There’s no better time of the year than when the #taclfam gets together. This time, the destination for our 2024 Spring Convention Retreat was none other than the historic city of New Orleans. Bustling with good food and amazing music, Taiwanese American Citizens League hosted our 13 programs within TACL for another amazing reunion during the last weekend of February 2024.

Following up from our new format that was pioneered in Denver in 2023, TACL planned for more opportunities for participants to network and learn more from each other. Starting off with a short programming session at the famous Preservation Hall where the 2024 National Board was introduced and upcoming initiatives, such as a closer partnership with TaiwanPlus, was shared.

For this convention’s version of a banquet, we enjoyed a lunch jazz cruise on a steamboat, a unique experience that New Orleans has to offer! Everyone broke up into separate groups to continue networking while enjoying the breeze. In the evenings, the group was able to mix things up and enjoy small group dinners in a more intimate setting.

With cross-program learning and bonding time being the focus of this retreat, the National Board prepared a large number of excursions such as a city walking tour, ghost walking tour, JAMNOLA, Mardi Gras World, bar & brewery tour, jazz club, and bourbon street. This allowed our members to connect with each other over common interests.

Here’s a quick look at some of these excursions:

Although we had to part ways at the end of the weekend, we’re excited to see everyone again in Washington D.C. in September when TAP-DC hosts our 2024 Fall Convention!

Check out the trailer here:

Taiwan’s elections just wrapped up, and as a young democracy with its first elections held in 1996, Taiwan has shown the best of what a democracy can be. Even without absentee ballots, the election was still able to get over 70% voter turnout – a simply amazing stat. Many Taiwanese nationals living overseas flew back in order to have their voices heard in the election. Taiwan also enabled more people to vote by holding its elections on a Saturday so that people did not need to miss work in order to perform their civic duties.

We asked Eric Tsai, a local Taiwanese citizen and producer at TaiwanPlus, for his views regarding Taiwan’s election and he shared, “Seeing elections in Taiwan feels different than the United States – the high level of transparency, but also the calls for unity. What impressed me the most and made me happiest were how much the concession speeches talked about working together. Whether or not it happens may be different, but to see leaders of the opposition call for a brighter future is a sign that Taiwan’s democracy will thrive.”

With our own elections coming up soon in 2024, we should strive to reach what Taiwan was able to achieve. Although there are many differences between Taiwan and the United States, we are both proud democratic countries and each citizen needs to have their voice heard. Regardless of which party wins, we need to unite together afterwards and work towards a better and brighter future.

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, the Civic Engagement team of Taiwanese American Citizens League (TACL) is actively preparing to get out the Taiwanese American vote this November. We know how critical this election is, and that is why we are developing resources and investing energy into ensuring that our community can exercise our right to vote. From creating voting infographics to sharing Get out the Vote materials that can be used by each of our Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP) chapters across the country, TACL is committed to making sure our members’ voices are heard in the democratic process this fall. 

To get engaged now, visit tacl.org/vote for our current resources and stay tuned for more to come as we approach Election Day 2024. 

A couple of interesting stats about the 2024 Taiwan Election and Results shared in the infographic below:

What a long time coming since the last invitation for TACL to visit Taiwan by the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC)! Sadly, TACL has not had an opportunity to coordinate for a trip since 2019 due to the pandemic. Majority of the attendees on this trip from TACL, TAP, LYF, and LID have only heard of the trip through fond memories and stories from alumni members in previous years. Keep reading below to see how the week of #TACLfam adventures unfolded from December 3rd to December 9th 2023!

The trip kicked off with an exchange of gifts between TACL and OCAC as well as the Tourism Administration within the Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC). This heartwarming moment set the tone for the rest of the week. Everything was perfectly planned by OCAC to allow the delegation to discover new parts of Taiwan!

One of the main purposes of the delegation was to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwanese industries and their incredible contributions to Taiwan and the world. The week started off with an insightful lecture on Taiwan’s leadership within the semiconductor and 5G technologies industries, followed by tours of the Taiwanese Association for Virtual and Augmented Reality (TAVAR), Taipei Brewery, Kavalan Whiskey distillery, China Airlines, and Pacific Cycles. Finally, OCAC arranged for two Taiwanese entrepreneurs to share their life experiences.

With plenty of opportunities that showcased the gems of Taiwan and the rich history and culture of Taiwan, the members were taken on a tour of Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, Dadaocheng, Toucheng Leisure Farm, and Taipei Music Center. These experiences allowed the members to feel connected and appreciative while reflecting on the history and culture of these trips.

As anyone who has been to Taiwan may know, no trip is complete without the amazing food scene that Taiwan has to offer. OCAC arranged a wide variety of Taiwanese delicacies throughout the week with banquets, restaurant visits, and night markets. 

As the group continued to explore various parts of Taiwan, the activities didn’t stop in the evenings. This included discussions from Jonathan Liao about the Gold Card Program, Eric Tsai from Taiwan+ about Taiwan election history, exploration of Taiwan’s vibrant nightlife, and last but not least, a meet-up with local alumni at the TAP Taipei Happy Hour.

