South Bay Members Teach About Chinese New Year

On February 9, we helped 400 mostly Latino students at Ygnacio Valley 

Elementary School in Concord, California, learn about and celebrate Chinese New Year.

Our team included eight volunteers (three are USCPFA members, Kenny Lin, Winny Lin, Waylee Filley)  led by Winny Lin, South Bay Chapter board member. 

The half-day event began with the school principal leading a Chinese dragon

 dance. Then we went to all 15 classrooms K-5,  to teach art, calligraphy,  and tell 

stories, such as The Legend of Chinese Dragon and The Great Race: The Story of the 

Chinese Zodiac.

Students loved it. They took notes, drew Chinese dragons and wrote auspicious

 words like good fortune 福 and spring 春. 

Best of all, every student was given a hong bao 红包 (red envelope) with lucky 

money, and learned to receive it with the Chinese display of respect —— bowing to the

 adult and accepting the envelope with both hands. The school also sent home a note 

that says first in English and then Spanish: 

At Lunar New Year, it’s a tradition for children to get the gift of a bright,

 beautiful red envelope (known as hong bao) with lucky money from their parents and 

relatives. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck, happiness, and 

blessing.

(Spanish) En el Año Nuevo Lunar, es tradición que los niños reciban como 

regalo un hermoso y brillante sobre rojo (conocido como Hong bao 红包）con dinero de 

la suerte de parte de sus padres y familiares. El color rojo del sobre simboliza 

buena suerte, felicidad y bendiciones. 

I think we really made an impact on the children. Thanks to Renee Terry, the 

school office manager, for working with Winny on this huge task. 

The next day Feb. 10th,(Chinese New Year’s Day),  South Bay Chapter had a 

wonderful luncheon to celebrate the Year of the Dragon at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church

 in Cupertino, California. 

About 60 people turned out to enjoy good food, a dragon dance, an impromptu 

Chinese ribbon dance and hong bao envelopes. 

Thanks to Shirley Lin Kinoshita and her husband Kim Kinoshita for their work 

and donations. Thanks also to Velma Chen for the prizes and decorations, board 

members Teresa O'Neill, George Chadwick, Jana McBurney Lin and President John 

Marienthal for all their support.

We also like to thank a new member, Waylee Filley 李蔚, for bringing about 20 

Chinese exchange students and their host families. They helped set up, clean up, with

 the program and made 200 Chinese dumplings on the spot. 

We saw old friends we hadn't seen for years, due to the pandemic, and met new

 friends. It was an impressive way to start the New Year with lots of energy.

Are Chinese and Americans the Key to Life on Planet Earth ? Wei -Tai Kwok Climate Reality Project March 18th Saturday 4 p.m. Potluck and Program St Jude Episcopal Church 20920 McClellan Rd Cupertino In 2019 Wei Tai spoke to us about the climate crisis and how the US And China were responding to the challenge. Now, four years later, where does society stand ? In what ways have we moved forward ? Where are there still challenges ? What can you do to help? Wei Tai will provide us with the latest updates on the science ,impacts and solutions to climate change . Since our last meeting he retrofitted his home to replace all the fossil fuel appliances with advanced electronic versions . He will share his experiences upgrading to a zero emission home . He will also help us unpack how you can be part of the solution by accessing new incentives from the inflation reduction act of 2022 . The act, which at $ 369 billion in decarbonization funding, is the largest climate change solution legislation in history of America. Come learn why he thinks the actions taken by the American people and the actions of Chinese people, are the "Key to Life on Planet Earth." in his day job way he serves on Lafayette City Council and also works in the solar and renewable energy industry. Currently he is an advisor to Thule energy storage{ thermal energy storage )and Sunman Energy ( ultra lightweight flexible solar panels). He holds a BA in economics and political science from Yale University. Come join us for the potluck and talk

California Town Apologizes for Past Discrimination Against Chinese-Americans

By Winny Lin

Many of you probably have visited a quaint little town by Highway 1 with some of the world’s most dramatic ocean views —Monterey, California. Nobel prize author John Steinbeck also fueled its popularity and fame with his book “Cannery Row." But you probably didn't know that it's not just a place abundant with marine wildlife and fresh seafood. There is Chinese-American history there.

Ten years ago, my husband Kenny and I flew to California from Kentucky to visit our children during Christmas break. My daughter suggested we tour the infamous Cannery Row in Monterey Bay. As I was trying to take in all the beautiful water, the tourists’ hot spots, and souvenir shops, I was distracted by some signage at the end of Cannery Row. It mentioned that Chinese fishermen used to live here. I even vaguely remember seeing some little houses that were marked as their residences. It wasn't until years later when I moved to California that I learned more.

