Oregon Chinese Coalition

δος μοι που στω και κινο την γην. Thank you, Natasha（娜塔莎）吉他, for your donation, which inspired us to start this youth guitar group in the community. People will see them performing in schools, senior homes and community centers.

To learn more about this group, please visit: https://pdxchinese.org/youthguitarclub/. Volunteer coaches are in place already.

OCC Youth Guitar Club Recruitment Video Club members play and jam on guitars individually and/or collaboratively in styles of their choice. Veteran players share their knowledge with novice players...

Holidays are indeed a season of giving. Thank you, Columbia Sportswear, for your generous offer of employee store passes to our community volunteers, starting next week. We all appreciate the thousands of volunteers for their contributions to building a great community.

Many thanks to the generosity of Natasha Guitars (https://natashaguitar.com) for donating six high-end guitars to the community's youth. We are committed to ensuring that these instruments reach deserving young individuals who will cherish and benefit from such care and love.

Taking the plunge, it's evident from the preliminary survey results that knowledge about HPV vaccines and their administration is lacking in Portland's east side. Today, we abandoned all other activities, drove to the east side, and distributed flyers to each business, hoping that Chinese shoppers would see this information. It's heartening that some people mentioned they learned about HPV and the vaccine in the past two days and only then realized that those under 45 can also get vaccinated. Without exception, every business was supportive, placing the flyers in prominent locations. In casual conversations, it became clear that people here are working hard to make a living, with little energy to consider this matter, especially seeking medical attention for themselves or their children unless absolutely necessary. Undoubtedly, language barriers contribute to doctors being unwilling to spend time introducing this vaccine. Most respondents from the east side surveys indicated that doctors had not actively recommended the vaccine. This once again highlights the inequality in public health happening around us, directly affecting the overall health of our community. Our capacity to make a difference may be limited, but we hope everyone spreads the word, passing this information to those around them. In the coming years, when we conduct another survey, we hope for vastly different results.

The twin sisters, Arianna and Brianna, used their phones to record their experiences during the winter drive at the Whitford Middle School location. Such events planted seeds of love in their young hearts. Their engagement not only betters the community but also enriches their own lives.

2023 Community Winter Drive -- Whitford Middle School Location Four students from two families were at that location this year. They did an amazing job collecting donations from businesses and neighbors, both in advance ...

Communitywide Survey on HPV and HPV Vaccination
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After the pandemic, we continued to focus on public health at community level. The health fair in March was a tremendous success, and we look forward to gathering again next March. Between these two events, we will conduct promotional activities focusing on cancers that are particularly relevant to the Chinese American community. This quarter, the target is the HPV virus. Due to cultural reasons, we seldom discuss HPV, and the miraculous HPV vaccine hasn't received the attention it deserves. Nationally, the vaccination rate among Chinese people is 20% lower than the mainstream society. We believe the vaccination rate in the community is also highly imbalanced. Therefore, through this survey, we aim to increase every family's understanding of the HPV virus and raise awareness of the importance of getting vaccinated.

The survey consists of only 18 questions, all in Chinese, and they are all multiple-choice questions. It will take only 3-5 minutes of your time. We hope every family with children aged 9-26 (including girls and boys) in the community can fill out the survey. Such an activity is rare at community level, and to make it widely known, we have invited Ashley, middle school student, to help design the promotional logo.

Survey link: https://forms.gle/39F1LYK2ZCJFvosB6. Please help spread it widely throughout the state.

What a fantastic job done by all the students at the nine drop-off locations today! This year, we witnessed strong participation from students in SE Portland, even though they couldn't attend the gathering at the Clay Street Table in the end due to family obligations. Throughout the event, students experienced many touching moments, such as a passing mom taking off her own sweater and donating it to us, neighbors responding enthusiastically to the flyers the students posted, and people even contributing cash and gift cards and wanting to help in whatever way they could.

Congratulations to all participating students and their parents! Mission accomplished for the 2023 community winter drive!

With a large group of volunteers today, we managed to replace all the lanterns in Chinatown within 4 hours. The timing couldn't be more perfect with the holiday season approaching: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year, and Lantern Festival. Volunteers were motivated by the appreciation expressed by neighbors, visitors, store owners, as well as those less fortunate living on the streets. We hope these lanterns bring warmth, hope, and a festive atmosphere to everyone.

Thank you, Multnomah County Health Department, for featuring our story. This campaign will be integrated into all our community activities in the years to come. Perseverance is the best strategy for reducing smoking in the community.

