History of the Center
History of the Center
An integral part to the ministries of the church, is the work of the Center. Some examples of our outreach initiatives include:
- During World War II, a program was established for young men and women in our country’s military service, to welcome and care for them as they passed through or were stationed in the Philadelphia area.
- Participated and cooperated in the organization of pioneer inter-faith and inter-racial events in Philadelphia in 1942.
- In 1942, sponsored the first health screen for the Chinese community.
- In 1945, organized and hosted an indoor inter-city basketball tournament for Chinese on the east coast of the USA and Canada. This legacy continues today with our Summer Basketball League.
- After the war, welcomed and helped with the acculturation of the first war brides from China.As well as helping a large number of senior citizens, those known as the “sojourners”, establish communication, visit, or be reunited with their families in China, as they were separated during the Cultural Revolution.
- In 1954, started and still continuing our community playground and summer programs which are focal points of activity for all generations. The annual family carnival on the playground has become a highlight of the summer in Chinatown.
- In 1972, the Asian American Council and the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) both had their first full-time offices in our Center building during their incubation period in the mid-70’s. Since 1968, the Center has had representation on the PCDC Board, which is the pioneer in the prevention of gentrification of Chinatown and in its growth as a viable community in Philadelphia.
- Helping with needs of refugees and immigration flow in Philadelphia area. These include beneficiaries of the McCarren Act in 1952, the Hong Kong Refugee Act in 1960, and the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendment in 1965, the Vietnamese refugee airlift in 1975, boat people in 1978-1982, Normalization of China in 1978, and the 1987 Immigration Amnesty Policy. Since 1941 we have helped more than 2,500 adults learn English and assisted more than 1,500 to obtain U.S. citizenship. We have shared in the joy of helping several hundred of individuals be reunited with their families after spending as many as 50 years apart in some cases
- In 1996, established an After School Program for school-aged children which continues to this day.