The Chinese Association, like many other family and district associations, exemplify the lasting resilience of Chinatown. These long-established “huiguan” organizations fought, often successfully, to keep their communities free from serious gang activity.
Articles of Association, akin to company constitutions, set out mandatory legal stipulations under China’s Company Law while leaving room for discretion in areas such as shareholders’ voting principles and finance policies.
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA)
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) is the oldest and most powerful organization in Chinatown. It has been a central figure of the community for more than 175 years and is still a major source of funding for many Chinese charities and businesses in San Francisco. During its long history, the CCBA has performed a quasi-governmental role and acted as a mediator between the City government agencies and the community.
CCBA’s mission is to strengthen the ties within the Chinese Community, and with the community at large, by promoting education, cultural appreciation, and mutual respect. The CCBA also strives to promote civic engagement and social justice.
Throughout the year, CCBA organizes events to celebrate Chinese culture and the contributions of the Chinese people. These include a Chinese New Year dinner/dance, a summer picnic, Chinese cultural dance classes, and an annual community scholarship fund fundraiser. In addition, CCBA sponsors the Wah Luck adult day care center in Chinatown. In 2023, CCBA was honored with the Asian American Spirit Award at the Georgia Asian Times gala. This prestigious award recognizes organizations that work toward strengthening America’s communities through leadership and philanthropy. The CCBA is a model of this principle. The CCBA’s benevolent committees assist members with medical and financial needs. They also help with income tax filing for low-income families and provide free blood testing and flu shots to residents.
Chinese Association for Science and Technology in the USA (CAST)
In the early years of their settlements in America, Chinese immigrants established many district associations and social service organizations that performed roles that government agencies or charities could not. These groups found jobs for new arrivals, cared for the sick and poor, and helped to send bones back home for burial. These institutions were so powerful that they soon resembled a secondary system of government, and their leaders often became well-known public figures.
CAST-SV focuses on supporting Chinese scholars in Silicon Valley, one of the world’s leading high-tech centers. It hosts recruitment fairs, lectures, entrepreneurship competitions and project funding docking. It also facilitates business contacts with renowned companies and institutions, and promotes the development of local multicultural communities.
CWAST is a professional organization that has more than 20,000 members nationwide. Its members come from a variety of fields, including science and technology, education, business, law, and medicine. They are driving forces behind the scientific research and technological advancements of US corporations, universities, and other academic and cultural institutions. CWAST strives to be a platform for its members to accelerate their career growth and contribute to the development of local community through social service and volunteer work. CWAST also supports and strengthens the friendship between Chinese professionals and their American colleagues.
Chinese School Association of the United States (CSAUS)
The Chinese School Association of the United States (CSAUS) is a national non-profit of Chinese language education in the USA. Founded in 1994, it aims to maximize cooperation and exchange between Chinese schools across the nation, promote Chinese language education and contribute to the overall China-America cultural exchange and cooperation.
The Organization consists of more than 500 member schools in 41 states and major cities. The member schools provide an avenue for students of different ages and backgrounds to learn Chinese. CSAUS also serves as the voice of heritage schools and provides networking opportunities for its members. It also supports members through educational seminars, training workshops and discounted 3rd party licenses.
In addition, CSAUS hosts a national conference every other year to keep the dialogue going and maintain active representation. These conferences have received tremendous support from organizations and governmental offices. Officials from the Overseas Chinese Office under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, officials from the Chinese Counsels and last but not least Congressmen and Congresswomen have attended the conferences to show their support.
Currently, CSAUS has a partnership with two national Chinese education organizations, CLASS and NCACLS. This partnership enables CSAUS to coordinate with these two organizations, and to leverage its resources more effectively. In the future, CSAUS hopes to work with other national and international Chinese education organizations to further enhance its efforts to serve the needs of students across the country.