Youth are the cornerstone of our community’s future, and their active involvement is crucial to achieving our mission of addressing the civic and political engagement challenges faced by Chinese Americans. Establishing student organizations within schools expands our outreach to a broader youth community. The community stands to gain from the vibrancy and innovative ideas brought by the youth. This dynamic engagement represents a significant milestone in our community work.

Congratulations to the Chinese Heritage Society at Sunset High School! Please visit their website at https://sites.google.com/view/sunsetchs/home

Today's meal, prepared by the families, offered a diverse array of dishes, bringing a festive spirit to the shelter. Our student volunteers, with their incredible kindness, added a touch of love for those in need.

Created by twin sisters in the 5th grade, Arianna and Brianna. Exceptional work! Only one week to go!

OCC Community Winter Drive Promotion Video Date: November 19, 2023 Sunday, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Place: Multiple drop-off locations across State of Oregon Register To join, please visit: https://pdxchines...

Several families from the community joined the service day at the refuge today. They had so much fun and also so productive. Together with other volunteers, they cleared the invasive plants in a large area near the Visitor Center.

"The intersection of mental health and language is personal. As bilingual second-generation immigrants trying to speak in our parents’ language, we were often sputtering and grasping at words to adequately express what we were going through."

We highly recommend this article to all parents in our community. Often, subtle differences can lead to significant harm when left unrecognized for an extended period, especially during the adolescent years。

Mental health in Mandarin Chinese: a starter kit for dialogue Translating English mental health terms is challenging due to linguistic and cultural barriers. Here are some tips.

This marks our 6th annual community-wide winter drive. Each year, our local youth take the lead, spearheading the campaign within their own neighborhoods. The volume of donations they collect is always impressive, often filling entire rooms in the organizations that gratefully receive our contributions.

To find out the drop-off locations and support our dedicated kids to the fullest, please visit https://pdxchinese.org/winterdrive/!

Behind every performance was the dedicated effort of team members who cherished their drums as if they were precious jewels. Transporting the drums presented a considerable challenge, especially for the ladies who had to find ways to fit them into their own cars, whether in the trunk or the back seats. Each drum and stand had to be carefully wrapped to prevent any scratches. Go, Mulans!

Every performance offers us a unique opportunity to connect with our community and gain a deeper understanding of our society. Yesterday, we participated in a multicultural event at a church for the first time, and we were truly impressed by the enthusiastic crowd.

It's always wonderful to see the kids volunteering at the refuge. They worked together to remove invasive weeds and had a great time. Today is one of the boys' birthdays. Additionally, a high school student is in the process of setting up a club to collaborate with the refuge at his school.

Thanks to our amazing community, professional artist Shirakawa (Gengqing Gu) came to Hope today! Our students got hands-on experience with ink and brush, resulting in some adorable giant pandas.

Shirakawa is a professional artist and professor from Suzhou, China. His artwork, which blends traditional Chinese painting with modern abstract art, has been exhibited in Europe, the United States, Japan, and China. Right now, you can see his work on display at Lan Su Chinese Garden through mid December!

This afternoon, the Mulan Drum Team delivered an electrifying performance at the Urban Land Institute's Housing Conference at the Patricia Reser Theater. As we approach the upcoming busy performance season in the communities, the energy and enthusiasm from today's show serve as a great prelude.

Friday Opening Reception, Sunday Thank-You Dinner, and Monday Certificate Recognition - A whirlwind of events for Shirakawa and his art show at Lan Su Chinese Garden. Attendees were deeply impressed by his artwork and equally amazed by his generosity in donating all 100 of his pieces to the garden. With support from individuals like Shirakawa, the garden will continue to flourish despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and neighborhood issues.

The community youth remained committed to providing meals at the shelter even after returning to school.

A week ago, we initiated a donation campaign in the community for Ahuan, who lost her husband and is now raising two young children on her own. The response from the community has been overwhelming, with 82 community members and groups contributing. The largest contributions, including a company match, reached a thousand dollars. A group of moms who sewed masks for healthcare workers during the pandemic also donated their remaining balance of $500. Of course, many others donated the equivalent of a cup of coffee or filling a gas tank. It's not about the amount; everyone's sympathy and willingness to lend a hand to Ahuan's unfortunate situation have been truly heartwarming. It also shows that with a community, there should be no insurmountable obstacles.

