“Serve our Community” – ACAN’s Outreach and Civic Engagement

By Hugh Li

Oct.2, 2018

When Austin Chinese American Network (ACAN) was founded on March 9, 2017, as a nonprofit organization, it set its mission as “Serve our community; Foster our heritage”. In the ensuing year and a half, as it rapidly grew from a handful of friends with common pursuits to an organization of close to 1000 members, by far the largest Chinese American organization in the Austin metro area, it has carried out its mission in earnest with activities reflecting both pledges.

But by any measure, the “serve our community” pledge is not limited to the Chinese American community alone:

• Following the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, ACAN collected large-scale donations, purchased and delivered urgently needed disaster relief supplies to Houston to help people there recover and rebuild.
• During the Chinese New Year Festival in 2018, ACAN organized a free dinner at the Salvation Army Austin downtown shelter, serving Chinese food and handing out “red packets” to scores of families down on their luck, to bring the joy and festivity of the Chinese New Year to people who needed the most.
• On Chinese Moon Festival, a day for family reunion, peace and prosperity in Chinese traditions, ACAN put together a large artistic performance for the Austin community with all ticket proceeds going to Salvation Army, raising $3000 (that’s 1200 hot meals!) for the homeless so they can share our holiday spirit.

These are only a few examples of ACAN’s community service activities, and there are a lot more that ACAN and its members voluntarily do every day to “serve our community”.

Besides disaster relief, donation drives and volunteering, ACAN also believes that “serve our community” extends to civic engagement and public affairs. To better represent the voices and concerns of the Chinese American community, as well as to serve the broader Austin community, key ACAN leaders have taken on voluntary roles in a number of community commissions.

Mr. Peter Chao, President and co-founder of ACAN, has been serving on the City of Austin’s Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission since June 2017. This commission “shall advise the City Council on issues related to the Asian American Resource Center and will provide on-going guidance and support for the City’s Asian American quality of life initiatives”. Mr. Chao feels honored to represent a Chinese-American voice in City budgeting plans related to the Asian communities. He also enjoys learning how the City operates.

Ms. CJ Zhao, Vice President of ACAN, has been on Travis County Child Protection Service Board since early Summer this year. “Board members volunteer their time and talents to advocate for the protection and well-being of those Travis County children who are in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) Child Protective Services Division”. Ms. Zhao is the first Asian, and the only one from the private industry on the 15-member board. Personally, Ms. Zhao has always been passionate about helping underprivileged kids, especially those with special needs. At the same time, Ms. Zhao believes that this is a great way for ACAN to reach out and connect ACAN’s resources as a nonprofit with those truly in need in the Greater Austin area.

Ms. Zhao has also been recently appointed by City Council Jim Flannigan to serve on the City of Austin’s Bond Oversight Commission. This commission, comprised of 11 members serving a 4-yr term, “ensures efficiency, equity, timeliness, and accountability in the implementation of existing and future City bond programs”. Ms. Zhao prides on the facts that she is the first Chinese-American, and one of the most qualified professionals on the commission, based on her decades’ of experience in the financial industry. Ms. Zhao is particularly interested in bond issues supporting community services and affordable housing projects.

ACAN leadership strongly encourages its members to participate in public service. Members interested in serving on area commissions can find more information at:

https://www.traviscountytx.gov/commissioners-court/board-committee-appointments

http://www.wilco.org/Elected-Officials/Commissioners-Court/Duties/Boards-and-Commissions

https://www.austintexas.gov/department/boards-and-commissions

Through organized activities to “serve our community”, and individual efforts in reaching beyond the Chinese American community, ACAN is proudly “charting a brighter future for our society”, together.