This trip was an unforgettable bonding opportunity where the members made new friendships, tightened existing ones, and formed cherished memories. Additionally, TACL continued to strengthen the relationship with OCAC and was truly grateful for this opportunity. This trip was truly incredible for TACL, TAP, LID, and LYF to experience. Looking forward to future opportunities to spend more time on the beautiful island of Taiwan!

Every month, TAP-NY hosts cooking workshops that invites their members to learn a Taiwanese dish and get hands-on in creating it themselves There’s nothing quite like cooking delicious traditional, homemade dishes that not only bring you the sense of nostalgia of childhood eats, but also share the experience with others in the community.

These monthly cooking classes are made possible with the support from their local Ah Ma by using the kitchen at the Taiwan Union Christian Church in Queens, NY. Working together for the last 10 years, she has always been eager to teach these dishes to TAP members. All materials and ingredients are purchased and prepped for the attendees ahead of time, making it easy for anyone (especially beginners) to just jump right in.

Within an hour or so, the Ah Ma demonstrates how to cook and serve the dish with thorough instructions before allowing all attendees to give it their own shot. TAP members often share that they’re excited to get back in touch with their cultural roots through food, making these workshops an event that is in high demand! Some Taiwanese dishes that have been showcased were Ba Wan (Taiwanese Crystal Meatball), Turnip Cake, and Oyster Omelet. 

TACL has been watching the escalation of conflict in the Middle East with great concern. As an organization that represents many Taiwanese and Taiwanese Americans, we are not unfamiliar with the complexities inherent in a long-standing regional conflict. Nevertheless, our work is always in support of furthering democracy and standing up against hate in the United States, Taiwan and the world.  

While the actions that ignited the current situation are heinous, we hold strongly to the belief that these types of conflicts should ultimately be resolved through diplomatic and peaceful means. We call for an immediate ceasefire in the region in line with the sentiments from the Carter Center, Jewish Voice for Peace, editorial board of Financial Times, and Amnesty International along with renewed focus on the negotiation for the return of the hostages that were taken on October 7th, 2023.  

In addition, we call for renewed international commitments to delivering humanitarian aid and support for those affected by this conflict. If you would like to provide donations and support, here are a few links to consider:

Muslim Global Relief

Medical Aid for Palestinians

Islamic Relief USA

Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund

Lastly, TACL reiterates our commitment to standing up against racism, oppression, and violence. We must remain vigilant against hate, no matter the form it comes in, and categorically denounce all anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab sentiments and actions. We know that peace may not come easily, but we also believe that we should never relinquish our hope for it.  

One response to “A Call for Ceasefire to the Israeli-Hamas Conflict”

  1. Talia Chen Avatar
    Talia Chen

    I’m disappointed in TACL’s approach to this. What is happening right now is clearly a genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel. Israel has committed all sorts of war crimes and has not been held accountable for any of it. We should realize, as Taiwanese-Americans, that our own homeland would suffer a similar fate of imperialism and colonialism had Taiwan not grown into a country of such economical significance. “These types of conflicts” are ethnic cleansing and will not be resolved by a simple ceasefire. The oppression of Palestinians by a state that has existed for under 80 years is not something that will just stop with a call to ceasefire. While harm is being done to both Palestinians and Israelis, the magnitude at which Palestinians are suffering is far greater. They are losing their entire bloodlines, their homes, their water, their food, their futures. They are losing their land and their identity as Palestinian people is increasingly under attack by Israel. This is a genocide and it is not anti-Semitic to stand with Palestine. As Taiwanese-Americans, we need to recognize the influence of western ideology and imperialism in our approach to the historic events that many have reduced down to mere ‘conflicts’. We should not gloss over the faults of the country we now call home. We should not assimilate into the American war machine – we can and must do better.

The vibrant city of San Francisco played host to an unforgettable weekend as the #TACLfam gathered for our annual fall convention, hosted by TAP-SF. This year, the convention’s theme, “The Multiverse of Identities,” promised a unique exploration of the diverse experiences and backgrounds that make up the Taiwanese American community. Continue reading for a quick recap of highlights from this enlightening weekend!

We kicked off convention weekend with the classic TAPpy Hour as members settled into the city and regrouped at Spark Social – a food truck park, beer & sangria garden, and social venue located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. Old and new friends mingled and caught up with each other since meeting at the last Denver convention retreat, or perhaps it’s been even longer than that!

Saturday was off to an early start as the lineup was jam-packed with guest speakers, breakout sessions with small groups, and networking opportunities amongst the chapters and programs. As we set the tone for the weekend, the convention’s theme encouraged everyone to explore our identities and the intersectionality that makes us who we are.

Sessions included speakers Eric Tsai from Taiwan Plus, sharing more on the history of Taiwan, Christine Lin (TAP-SF) and TACL’s very own civic engagement directors, Christina Hu and Adam Pier on understanding who we are and where we live based on census data, and last, but not least, Jenny Eu (Three Trees), Kimberly Yang (Formosa Chocolates), Sophia Yen (Pandia Health) – all of whom are Taiwanese and Taiwanese American women entrepreneurs for our panel session on sharing their journey and career path.