Today, we have transferred $6,000 to Ahuan, which includes the $5,060 in cash received and the estimated company match, with any potential shortfall covered by OCC. Ahuan has conveyed her gratitude to the community, especially to the donors. She knows that her future life may be tougher than she imagines, as she accidentally cut the power cord while mowing the lawn today. With everyone's care and support, we hope she can become stronger. The road may be rough, there is community here and we will move forward together.

Meet Lan Su’s October - December featured artist, Shirakawa (Genqing Gu) this Friday (10/6) from 1pm to 3pm.

Five years ago, he returned from Portland to Suzhou but has always held fond memories of both Portland and Lan Su Garden. This time, Lan Su Garden will showcase 100 of his artworks. All the artworks revolve around the theme of Tibet. Regardless of whether the artworks are sold, all of them will be gifted to Lan Su Chinese Garden. We can see that Shirakawa is an artist full of passion and with unique character. Please feel welcome to come to Lan Su and it's an opportunity to know more about the artist and his perspective on Tibet.

The weekly group walk concluded with a delightful tasting of homemade hawthorn cake, evoking fond memories of childhood for everyone.

The Mulan Drum Team performed at the gala on Mid-Autumn Day to express their gratitude to the generous donors. The team featured their top performers with the most drums; however, they were unable to deliver the performance they had anticipated due to an outdated sound system. Despite this setback, they thoroughly enjoyed the event by gathering in the garden and socializing with one another.

The season of taking seniors to the garden activity has concluded today. Twelve seniors from Marshall Union Manors, along with one caregiver and one volunteer, had a wonderful time in Lan Su Chinese Garden, particularly enjoying the warm and cozy sunshine. During this outing, we also had the opportunity to bid farewell to Evonne, the owner of The Tao of Tea, serving the tourists in the garden for the last 23 years.

At times, walking groups come together to foster deeper connections. This morning, we organized a walk along the trail to Pittock Mansion, and we were delighted to welcome new friends to join us. During our walk, we engaged in conversations about our lives, our children, our culinary experiences, and even indulged in some light-hearted 'gossip.' The sense of community and togetherness was incredibly strong and heartwarming.

Thank you, APICCO, for inviting us to join the Asian Pacific Islander American communities in experiencing the unity and solidarity as we engage community members in civic and political arenas. Sixteen of us from the Chinese American community had a wonderful time and gained valuable insights from the gathering.

With over 30 performances in its inaugural year, the Mulan Drum Team has truly fulfilled its mission of promoting Chinese culture, enhancing social interactions, and fostering better physical and mental well-being. We are fortunate to have such an outstanding team in our community.

Happy 1st Anniversary!

Last Sunday, three generations from a single family volunteered to host the Chinese Conversation Table. While showcasing Chinese culture to tourists, they also exemplified the cherished family values of Chinese Americans.

Today, we returned to SE and accompanied the husband to his visit with his P*P to obtain the referral required for his rehabilitation treatment. The appointment ended up lasting longer than expected due to several missed tests. This experience was valuable for us as well, providing insight into the entire process for someone in need of interpretation during doctor visit.

Quitting smoking can be contagious as well. The husband who has successfully quit smoking for over a month has already inspired his neighbors. Yesterday, we had a neighborhood gathering, and two neighbors decided to join our personalized to***co cessation program.

The walking group in the Forest Heights neighborhood continues to draw more participants. People relish the morning sun and fresh air as they come together for socializing and group exercise.

Relaxing smiles alone may not be a sufficient condition, but we recognize that they are essential for mental health.

Today, community events face a significant challenge due to the shortage of volunteers following the pandemic. However, at the food pantry organized by Multnomah County Bienestar, ten volunteers from our community stepped forward and played a vital role in ensuring the success of the monthly food distribution, serving about 230 people from communities near and far.

Community volunteers took part in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration on Sunday, hosting a table filled with craft activities. The DIY lanterns created quite a spectacle as the day turned to night, and the garden was illuminated.

A priceless moment captured during Master Huang's stone carving demonstration at the Mid-Autumn celebration at Lan Su Chinese Garden.

黄才鑫老师的石刻功夫 The moment during the Mid-Autumn Festival event at Lan Su Chinese Garden... 9/3/2023

More photos from today's Kids on Track activity👍

Sixteen fortunate kids and five parents from the community had an amazing day participating in the Kids on Track activity at Portland International Raceway. They were all incredibly engaged, thrilled to receive autographs from the race car drivers, and captivated by the insights into Firestone tires. The event concluded on a high note as they stood on the podium with the winners.