In 2014, Kenny and I moved to the Bay Area in California to be closer to our children and grandkids. Somehow we connected with the South Bay Chapter of US-China Peoples’ Friendship Association and met Gerry Low-Sabado at one of the meetings. As a 5th generation descendant of the Chinese fishermen, she was passionate and active in bringing community awareness of the contributions of the Chinese fishermen in Pacific Grove and Monterey Bay. She was interviewed by local tv stations and made special presentations for the Monterey Aquarium. I have always loved the history of Chinese-Americans so I was excited to become friends with Gerry and learn more about these fishermen. Unfortunately Gerry died of a brain tumor in September 2021, but her legacy has continued.

On May 14, 2022, nine of us joined hundreds of others to attend the annual "Walk of Remembrance” that Gerry started 11 years ago. Gerry’s husband, Randy Sabado, has carried on her mission, and this year's walk attracted more attention. Many local and California State officials came to the event, including California State Controller Betty T. Yee and former Oakland Mayor Lai Jean Quan. Why?       

A few days before this ceremony, the Pacific Grove City Council unanimously approved an “Apology Resolution to the Chinese Village Community and Descendants for systemic discrimination, acts of fundamental injustice, violence and cruelty.” It acknowledged the following:

The first men and women settlers from China arrived by ship before California’s statehood and were met with prejudice and discrimination. The Point Alones fishing village became the largest Chinese fishing settlement in California by 1906. On the evening of May 16, 1906, a fire of suspicious origin swept through the village, destroying most of the more than 100 buildings. In the late19th century, the town passed an ordinance that banned Chinese from fishing during the day, forcing them to do their work under dangerous nighttime conditions. Ethnic Chinese and other minorities were also banned from owning property.

So at this year’s “Walk of Remembrance” on behalf of the Pacific Grove City, Council Member Chaps Poduri gave an official apology to the Chinese descendants. As he finished his speech, I happened to be sitting right behind the podium. I softly said, “Everybody, say ‘thank you.’” I was shocked when I heard the crowd exclaim, “Thank you!”

It was such an uplifting and encouraging event to see whites, blacks, women, men and children holding large photos of Chinese fishermen. And seeing messages and signage on the walk that communicated “change with kindness, remember and move forward, and diversity, equity and inclusion.” I realized that the tide has definitely started to change to be more pro-Chinese instead of anti-Asian.

In addition to the words and message of “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” I added my own, “unity” which I think is the ultimate goal of this movement. The night before the walk, I stayed up late to make four banners and added Chinese characters: diversity 差异, equity 公平, inclusion  包容 and unity 团结. Shirley Lin Kinoshita, a board member of the USCPFA South Bay Chapter, who is an artist, made two signs with a peony, China’s national flower, on each. Because of the signs, we attracted a lot of attention and had our photos taken by many people, including the official event photographer.The nine members of our group were John Marienthal, president of the USCPFA South Bay chapter; Shirley Lin Kinoshita, a chapter board member, her husband Kim Kinoshita, me (Winny Lin), my husband, Kenny Lin, two of our friends, Aileen Nicholas and Aubrey Szanto, from East Bay, and Eva Atkinson and her daughter Anna from Owensboro, Kentucky.

We were very happy that we made it to the walk and used our voices to speak out against injustice. Gerry spent the latter part of her life tirelessly working to bring awareness of the Chinese fishermen’s contribution to the community. Chinese developed fishing techniques and helped conduct research that enhanced the economic development of the region. She once said, “We will not let others sweep our history under the rug.” It was a momentous occasion seeing her hard work pay off and witnessing the historic statement by the City of Pacific Grove to the Chinese community at this year’s walk. 

In addition, on July 1, 2022, a California State bill requires removal of “racial covenants” from property records. These “restrictive covenants” have not been enforceable in decades but are still written into the deeds of thousands of properties across the state. The covenants in titles and deeds once included language like “no person of any race other than the Caucasian or white race may use or occupy the property.” I am glad we continue to see change and progress.

CHINESE MOON FESTIVAL 11 SEP 2022

COME JOIN US, OUR FIRST LIVE EVENT The Moon Festival, aka Mooncake and Mid-Autumn Festival, is a tradition festival celebrated in China with similar holidays in other countries in Eastern and Southeastern Asia. The festival is a time to give thanks for the fall harvest and wish for longevity and good fortune. Please bring a dish (serve 4-6) to share. USCPFA program opens with welcome & announcements. Our own Winny Lin will share the lively stories, legends and customs of this festival.This is our first in-person event since March 2020. We will have mooncake tasting, games, poetry, and art. Date/Time: Sunday, September 11, 2022 5:00-6:00 pm Potluck Dinner/Announcements 6:00-6:30 pm Program with Winny Lin Place: 2822 Sycamore Way, Santa Clara CA Hostess: Teresa O’Neill RSVP: Shirley Lin Kinoshita, 408 255-3048 (c) silks442@gmail.com

Chinese-American Cultural Exchange During the Coronavirus Pandemic

CHINESE-AMERICAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

By Winny Lin

The coronavirus pandemic not only has caused paramount economic problems for the world and caused astronomic numbers of death, it also has stirred an anti-Chinese movement in the United States. Science has been tossed aside and a few Americans are eager to blame Chinese for the crisis, since Wuhan, China was the first city shut down by coronavirus. 

