NEARLY A CENTURY OF SERVICE AND COMMITMENT

Within a rich Chinese heritage, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance seeks to practice American citizenship, better the welfare of community, to achieve equality and justice for Chinese Americans and others sharing common needs and goals, and to encourage American patriotism. This crucial mission has changed little since 1895.

Formed on a “fraternal” framework of a prestigious 19th century patriotic club, the earliest members, all American citizens of Chinese descent, incorporated an organization, which would become statewide in 1912 with the founding of Los Angeles Lodge, and nationwide three years later. The emphasis on self-improvement gave way to meeting community’s urgent needs, including advocacy in civil and immigration rights, public education programs on citizenship and voters’ education, and demonstration projects promoting acculturation and economic self-improvement. In the early decades, rapid growth Los Angeles membership was likely due to the motivation to certify one’s self as a citizen and later also due to a new death benefits insurance, a type of safety net previously denied to Chinese Americans. Development of community culture and youth already became a favorite activity, with sponsorship of a Chinatown boys’ band, a chorus, and even later a jazz band playing the hottest and latest “swing.”

The precedence that Los Angeles Lodge would be a leading community participant, and its members, important community leaders devoted to public good, was established in the 1930’s when Lodge president Peter Soo Hoo was a key figure in the creation and development of New Chinatown after the old enclave was dislocated due to eminent domain. Pioneer lawyer Y. C. Hong was an important investor in the project, building the historical buildings and gate still seen today. In a later time, that community spirit gave rise, in the 1970’s, to helping to start the Chinatown Service Center’s first office, Asian American Education Commission, and by the vision of another Lodge president Howard Quon, the Chinatown Public Safety Association and the Chinese American Museum. Responding to an influx of new immigrants, Chinese Americans had discovered themselves to be under-recognized and thus underserved. Recently, the Lodge during the tenures of presidents Collin Lai and Chi Mui blocked a warehouse development and helped secure the Cornfield to become new Los Angeles State Historic Park with its much needed green space.

Immediately after WW II with the return of many young men to Chinatown, Los Angeles Lodge gained fame for an unforgettable decade of Valentine’s Day Dances and big raffles. The achievement of the late 1950’s was the building of the Los Angeles Lodge on a permanent site, burning off the construction mortgage after 4 years! Then an underserved community began to search for a political voice, and the Lodge was proud to support the careers of our first, milestone political electeds: March Fong Eu, Lily Lee Chen, Daniel Wong, Matthew Fong, Michael Woo, and Judy Chu, with many more into the political arena since. In activism, the Lodge is cosponsor of the current AB 2514, Protect Human Remains, by Assemblyman Eng.

Within the Alliance, the first Grand President outside of the San Francisco area was the notable Y. C. Hong. Los Angeles Lodge in succession has offered Wilbur Woo, Nowland Hong, Irvin R. Lai, Saykin Foo and currently Munson Kwok to lead the national Alliance. For the 1995 Centennial, Los Angeles Lodge introduced the national art contest and Centennial Calendar, a big hit. Our first non-profit organization, C.A.C.A. Scholarship Foundation, was founded in 1971. Today, there are three non-profits affiliated with the lodge, C.A.C.A. Scholarship Foundation, Community Involvement Fund (CIF), and L.A. C.A.C.A. Community Action. These non-profits with different emphasis play vital and important roles in our community.

Today’s emphasis is the nurturing and developing of our most crucial resource for the next generation, our promising and talented youth. The idea of Youth Councils encouraging community participation has been spearheaded by L.A. Lodge past president Winston Wu since the late 1990’s, beginning with one club, now grown rapidly to five and more coming. Los Angeles Lodge has conducted Chinese school projects, youth leadership conferences, oratory contest, scholarship programs, national art contest for first to twelfth graders, and the national essay contest for high school students with topics on civic affairs, community and culture. On all fronts, the work of Los Angeles Lodge will continue!

(rev. 2008)