Monthly Newsletter | February 2021
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We're reopening!
We are thrilled to reopen and excited to welcome the public back on Saturdays and Sundays only beginning on March 6 with slightly shortened hours for both days from 10:30am to 3:30pm. We will closely monitor the pandemic situation and may extend the reopening to some weekdays. We have established protocols to ensure the safely of our visitors, volunteers and staff.
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| From the Executive Director|
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February is the shortest month of the year but a very busy month for the Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC)!
Lunar New Year fell in February this year and hence there was quite a number of celebrations, presentations or other events in the month as indicated below. We were and still are very busy preparing to launch our first mini exhibit of this year in April that will help our visitors experience the fascinating story of Chinese restaurants from the early 20th century, featuring King Joy Lo! King Joy Lo was a luxurious and prestigious Mandarin Restaurant, frequently visited by wealthy residents from 1910 through the 1930s. It gained a reputation as "the Most Beautiful and World-Famous Mandarin Restaurant."
Our second mini exhibit titled "Chinese American Veterans: The American Heroes” will open on Veterans Day November 11. We are currently updating the Chinese American Veterans poster honoring all those who have served the US military, and asking for help from CAMOC community through our social media to provide names that were inadvertently overlooked or missing. We had a number of meetings with some Chinese American veterans who had already provided valuable information, objects and photographs for the exhibit. But we need more! We need your help!
We, of course, were also preparing for our reopening in March. However, due to limited resources and concerns about the pandemic still linger, we decided to reopen our Museum only on weekends, Saturdays and Sundays, with slightly shorter than normal business hours. We hope you will plan to visit us on March 6 or shortly thereafter!
I hope you can join me to pray for Bernie Wong whose breast cancer has spread to her abdomen. Her oncologist and palliative team at the hospital had stopped her medication. She decided on Hospice Care at Home. Bernie is the co-founder and former President of the Chinese American Service League (CASL), a powerful advocate for Chinese immigrants’ communities, my former boss and a very good friend. She is also a supporter and friend of CAMOC.
Ben Lau
Executive Director
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CAMOC Joins UCRA's Virtual Spring Lantern Festival Celebration
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CAMOC participated in the virtual Spring Lantern Festival Celebration organized by US-China Restaurant Alliance on February 26 with over 600 other guests that included government officials, business owners, community leaders and prominent individuals across the country as well as from overseas. CAMOC was presented a COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION AWARD (right) for its support of and participation in "I Love Chinatown" campaign.
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CAMOC Talks about Chinese New Year Lantern Festival with CAMDC & HKETO
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ED Ben Lau shared childhood memories of the Spring Lantern Festival as one of the panelists at an online event hosted by Chinese American Museum DC and Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office on February 26 .
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Thank you for joining CAMOC's
2021 Virtual Chinese New Year Celebration!
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This year's virtual CNY celebration was our most viewed video on YouTube! It was also our very first virtual CNY. We had lion dancing by Master P.C. Leung and his team, traditional Chinese musical instrument performances by Kerry Leung, Chinese folk dancing by the Twin Sisters, Chinese cooking demonstrations by our Associate Board, Chinese calligraphy demonstrations by Ram Moy, Chinese papercut demonstrations by Lucy Liu, and a presentation on Chinese New Year traditions by Soo Lon Moy and Ben Lau. Thank you to all our performers and to everyone who joined us! 新年快樂!
If you missed the celebration or want to rewatch the festivities, click on the button below. The video is available for viewing on our YouTube channel.
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CAMOC's Virtual Chinese New Year Celebration Featured in China Journal and SingTao Daily
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The Museum's CNY celebration was featured in both China Journal and SingTao Daily. (Left: SingTao Daily article, below: excerpt from China Journal article.) To read the full China Journal coverage, click on the button below the images.
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CAMOC Chosen for a Wiki: 5 Outstanding Museums that Inspire & Educate Visitors
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CAMOC was featured as one of Ezvid Wiki’s Outstanding Museums That Inspire & Educate Visitors. Founded in 2011, Ezvid Wiki is the world’s first video wiki, and is now among the top 3,000 websites in the United States. Ezvid Wiki describes the museums included on the list:
“There are so many different kinds of museums in the world, some celebrating the lives of well-known authors and others honoring specific historical movements…this list highlights several cultural institutions that fill visitors with wonder through their dynamic educational exhibits, programming, and more.”
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Illinois Public Media's "The 21st" Show Interviews CAMOC About Chinese New Year
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ED Ben Lau was interviewed on The 21st, a public radio talk show that airs on five NPR stations around the state. The 21st is produced at Illinois Public Media in Urbana on the University of Illinois campus. Host Bob Brian Mackey talked with Ben, as well as the former president of the Chinese American Association, Michelle Lu, and food reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Louisa Chu. They discussed the traditions of Chinese New Year, CNY foods, and how the festivities are different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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CAMOC Presents at Cook Memorial Public Library District
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ED Ben Lau also delivered a virtual presentation about Chinese New Year at the Cook Memorial Public Library District. He introduced the legends and traditions of this important Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of the new year on the lunar calendar. As the only Chinese American Museum in the Midwest, CAMOC was specially invited to participate in this collaborative program with the Cook Memorial Public Library District.
