Chinese American Citizens Alliance

 July 5, 2010, San Francisco, CA—The Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.) Grand Lodge announced the 2010 winners of its annual National Essay Contest held across the country. As judged by an independent panel of educators, Gerry Zhang of the Los Angeles Lodge was awarded the first place prize of $1,000, followed by Evaline Cheng of the Peninsula Lodge, second place winner of $750 and Mandy Zhang of Portland Lodge, third place winner of $500.

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Thirteen Lodges across the country hosted the 153 high school students in this challenging and competitive contest. Other merit award winners of $100 each were (listed alphabetically):

Minbo Bai, Salinas; Joleen Chen, Orange County; Peter Feng, Houston; Christopher Fu, Washington DC; Esther Huang, Oakland; Karen Leung, Los Angeles; Kevin Liou, Albuquerque; Brian Qiu, San Francisco; Jason Yang, Gr. San Gabriel Valley; Bobby Zhen, San Antonio

The 2010 trip of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance to Washington DC divided neatly into three major topics covered in three separate days of Capitol Hill visits. Trip objective as always was to educate top officials and lawmakers on current issues important to Chinese Americans. Immigration policy continues to be the top priority although the Alliance’s stance is really a vigorous “rear-guard”action to assure that legal immigration will not be annihilated for the sake of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). Timing on Senate action necessitated an Alliance voice there on stalled Federal high-level judgeship nominations pending for Goodwin Liu and Edward Chen. In Asian Pacific Islander solidarity, the Alliance supported the Senate passage of the Native Hawaiian recognition bill, known as the Akaka bill. The third major effort was initiating a Congressional project toward a national Apology to Chinese Americans and other groups for Chinese Exclusion Acts, an offensive national measure that acted as a “cover” for six decades of nationwide and local discrimination and acts of harassment against people of Chinese ancestry. In a fourth topic, a smaller section of the team pursued issues of cultural and historical preservation within the House and with the National Trust for Historical Preservation. Team focus on legal immigration, the Apology project, and cultural and historical preservation are outgrowths of 2009 Grand Council resolutions and discussions.

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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 30, 2010
ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, 2010
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

            For centuries, America's story has been tied to the Pacific.  Generations of brave men and women have crossed this vast ocean, seeking better lives and opportunities, and weaving their rich heritage into our cultural tapestry.  During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the immeasurable contributions these diverse peoples have made to our Nation.

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance, founded in 1895 and headquartered in San Francisco, chartered its newest chapter in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, March 14 at the Chinese Community Center.  The daylong festive ceremonies opened in the heart of Chicago's Chinatown with the traditional Lion Dance by a local performing group complete with firecrackers.  The Grand Lodge contingent of Grand President Carolyn H. Chan, Executive Vice-President Virginia C. Gee, Membership VP John Wong, Communications VP Ed Gor, Grand Treasurer Herb Gee, Auditor Randy Young, Grand Executives David Lee and William Mei, Washington DC Lodge President Thomas Lee and DC member Rocky Lee joined the Charter Chicago Lodge Officers and members and hundreds of local dignitaries and community leaders in the commemoration unveiling of the Chicago Lodge signage to mark its headquarters at the On Leong Building. 

Since its beginning thousands of high school students across the nation have participated in the Alliance’s National Essay Contest. The essay contest is intended to foster creative thinking and self-expression and encourage an awareness of current local and world events. Top placing finishers receive cash scholarship towards their education endeavors.

This annual contest is open to any student enrolled in senior high school (grades 9-12). No entry fee required. Participants are to compose an essay in English not to exceed 500 words on a contemporary topic concerning the Chinese and Asian American communities. The essay topic is given at the time of the contest.

In a truly historic moment on Christmas Eve, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Los Angeles attorney Dolly Gee, as she is about to become the first Chinese-American woman to serve as a U.S. District Court judge. The Chinese American Citizens Alliance congratulates Dolly Gee on this long awaited and richly deserving accomplishment.

At its December 12, 2009, national meeting in San Francisco, the Board of Grand Officers of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance unanimously adopted the following resolution:

"Be it resolved that because of fundamental problems in the current health care system in America, including access problems, deficits in quality of medical care, and unsustainable cost increases, Chinese American Citizens Alliance endorses and supports health care reform as the best way to remedy these problems plaguing America's broken health care system."