Monthly Newsletter | October 2021
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Starting Sunday, November 7, 2021, the Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC) will be open Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30am to 2pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm (previously 5pm). We will be closing earlier on the weekends for the rest of fall and winter, as Daylight Savings ends. Please come visit us during these new open hours!
Wednesday & Friday: 9:30am to 2pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 4pm (starting Nov. 7)
Group visits by appointment only.
Masks are still required for all individuals entering the building regardless of each individual’s vaccination status. We also continue to encourage physical distancing in all our spaces. We will closely monitor the pandemic situation and may extend the reopening to more weekdays in the coming months. 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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This October was packed with events and definitely a time to be aware of things other than Halloween!
Chinese-American World War II Veterans received a Congressional Gold Medal during a virtual ceremony on December 9, 2020. Several Chinese-American Veterans spoke during the event and accepted the medal virtually. Ten months later on October 23, 2021. About 150 Chinese-American World War II Veterans and/or their families attended the Chinese American WWII Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony organized by CACA (Chinese American Citizens Alliance Chicago Lodge’)s Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project.
To continue honoring the military service of Chinese American WWII veterans, we are going to launch a new expanded exhibit, Chinese American Veterans: Unsung Heroes, on November 6.
There are other important events in November that you don’t want to miss. We will be hosting a virtual discussion of a film called HOLLYWOOD CHINESE and a book with the same title on November 3. So far we have over 400 registrants for this event which will not be re-streamed again. We also a virtual event “Straight to the Heart! Storytelling Workshop/Circle with Ada Cheng” on October 23.
Our virtual Annual Fundraiser on November 17 will be an exciting night of storytelling and performances with our first-ever online auction! Please tune in and support us. Any donation no matter how small will have a significant impact on our mission and will be used to create quality public programming and new exhibits!
Ben Lau
Executive Director
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| New Exhibition Opening This Week |
Chinese American Veterans: Unsung Heroes
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The Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC) is opening its newly expanded Veterans exhibit, Chinese American Veterans: Unsung Heroes. Chinese Americans have a long history in honorably defending America having served in every major war and conflict since the Civil War. The more-than-double-the-space, permanent exhibit will open Saturday, November 6, at 11am CDT, well-timed with the Veterans Day holiday observed annually, on November 11.
A highlight of the exhibit will be the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor awarded to Army PFC Lew Y. June of Morris, IL. The Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal of Honor was made possible through the efforts of Chinese American Citizens Alliance.
Another highlight of the exhibit will be an updated Honor Roll of Illinois Chinese American Military Service Men and Women. The history of the Chicago Chinatown American Legion Post 1003 whose effect on veterans’ post-war civilian lives, and community-building youth programs such as the Wah Mei Drum and Bugle Corps and the Boy Scouts, will also be featured.
Among the veteran portraits, original uniforms and documents, additional medals from other wars, and other museum artifacts will be on display.
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Pictured here: Congressional Gold Medal of Honor
First picture, at the top: George T. N. Moy receiving the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor from Major General Robert G. F. Lee, with Congressman Danny Davis on the left.
Download the full press releases by clicking the buttons below.
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Lt. Governor of Illinois Juliana Stratton Visits CAMOC
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Top photo, left to right:
Back row: Yaumu Huang (Board Director), Andrea Stamm (Board Director), Riley Ren (Curator), CW Chan (Advisor), John Rohsenow (Board Director)
Front row: Ben Lau (ED), Theresa Mah (IL State Rep.), Juliana Stratton (IL Lt. Governor), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th Ward Alderman), Soo Lon Moy (Immediate Past President)
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CAMOC was thrilled to welcome Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton for a guided tour of the Museum. CAMOC's Immediate Past President Soo Lon Moy and Curator of Collections Riley Ren discussed the struggles and successes of Chinese immigrants to the Midwest and responses to anti-Chinese racism throughout history. Illinois State Representative Theresa Mah and 25th Ward Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez joined the tour, as well members of CAMOC's Board of Directors and Advisory Board.
With the passing of the TEAACH (Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History) Act, thanks to the work of our legislative representatives, CAMOC is excited to share the history of our community with an even broader range of young people.
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During her visit, Lt. Governor Stratton remarked: "I'm a restorative justice practitioner and we believe that the wisdom is in the room. That you don't go outside to other communities to tell your story, that you tell the story from people in your community...This is the only place in the Midwest where you can come learn Chinese American history in this way - and that in and of itself, is history."
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The Lt. Governor's visit was covered by Chinese-language news outlets SinoVision and World Journal. Click on the buttons below to watch and read their coverage.
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Group Tours All Month Long!
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This month, we welcomed student groups from Aurora University, Lake Forest Chinese Club, DePaul University, Oak Park and River Forest High School, the University of Michigan, and Muscatine High School, all the way from Iowa! Our wonderful docent John Rohsenow led tours, giving more context to our current exhibitions, including Attic Treasures II, Era of Opulence: Chinese Fine Dining, and of course, our permanent exhibitions about Chinese immigration history in the Midwest and our oral history video. We are grateful to be able to share this important history with such bright students!