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CAMOC Partners with Jewel-Osco for Chinese New Year Events
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Earlier this month, CAMOC partnered with grocery chain Jewel-Osco to present food preparations of different Chinese New Year foods. CAMOC works with Jewel Osco every year for CNY events - some of you might remember last year's parade in a store! Due to the pandemic, this year's event went virtual twice on two separate days. We had a cooking demonstration from Ying Stoller, President & Founder of Ying's Kitchen, a cocktail-making lesson from Martell Brand Ambassador Christophe Pienkowski, and cultural activities from CAMOC. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
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CAMOC Participates in PRC Group Greeting
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ED Ben Lau participated in the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago's virtual Chinese New Year group greeting on February 5.
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CAMOC Receives Large Donation of KN-95 Masks from CASL
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Right before Lunar New Year, CAMOC connected with the Chinese American Service League (CASL) to secure KN-95 masks for our community. A total of 150,000 KN-95 masks were generously donated to the community this Lunar New Year by Best Food Services, Charles Austin Limited, and Buy Fresh Direct. CASL coordinated the distribution of the masks throughout Chinatown as well as the Greater Chicago area. CAMOC was one of the 67 nonprofits that picked up KN-95 masks at CASL based upon demonstrated need. We're in this together! (Photo courtesy of CASL. From left to right: 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez, Best Food Services CEO Eric Kwok, and CAMOC ED Ben Lau.)
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CAMOC Joins Hands & Hearts to Light Up Chinatown
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ED Ben Lau joined hands and hearts with government officials, business and community leaders to light up Chinatown with hundreds of red lanterns on February 6 to mark the beginning of Chinese New Year celebration ahead of the arrival of the Year of the Ox.
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| A Call For Volunteers! |
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We are looking for dedicated, reliable, and energetic individuals who would like to experience our historic institution from the inside — as volunteers! We need volunteers for docents, greeters and special events. If you are interested in volunteering for us, please use the button below to visit our related page and download a volunteer form.
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Chinatown Museum Foundation Associate Board
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Chinatown Museum Foundation, which governs the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, is forming an Associate Board with the purpose of generating new opportunities for the Museum, especially with programming for high school and college students and young professionals. All skill sets will be considered. If interested in serving on the Associate Board to expand the Museum's public programming and fundraising efforts, please email a letter of interest/cover letter with your resume/curriculum vitae to office@ccamuseum.org.
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Welcome our new Associate Board member: Ada Tong!
Ada (she/her) grew up right here in Chicago's Chinatown! She is a proud UIC alumna and is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Policy at the University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. Ada's favorite childhood memories of Chinatown include playing at the Sun Yat-Sen Park and reading books at the Chicago Public Library Chinatown Branch. Ada is passionate about preserving the rich Asian American and Chinese American history through her studies and daily life. In her free time, she enjoys collecting graphic novels written by Asian American authors and cooking delicious meals to share with friends and family.
What are your favorite parts of the museum?
My favorite parts of the museum are the interactive workshops and film screenings held at the museum. These are new opportunities for our friends and neighbors to experience the Museum in a new way and spark their interest in learning more about Chinese American culture.
What are you most excited about doing as part of the Associate Board?
I am excited to collaborate with fellow Board members in brainstorming and learning how to put on an exhibit at the Museum. Despite the current pandemic, I believe that we will all be able to rise above and see how our ideas can grow and thrive.
CAMOC is thrilled to work with Ada, as well as the rest of the Associate Board, who we will continue to feature here in the coming months - so stay tuned!
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The Committee of 100 Presents:
From Foundations to Frontiers
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Date: March 3, 2021
Time: 6pm CST
Location: Virtual Space
Join us for the presentation, "From Foundations to Frontiers", a landmark study of the enduring contributions of Chinese Americans to American society from the 1800s to today. The evidence-driven study details the contribution across the following seven industries: Arts & Culture, Civil Rights, Public Service and Politics, Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure, Military & National Security, Public Health, and Science & Technology.
This virtual presentation will provoke curiosity and offer a new perspective on Chinese American contributions, while identifying, quantifying and showcasing the contributions of the Chinese American community through data and storytelling.The event will be a 30 minute presentation followed by a facilitated discussion.
By registering for this event, you will be added to the C100 mailing list and have access to our future public programming. If you wish to unsubscribe, you can do so at any time via the email opt-out. Click the button below to register.
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CAMOC Together Against COVID-19 Special Collection
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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.
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About Us
The mission of the Chinese American Museum of Chicago - Raymond B. & Jean T. Lee Center (CAMOC) is is to advance the appreciation of Chinese American culture through exhibitions, education, and research and to preserve the past, present, and future of Chinese Americans primarily in the Midwest.
The museum building, formerly the Quong Yick Co., is located in Chicago's Chinatown, at 238 West 23rd Street in Chicago. The Museum opened to the public on May 21, 2005. After a devastating fire in September of 2008, the Museum was closed for renovation and reopened in 2010.
CAMOC is governed by the Board of Directors of the Chinatown Museum Foundation (CMF), a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation located in Chicago, Illinois.
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