Chinese Association of Iowa

CHINESE ASSOCIATION

Many immigrants joined associations of family names, places or professions to help them find community and to promote their cultural identity. Look for your ancestors’ names on lists and rosters of these associations.

The CCBA works with city departments and agencies to resolve business and sanitation issues that affect Chinatown. It also provides assistance with applying for U.S. citizenship and voting in the elections.

HISTORY

As Chinese immigrants settled in America in the mid-to late 1800s, they formed family associations based on their region of China, dialect or last name. These groups often consolidated their power and authority by forming wooi-kun, district associations (much like counties), guilds or other professional organizations and secret societies in the form of large fraternal lodges or small fighting tongs.

The CCBA also works closely with mainstream organizations such as the Visiting Nurse Service and the American Cancer Society to bring health education, screenings and services to the community. The CCBA has recently helped to re-establish Chinatown library hours and secure bilingual ballots for Boston voters.

Discover, a long time supporter of the CCBA, is now proud to host the Asian Professionals Employee Resource Group at the CCBA and to sponsor a series of cultural events. We thank them for their generous support! Click here for more information. This collection makes digitized materials from the original China Association available.

PURPOSE

As an organization, ACA serves and promotes the presence of Chinese/Asians in Iowa and their integration into mainstream society. It provides social, cultural and educational activities to its members, fosters friendships between Chinese/Asians in the community and encourages public awareness of Chinese traditional culture.

Founded in 1883, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) is one of the oldest community organizations in New York City’s Chinatown. Historically, the Association performed quasi-governmental functions, protecting members from legal discrimination and violence.

In its current role, CCBA works with mainstream organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Visiting Nurse Service to support community members during emergencies. CCBA also manages Tai Tung Village and Waterford Place, two apartment complexes that provide low-income housing to community members. Lastly, CCBA assists members in their applications for naturalization to become U.S. citizens. Currently, CCBA is a member of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA). The national office, located in Washington, D.C, is an effective vantage point for monitoring legislation and policy issues affecting the Asian community.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Since the early 1980s, as a means of strengthening the country’s indigenous innovation capability and providing scientific support for national development demand, China has been reshaping its central government funding system for basic research. In this regard, its research objectives have been focused on the following:

NSFC was founded in February 1986 to strengthen China’s basic research through internationally accepted mechanisms. Its responsibilities include operating the National Natural Science Fund (NSF), formulating guiding principles, policies and development plans for national S&T, identifying and cultivating S&T talents, and promoting S&T cooperation and exchanges both domestically and abroad.

Besides the aforementioned 973 Program, the Chinese government also pays special attention to talents production in basic research with various measures such as Yangtze River Scholars Program, CAS Hundred Talents Program and NSFC National Distinguished Young Scholars program. In addition, many localities have established a number of funding schemes to promote their researchers’ creativity and enthusiasm including their national natural science funds programs, special research fund for university doctorate-awarding units and key labs funding programs.

RESEARCH METHODS

Until the 1980s, social science research in China was often conducted in a way that was uncritical of Western methodology and epistemology. Survey questionnaires based on Western theories were used in empirical cases that often did not align with local realities (Ye, 1982).

As a result, research on the Chinese context was frequently compromised. However, since then efforts have been made to reclaim critical qualitative inquiry in the field of Chinese management. This Special Issue showcases four such efforts.

The articles range from a theoretical reframing of cultural value systems via the frame of yin-yang balancing to an empirical study on the role of guanxi in vertical relationships. A key common feature of the four articles is their reliance on indigenous constructs and measures. In addition, several authors employ reflexivity in their research, examining their own vantage points and how these shape the knowledge they produce. This approach enables them to expand the thematic parameters of critiques that are directed at imported models.

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