Top photo: Professor Gerald Butter's class of teachers-in-training from Aurora University
On the right: John and Ed Ben Lau with Professor Anne Saw from DePaul University
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Photo below: Professor Anne Saw's class from DePaul University
2nd row, left photo: ED Ben Lau speaking to Professor Nancy Brown's class focusing on museum studies, from DePaul University
2nd row, right photo: John speaking to Ann Lui's class of graduate architecture students from the University of Michigan
Bottom photo: Seniors from Friendship Force of Chicago
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CAMOC Joins 110th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Celebration
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CAMOC President Ed Jung, ED Ben Lau, Immediate Past President Soo Lon Moy, Past President Kim K. Tee, Swee Cheng (Board Director), and volunteer Ram Moy attended the 110th National Day of the Republic of of China (Taiwan) celebration hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago earlier this month. Also pictured above: 25th Ward Alderman Byron-Sigcho Lopez and his wife, Loreen Targos, and Director General Johnson Chiang
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CAMOC joins historic Chinese American WWII Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony
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CAMOC Head of Collections Andrea Stamm, Immediate Past President Soo Lon Moy, Ram Moy, President Ed Jung, and ED Ben Lau were in attendance at the Chinese American WWII Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony for the Midwest. This historic event recognized the sacrifice of Chinese WWII veterans and their families by awarding them Congressional gold medals for their service. The Chinese-American World War II Veteran Congressional Gold Medal Act was signed into law by President Trump on December 20, 2018. The ceremony was hosted by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Chicago Lodge.
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A Successful Open House Chicago Weekend!
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The weekend of October 16-17, CAMOC participated in Open House Chicago with the Chicago Architecture Center, opening our doors to architecture lovers across and beyond Chicago! The free annual architecture festival highlighted architecturally, culturally, and historically significant sites across the "city of neighborhoods". We welcomed over 450 first-time visitors over the course of the weekend! It was a successful, busy weekend all across Chinatown.
Our welcoming crew pictured above: Caroline Lee Liu and Dongmei Cai
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In-Person Screening of "WUHAN WUHAN"
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We hosted our first in-person event at the Museum since reopening! We welcomed guests on our spacious fourth floor to watch WUHAN WUHAN (2021, dir. Yung Chang), a documentary shot during February and March 2020 at the height of the pandemic in Wuhan city, where the coronavirus began. With unprecedented access at the peak of the pandemic lockdown, WUHAN WUHAN goes beyond the statistics and salacious headlines and puts a human experience into the early days of the mysterious virus as Chinese citizens and frontline healthcare workers grappled with an invisible, deadly killer.
The free screening was co-hosted by Asian Pop-Up Cinema and sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago. Thank you everyone who could join us!
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Left photo: ED Ben Lau, President Ed Jung, APUC Director Sophia Wong-Boccio, and Rich Frachey (Board Director)
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Thank you Duan Li!
This month, we would like to recognize Duan Li, a longtime supporter of CAMOC and Member of CAMOC's Advisory Council. As one of our contractors, Duan (also known as Xiao Di) aids the Museum with transportation and for exhibitions and other operations. We greatly appreciate the work he does for us.
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"Hollywood Chinese" Documentary
Screening and Webinar Discussion
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Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Time: 6 - 7pm CT (4 - 5pm PT) (7 - 8pm ET)
Location: Virtual
"Hollywood Chinese" is a captivating revelation on a little-known chapter of cinema: the Chinese in American feature films. From the first Chinese American film produced in 1917, to Ang Lee’s triumphant Brokeback Mountain nine decades later, Hollywood Chinese brings together a fascinating portrait of actors, directors, writers, and iconic images to show how the Chinese have been imagined in movies, and how filmmakers have and continue to navigate an industry that was often ignorant about race, but at times paradoxically receptive.
"Hollywood Chinese" is produced, directed, written and edited by Academy Award® nominee and triple Sundance award-winning filmmaker, Arthur Dong (Licensed to Kill, Coming Out Under Fire, Forbidden City, U.S.A.), and presents eleven of the industry’s most accomplished Chinese and Chinese American film artists who share personal accounts of working in film. Ang Lee, Wayne Wang, Joan Chen, David Henry Hwang, Justin Lin, B.D. Wong, Nancy Kwan, Tsai Chin, Lisa Lu, James Hong, and Amy Tan are among the storytellers who have wrestled with being the “other” in Hollywood.
Following this film, Arthur will be joining a virtual discussion of the film as well as his book with images and video clips. The book with the same name of his documentary film explores the Chinese American impact on the Hollywood film industry from the early days of film to today’s box office hits. The event is hosted by the Chinese American Museum of Chicago in partnership with the Chinese American Museum DC, San Diego Chinese Historical Museum, the Chinese Cultural Center at San Diego State University, and OCA Greater Chicago.