In California, our governor Gavin Newsom issued his statewide “Shelter-in-Place” order  on March 19, and announced,”We have to meet this moment!”

However, the crisis brought opportunities just like the Chinese characters 危机. The first character means CRISIS  and the second one means OPPORTUNITIES. Our South Bay chapter members have created opportunities to “meet this moment”!

Somehow I reconnected with an old friend, Mr. Junsheng-jason Wen, who was recently promoted as the principal of #9 Senior High School in Anshan, Liaoning, China. Mr. Wen is a young and innovative educator whom I have known since 2007. He invited me to speak to his students who are mainly from either rural area or urban broken homes to broken their horizons. We tried Trecent, Skype, and finally decided on the platform of WeChat, the Chinese Facebook. Nine people could be on at one time meeting ‘face to face”. Our first meeting was to discuss what the students would like and they decided on “how to improve their conversational English and increase their vocabulary. I then invited some native speakers to join us.  Our first guests were two American high school students from Walnut Creek, CA, Kellie Hintzoglou and Abby Young, to compare and contrast the Chinese and American high schools. A perfect topic!

As it turned out three of the students at our first meeting were musicians. Jimmy Li plays guitar, Iris Li Chinese flute, and Nicholas Li piano. Who knew I happened to see Yo-yo Ma interviewed on PBS News Hour on TV. After he performed Dvorak’s “Going Home”, he encouraged musicians worldwide on all skill levels to join him in providing comfort amid the global crisis.  I quickly sensed this was one of those “opportunities” open to our Chinese young musicians. 

These three were so willing and in no time they sent me their musical videos: 

Jimmy did his own original rap in Chinese and English, “We should wear masks and we should stay home…. We learn some skills, joking, dancing, studying and we will be ok!”

Iris played her Chinese flute and recited a poem in English about the coronavirus, “It is a war  agains virus with doubts, fears, rumors ad discrimination.  All of us are fighters in this war…..”

and Nicholas played his original piano piece. I was very impressed! Then I submitted them to PBS Facebook page CANVAS and they subsequently published all three videos. Both Principal Wen and I were extremely proud that his 3 students out of 900 from his rural school in Anshan, China got a shining moment on American Facebook. 

Some of our South Bay Chapter members joined us on the WeChat sessions. First Chet Gnegy spoke with the musicians about his work and interest, even when he was in Vietnam (Thanks to the modern technology!) Another time Yanshuo Zhang talked to the students about her life journey from when she first visited the States as a 16-yr-old high school student to attend an American university, and now is an instructor at Stanford University.  

Later I invited John Marienthal, chair of our South Bay Chapter.  John has visited all the 26 provinces of China and taught English in Xinjiang and Shanghai respectively for years.  He has the experience and passion and now he is the main American facilitator of two Sunday English sessions to help Chinese high school students improve their English and American culture. 

Typical topics of discussion were “Festivals and sports in China and America”, “50th Anniversary of Earth Day and Volunteering to Help others”, “What activities do you do during and after school?” And “What are the top attractions of your city Anshan?”

The topics were chosen in sync with their school English curriculum and to help the students understand the world outside of Anshan, China. Mr. Wen is striving to help them develop a global view and at the same time to get them excited about life. After a month, I believe we are making good progress towards these goals. The South Bay chapter is doing its part to continue our interactions with China and the people even during these trying times as the coronavirus  pandemic hits us all hard. 

Anshan, Liaoning is located in northern China, about 92 kilometers south of the capital Shenyang where the USA has a consulate. It is the 3rd most populous city with 3.5 million people and famous for its Anshan Steel Company and its soft jade mining.

Note: I made this screenshot on March 28, 2020. Mr. Jason Wen, the principal of #9th Senior High School. in the bottom row next to me. John Marienthal is far left in the middle row.
Thank you, John,  for your continuous work every week. 

Chinese New Year Celebration 2-8-2020

Please invite your family and friends to join us for the annual celebration!

October 26 event--Is U.S. Waging a Lose-Lose Trade War with China?