shared cultural exchanges and stories of the spirit, resilience, and contributions of Chinese Americans throughout our past, present, and future.

CAMDC Screening Documentary, Above the Drowning Sea, Oct. 28

DOCUMENTARY, ABOVE THE DROWNING SEA
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2019 - 6:30 PM
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA WASHINGTON CENTER, THEATER
1608 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036

Join the Chinese American Museum DC for a presentation of the acclaimed documentary, Above the Drowning Sea. Above the Drowning Sea recounts the courageous intervention of Ho Feng Shan, the Chinese Consul in Vienna who defied his own government and braved the Gestapo to issue visas to the refugees.

View Trailer

Jewish refugees and the Chinese residents of Shanghai who helped them survive in China recount their experiences, terrors and deprivations as well as the remarkable friendships forged across cultures, friendships that survive to this day.

Shot in six countries over four continents, this award-winning film takes you on an inspiring and emotional journey across time and across the world. Truly a story that could have been ripped from today’s headlines, the film vividly celebrates the every-day heroism and humanity of ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

DC Sponsors 2019 Chinese New Year Parade

On February 10, 2019, The Chinese American Museum was honored to march in the DC Chinese New Year Parade. As host of the parade, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) choreographed the biggest and most diverse parade ever with an estimated 30,000 spectators and participants. This year, 4717 in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, is the Year of the Pig.