The event will have a Q&A session and a chance to chat directly with Arthur Dong! Attendees will receive a discount code to purchase the book. Attendees will also have the opportunity to request a personal inscription and autograph by the author for each book purchased.
To learn more about Arthur Dong click here.
Register for this FREE virtual event below. All registrants will receive a Vimeo link to screen the feature film at a discount rate of only $1 prior to, NOT during, the virtual discussion.
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NOTE: We don’t plan on re-streaming a recording of this event, so please register to attend Arthur Dong’s presentation live and “in-person.”
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Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Time: 7 - 8pm CT
Location: YouTube Live
The Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC) Annual Fundraiser is an exciting night of performances and storytelling. This year, we are adding another way that you can support us - an online auction! Auction items include two Getaway packages which consist of a one-night stay at the new Springhill Suites in Chinatown, CAMOC one-year membership, gift certificates and more, a painting by artist Rich Lo, and another package which consists of a solid wood cutting board handmade by our Board member Rich Frachey, a meal certificate, and more. Additional details will be coming.
CAMOC's mission 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. With the recent passage of the TEAACH (Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History) Act, CAMOC is more excited than ever to share the history of our community with an even larger audience. We are only able to do this crucial work because of donations from supporters like you. Please consider supporting the Museum by tuning in!
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Straight to the Heart!: Storytelling Workshop/Circle with Ada Cheng
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Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
Time: 1 - 4pm CT
Location: Virtual
Do you want to tell stories to connect with people emotionally and to create intimate communities with others? There are two parts to this workshop/circle. During the first half of the session, we will discuss central tenets of this art form and learn how to craft and tell stories. Participants will share personal stories during the second half of the session.
Register by clicking the button below.
Instructor bio:
Ada Cheng is a professor-turned-storyteller, solo performer, and storytelling show producer. She is the producer and the host of five storytelling shows, including Pour One Out, Am I Man Enough?, Talk Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show, Speaking Truths Series, and This Is America: Truths through My Body. She creates platforms for people to tell difficult and vulnerable stories as well as spaces for people and communities who may not have opportunities otherwise.
Ada is an adjunct faculty at Dominican University and a speaker for Illinois Humanities Speakers Bureau. Her interests span multiple fields, including academia, storytelling/performance art, and advocacy. Her motto: Make your life the best story you tell.
For more information visit her website here.
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Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Time: 7 - 8:30pm CT
Location: Virtual
Tickets: $5
Talk Stories returns this December! Join us in celebrating another wonderful year of storytelling and community building through Talk Stories. The series was created with the idea that everyone has stories to tell, and that everyone should have the opportunity to share. This event, with a lineup from around the globe, is particularly urgent as we face multiple national and global crises, including the exacerbation of anti-Asian racism under the global pandemic. You don't want to miss this show!
Tickets are $5. Proceeds go to performers, production costs, and co-sponsoring organizations.
Our storytellers include the following:
Pooja Chawla
Saray Cubacub
Danielle De Vera
Arvin A. Jalandoon
Minky Kim
Laura Kina
Jessica Nguyen
Mimi Yang
Talk Stories is co-sponsored by the following organizations:
AFIRE Chicago
Asian Health Coalition
Chinese American Museum of Chicago
Chinese American Service League
Japanese American Service Committee
KAN-WIN
National Cambodian Heritage Museum
OCA Chicago
Talk Stories is produced and hosted by Ada Cheng.
About the producer and host:
Ada Cheng is a professor-turned storyteller, solo performer, and storytelling producer. She has been featured in storytelling shows and done her two solo performances all over the country. She is the producer and the host of five storytelling shows, including Pour One Out: A Monthly Storytelling Series, Am I Man Enough?, Talk Stories: An Asian American/Asian Diaspora Storytelling Show, Speaking Truths Series, and This Is America: Truths through My Body.
Her motto: Make your life the best story you tell.
Check out her website here.
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| Become a Member Today! |
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Becoming a member is a simple and effective way to get involved with the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago. Your membership represents a personal investment in the Museum and ensures the continuation of the wide array of quality exhibitions, programs, and events we bring to the community. In addition, you are affirming the importance of the Museum’s commitment to bring the Chinese-American experience in the Midwest to as many people as possible.
$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)
For Members who support us beyond the basic level, we offer extra recognition and the following benefits:
$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)
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TOP:
Large Brick
7.5" X 7.5"
LEFT:
Donor Wall in Front Lobby
BOTTOM:
Small Brick
3.5" X 7.5"
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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.
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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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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.
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| Special Collection |
CAMOC Together Against COVID-19
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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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| Support us through AmazonSmile |
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You can help us continue our work and mission by selecting "CHINATOWN MUSEUM FOUNDATION" from the Charitable Organization List when you make a purchase on Amazon. There is no cost to you but it will make a difference to us.
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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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