EXHIBITIONS______VISIT______COLLECTIONS______SUPPORT rrrrrrrr CONTACT

Today is the last day of 2021. Before the year ends, it’s not too late to support us by making a last-minute donation here.

December is a month full of joy and greetings: First, we have the winter solstice (冬至 or Dōngzhì) which marks the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of the most important Chinese festivals and, to many Chinese people, is considered “even more important than the Lunar New Year (冬至大過年).” It is a time for the family to get together and eat tangyuan (湯圓or balls of glutinous rice) as a symbol of reunion; Then, we have the Christmas during which many people send greetings and give presents to family members and friends.

For this past month, however, we also saw sorrow, anger, and frustration. The Chinese community lost a well-respected retiree due to gun violence; The worsen public safety situation in Chinatown prompted a large demonstration; The tightened COVID restrictions made small businesses in the community worry about the prospect of a speedy recovery.

Although most of us might not think 2021 was great, more hold out hope that 2022 will be better. The redistricting would have a historical opportunity to create an Asian American majority City ward. More initiatives will be launched to improve the safety in the community. For CAMOC, we have a new brochure, and plan to offer a number of exciting events, in person or virtually, and a new temporary exhibition for the new year!

Please stay tuned, stay connected, be safe and healthy!

Happy New Year!

Ben Lau

Executive Director

CAMOC was excited to present a free double feature screening of Race: The Al Young Story and No Ordinary Joe: The Allen Joe Story. The documentaries spotlight the incredible personal journeys of two courageous Chinese Americans. Race: The Al Young Story (2017) features Al Young, who overcame a learning disability and Asian American stereotypes, to become the first Asian American world champion drag racer. No Ordinary Joe: The Allen Joe Story (2018) features Allen Joe, the first Chinese American bodybuilding champion, as well as mentor and friend to martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

Following the screening, there was an intimate panel discussion with filmmaker Rick Quan, drag racer and subject of the first documentary Al Young, and Bruce Lee collector Jeff Chinn, whose collection will be featured in an upcoming exhibition at the Chinese Historical Society of America. The discussion was moderated by Larry Lee, Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Thank you to everyone who joined us and stay tuned for more events in the new year!

Pictured above, top row (left to right): Rick Quan and Executive Director Ben Lau

Middle row (left to right): Jeff Chinn and Al Young

Bottom row (left to right): Board Vice President & Public Programming Chair Mabel Menard and Larry Lee

CAMOC Executive Director Ben Lau presented the Picnic Package to auction winner, longtime supporter and volunteer of the Museum, Judy SooHoo.

The Picnic Package included one solid wood cutting board made by Board Member Rich Frachey, one picnic kit backpack, a bottle of Moscato, a Chicago Cubs baseball autographed by #12 Kyle Schwarber, and a bottle of Burberry Weekend Cologne. Thank you Judy and everyone who bid in our Annual Fundraiser Online Auction!

The Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) made their yearly visit to the Museum earlier this month. TECO Consular Officer Jay Lin met with CAMOC President Ed Jung and Ben Lau for a private tour of our exhibitions.

TECO has been a longtime supporter of the Museum and we are grateful for the opportunity to connect with our fellow cultural institutions!

WTHR-TV Spotlights "Great Wall to Great Lakes"

WTHR-TV in Indianapolis visited CAMOC to spotlight the Museum's permanent exhibition Great Wall to Great Lakes, which tells the story of Chinese immigration to the Midwest region.

Photo on the left: Musician Kerry Leung played traditional Chinese music on camera.

WTHR-TV will be using the stories of different Chinatowns for their coverage of the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022. These stories will be aired in Indianapolis and then shared with other NBC and Tegna affiliates across the country. The potential audience is huge! So, please lookout for this special segment next year!

Earlier this month, high school students from the Chicago Public Schools Civil Rights Program toured the Museum. Docent Professor John Rohsenow led the tour, highlighting our exhibitions related to the Chinese Exclusion Act and Chinese immigration to the Midwest region.

$150 = Free event admission for member & 3 guests for 1 year

$100 = Free event admission for member & 1 guest for 1 year

$60 = Free event admission for member only for 1 year

$30 = Free event admission for seniors & students for 1 year

$500 = Corporate Membership for 1 year (with 10 individual memberships, recognition in program & on plaque)

$250 = Bronze (Honorary Membership)

$500 = Silver (Honorary Membership)

$1,000 = Gold (Lifetime Membership or a small donor brick)

$1,500 = Platinum (Lifetime Membership and a small donor brick)

$5,000 = Diamond (Large donor brick)

$5,500 = Jade (Large donor brick plus Lifetime Membership)

You can read the full list of benefits on our website by clicking the button below. There are also instructions on how to join at the bottom of the page, along with the Membership Form.

Do you have any thoughts on a possible program, a collection to donate, or a fundraising idea for our Museum? Please let us know! We value and welcome your input on how we can continue to provide great programming and resources for our community. If you would like to share an idea, please contact us at office@ccamuseum.org.

An old Chinese saying, 時勢造英雄 (Shíshì zào yīngxióng ), which means a hero is made in the time of misfortune aptly describes how people rally together in the pandemic. During this challenging time we are deeply moved by the proactive steps and incredible acts of generosity and support exhibited by the Chinese Americans. Thousands of individuals and organizations have been raising money, donating personal protective equipment, and providing free meals to those in need, especially to front-line healthcare workers and others. CAMOC is inviting you to help us preserve these heroic moments by sharing the stories to our Together Against Covid-19 Special Collection.

CAMOC started this special collection with the goal of recording the experiences and stories of individuals, families, and organizations during these unprecedented times. The Together Against Covid-19 Collection will include various forms of content, which can be photos, videos, articles, audios, letters, paintings, certificates, or any form you can think of. If you are not sure whether your content fits our collection or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please send your story to covid19@ccamuseum.org , with the subject Together Against Covid-19 Collection. And please include your contact information , including full name, organization or community if applicable, email, phone number, and mailing address.