The China Association is an umbrella organization for a diverse group of Chinese organizations in New York City. Its members include professional and trade organizations, civic groups, religious, cultural and women’s associations.
The association originally constituted itself as a mercantile body, representing commercial interests with trade to China. It also lobbied the government on behalf of its members and took up public debate on issues that affected Chinese interests.
Founded in 1889
The CCBA is a prestigious professional organization with 27 board members who are publicly elected every two years. The members are highly regarded professionals in science and technology, education, business, law, medicine, arts and more.
The Association’s work was largely commercial and diplomatic: the Association took up grievances on behalf of British traders with the Government in London, and acted as a representative body for British mercantile interests in China. It also sought reform of the Chinese trade laws to allow greater British commerce with the interior of China.
In addition to this historical role, the Association continues to operate in a range of community support activities today. It works with many mainstream organizations to provide services to the community, including the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the American Cancer Society. It also advocates for workers’ rights, community engagement in electoral politics, and Chinatown issues such as the preservation of the Chinatown branch library and the provision of bilingual ballots to Boston voters.
Objectives
The association fosters friendship, goodwill and understanding among Chinese, other ethnic groups and members of the community at large. It also promotes the customs, culture and heritage of Chinese people. It also provides a variety of services and activities for its members. These include hosting major Chinese cultural events, facilitating the development of local minority communities and promoting cultural exchanges.
Membership in a Chinese student society is a great way to meet new people, build relationships and gain a better understanding of the cultures that surround you. Students who have joined CSAs have often found that the experiences they have had have had a lasting impact on their careers.
The CCBA works with mainstream organizations to provide services for the Chinese American community, including coordinating disaster preparedness programs in Chinatown. It has also helped organize laid-off electronics and rubber stamp manufacturing workers to win severance pay and improved job training opportunities. In addition, it works to educate the public about Asian Americans and their contributions to American society.
Membership
The Association lobbied the British Government to protect the interests of its members in China. This was especially important when Nationalist blockades threatened the operation of British businesses. The Association also acted as a channel of communication between the Chinese community and the British authorities. The Association published a periodical called the China Review and held quarterly lunches with prominent guest speakers. The archives of the Association are lodged at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. R. Birdman, Britain and the People’s Republic of China 1949-74, (London 1976).
Membership is open to nurses of Chinese heritage who are licensed in the United States. Members are of diverse professional backgrounds, but share common goals: to support and promote clinical and academic advancement, as well as cross-cultural interaction among Chinese American nursing professionals and the Scarsdale community at large. In addition, the CCBA works with many mainstream organizations, such as the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the American Red Cross, to provide services in Chinatown in times of emergency.
Activities
Chinese Associations organize activities and events to promote cultural awareness and support the needs of local multicultural communities. They also provide educational, recreational, and career-building opportunities for youth and adults. These programs help Chinese children and families achieve social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Modern-day Chinese clan associations have been reinventing themselves to adapt to the changing needs of their members. This renewal process has included introducing more modern elements to the traditional culture, in an effort to reach younger generations and remind them of their identity as Chinese.
CCBA also provides social services for its members and the wider community, such as providing Chinese field trips to places of interest in the city, donating money to assist with funeral expenses, assisting in job placement, arranging medical referrals and interpreting services. CCBA has also worked to promote the use of Chinese in government offices, lobbied to get unemployment forms translated into Chinese and English, and supported community support for victims of anti-Chinese racial violence.