By Christian Jochim, CHCP Vice President of Education

Former CHCP Director Trisha Lee, now Principal of Monta Loma Elementary School in Mountain View, with CHCP VP of Education Christian Jochim and the school’s Librarian, set up CHCP's "Pioneering the Valley" Traveling Exhibit at the Monta Loma Elementary School. The Traveling Exhibit was on display at the school from May 13 through May 17.

The 155th Anniversary Celebration of the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad was held on May 10 and 11 in Utah. CHCP Director Brenda Hee Wong, CHCP members Willy Wong and George Chin, and CHCP Advisory Board member Lee Liu Chin were in attendance to celebrate the anniversary with Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association (CRWDA) Chairwoman Margaret Yee.

Visitors came from across the nation to attend the Golden Spike Reenactment at the Golden Spike National Historic Site in Promontory, Utah. A memorial ceremony at one of the actual camps used by the Chinese railroad workers was also held at the Chinese Arch. The Chinese Arch was named to honor the thousands of Chinese workers brought in to accomplish Central Pacific’s portion of the railroad. Originally named Chinaman's Arch, the CRWDA plus other Asian-Americans successfully lobbied the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to re-title this Utah natural wonder.

Also to commemorate the Chinese railroad workers who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad, a monument was unveiled at the Utah State Capitol grounds in Salt Lake City on May 11. CHCP has proudly donated to the CRWDA in support of the monument and is named on the Donor Plaque which is located on the back of the monument.

The following is an excerpt from the CRWDA website describing the design of the monument:

The design and concept of the monument focus on symbolism by utilizing building materials that are indicative of the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. The number six has been selected for its significance to the duration and completion of the railroad as well as an important good luck number for the Chinese people. Hence, the total amount of the building materials is derived from the number six with six layers of material compressed together.

Read more about the monument: https://crwda.org/monument-at-utah-state-capitol

By Gerrye Wong, CHCP Co-Founder and Trustee

At the May 2nd Asian American Stories (AAS) Award Ceremony attended by 450 supporters, awards were given to 20 of the 70 people who composed and submitted videos on the theme ALL OF US BELONG HERE. Snippets of all submissions were shown in a summary video as well as those composed by the first to third prize winners. CHCP supported this fine program, hosted by the non-profit Silicon Valley Community Media, by being a sponsor hosting one table for its Board members in attendance.  This event kicked off the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month of May, with many of the 70 contestants brought on stage to win specific awards chosen by a team of 15 judges. The 2024 entries came from all over the world, with one entrant from Alaska who was introduced on stage. To support the AAS fundraising effort, CHCP President Dave Yick and Director Edith Gong were high bidders for the auction prize of a private tour and reception for 20 guests at the famed Flintstone House seen off Hwy 280 in Hillsborough. 

This first-time award ceremony was well received by supporters, such as CHCP, who share the desire to encourage more Asian American stories to be told, similar to what CHCP plans to accomplish with its upcoming Oral Histories Project.

CHCP Co-Founder Gerrye Wong was honored with the 2024 Legendary Story Teller Award for her 40 years of writing about Chinese community and history in newspapers (Chinese Press and Asian Week), magazines (Vancouver's Chinatown news and Gentry), and websites (dingdingtv).  She spoke of the pride she felt telling the thousands of school children, who visited CHCP's Chinese American Historical Museum, of the stories of the early Chinese communities who settled in the San Jose area, as well as her proudest moment when she and CHCP Advisory Board Member Connie Young Yu, together with CHCP support, encouraged the City of San Jose to draft and issue a Resolution of Apology to the Chinese residents who were unfairly discriminated against in their past Chinatowns in the 1800s and at the turn of the century.

Gerrye Wong's video submission tells of her personal story growing up to finally learn to appreciate her Chinese heritage, not only embracing it, but proudly telling the world about the many contributions Chinese have made to America’s history.

CHCP Co-Vice President of Marketing/Outreach Dr. Arthur Jue was awarded an Excellence Award at the dinner for his one-minute video submission of retired ABC Reporter David Louie’s speech made at CHCP's January membership dinner. His video highlighted David Louie's journey and groundbreaking career as an Asian pioneer in media.

Watch Gerrye Wong's and Dr. Arthur Jue's videos:

CHCP Advisory Board Member Ron Chan also participated in the video contest, submitting two videos. The first video, about a virtual conversation with his late grandfather, was created by blending artificial intelligence with live recordings! Ron's second entry titled "I'm Coming Home" is of his father Alfred Chan, a WWII veteran, recounting his emotional return home from the war. Watch both videos below:

By Gerrye Wong, CHCP Co-Founder and Trustee

On April 21, 2024, KTSF (Digital Channel 26/Cable Channel 8) spotlighted an interview by reporter Mina Li with CHCP Co-Founder Gerrye Wong and CHCP Co-Vice President of Marketing/Outreach Dr. Arthur Jue at CHCP's Chinese American Historical Museum in a half-hour show centered on the museum.  At the museum itself, Gerrye and Arthur were able to tell how CHCP first began, due to artifacts from an original Chinatown being found in a downtown San Jose digging site in 1985.

Leading Mina through the museum, they demonstrated CHCP's Timeline Display which shows events occurring in China, United States and San Jose which is of significance for the Chinese, spanning the period from the 1850s through the 2000s. When queried about how CHCP tries to combat the current anti-Asian hate atmosphere, they proudly pointed out that CHCP has hosted trips by thousands of school children so that they can come to the museum to learn of the contributions made by the Chinese throughout the history of America, and how Asians should be treated fairly so that they can continue to contribute to the American economy and society today and in the future.

We thank KTSF and Mina Li for enabling their viewers to know about CHCP’s museum, so that they can visit the museum which is open on most Saturdays each month from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm.

By Dave Yick, CHCP President

CHCP'S April Board Meeting was held at the recently renovated Los Altos History Museum. We were treated to an excellent tour of their historic farmhouse and their museum, equipped with modern screens that encompassed three whole walls. This was followed by a reception, where we met with members of their Executive Committee. Thanks to the Los Altos History Museum for their generous hospitality!

The South Bay Historic Chinese American Cemetery Corporation (SBHCACC) had their annual Ching Ming ceremony on April 6th at the Historic Chinese American Cemetery in San Jose.

CHCP was a sponsor for this event and presented paper ingots for ceremonial offerings and participated in the reading of the names of those buried there. CHCP participants attending included: VP of Education Chris Jochim, Directors Kimberly Eng Lee and Brenda Hee Wong, Advisory Board member Michael Chan, and Student Docent Cultural Ambassador Program (SDCAP) members Owen Lee, Beatrice Lee, and Elaine Zou.

By Brenda Hee Wong, CHCP Director and SDCAP Chair

For Women's Heritage Day at History Park, CHCP screened several short videos celebrating contributions and accomplishments of Chinese women from the past and the present. The videos were created by members of CHCP's Student Docent Cultural Ambassador Program (SDCAP).

Everyone in attendance said they learned something new or learned more about the notable, trailblazing Chinese women of historical or contemporary influence. Very personable and animated interactions by SDCAP Members Sophia Zhang (project leader) and Vanessa Lam were made with the rapt audience.