We wrapped up the day with some dialogue sessions within each small group before splitting off to explore SF’s various restaurants and sightseeing spots.

For the final day of this convention, we began with a Best Practice sharing from some of our programs before going into a session led by LYF Camp that took a look into how they approach identity with the camp staff and the campers themselves. Additionally, members were treated with Taiwanese foods for both breakfast and lunch, in which the latter came shortly after a lively panel discussion with Angie Lin and Tony Tung (Good to Eat Dumplings) and Jessica Liang (Liang’s Village) on how culture defines food, and thus defining who we are, where we are from, and what we can create. In our last session of convention, artist Felicia Liang shared her experiences as a creative and led an interactive workshop on how to express ourselves and our identities.

Before we knew it, it was the end of our convention programming, and like all other conventions, we followed our tradition to celebrate the weekend of learning, exploration, and connection with a dinner banquet! Fun fact: Fang, the restaurant venue for this last night of gathering, was part of the set for Matrix 4 with Keanu Reeves!

As always, convention weekend flew by in the blink of an eye, but members had the chance to reflect, celebrate, and explore their own identities and each other’s as well. We’ve included a link to a recap video that TAP-SF has put together to summarize the weekend! Convention served as a reminder that our identities are not singular, and each person has their own unique connection to their Taiwanese American heritage and community. 

With that being said, we look forward to seeing the #TACLfam at our next convention retreat in February 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Till then, please take care and stay safe!

On this 9/11 anniversary, we remember seven Taiwanese-Americans dedicated to their communities, careers, and their families. 

This blog aims to share with the Taiwanese American community a little bit about each of the seven Taiwanese Americans and honor their memory, as well as an in-depth editorial about one of the victims from the perspective of a family member.

Yang Der Lee, 63, of New York, NY

Windows on the World | North Tower

Ssu-Hui Wen, 23, of Arlington, TX

Cantor Fitzgerald | North Tower

Hweidar Jian, 42, of New Brunswick, NJ

Cantor Fitzgerald | North Tower

Alexander H. Chiang, 51, of New City, NY

Marsh & McLennan | North Tower

Ming-Hao Liu, 41, of Livingston, NJ

Washington Group International | South Tower

Mandy Chang, 40, of New York, NY

First Commercial Bank | South Tower

Ching Wang, 59, of New York, NY

First Commercial Bank | South Tower

DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ALL THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ON
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Yang-Der Lee, 63 (李洋德)

New York, NY

Family, charity, and temple. Each morning, the 63-year-old took the subway from his Queens home to Lower Manhattan, earning $10 per hour as a delivery clerk at the World Trade Center’s Windows on the World, a famous restaurant atop the North Tower. His salary was used for charities with the Tzu Chi Foundation and the Buddhist temple he worshiped at. His immigrant children, who went on to have successful careers, cajoled their father to retire, but Mr. Lee opted to wait until he was 65. 

On September 11th, Yang Der Lee was among the 73 restaurant staff from Windows on the World that perished in the attacks. Among the victims included immigrants from dozens of countries. The surviving employees in 2006, opened the restaurant Colors in Manhattan, serving as a tribute to the immigrants that died on September 11, 2001. 

For more information about the Tzu Chi Foundation, visit https://tzuchi.us/offices/ny

For more information about the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, visit https://rocunited.org/

Source: The New York Times

Ssu-Hui Wen, 23 (聞思慧)

Arlington, TX

Growing up in Taiwan, Ssu-Hui “Vanessa” Wen and her older sister Sarah were taught to be self-sufficient. Much of their childhood was spent traveling with their parents, who ran an import-export business. At 18, Vanessa immigrated to the U.S. with Sarah to begin college at the University of Texas at Arlington. After graduation, Vanessa moved to New York for a job opportunity while Sarah remained in Texas. For the Taiwanese immigrant living the American dream, the World Trade Center was the place to be. 

A computer programmer for Cantor Fitzgerald, all 658 employees in the office at the time of the first plane crash did not survive. Vanessa’s remains were recovered in December and brought back to Dallas. 

For more information about the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, visit https://www.cantorrelief.org/. 

Source(s): The New York Times, The Oregionian

Hweidar Jian, 42 (簡慧達)

New Brunswick, NJ

Born in Taoyuan, Hweidar “Dar” Jian immigrated to the United States in 1983 to earn a master’s degree at SUNY Buffalo. After graduating, he and his wife Ju-Hsiu (known as Connie) became U.S. citizens and settled in New Jersey with their sons William and Kevin. In the summer of 2001, the family vacationed in Taiwan, and the couple discussed their future as a family on the night of September 10. 

Dar worked as a software designer for Cantor Fitzgerald. His remains were returned to Taiwan and interred in a mausoleum near one of the places he visited during his final trip.

For more information about the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, visit https://www.cantorrelief.org/. 

Source: Grand Rapids Press

Alexander H. Chiang, 51 

New City, NY

As teenagers, Grace and John Chiang never slept in on weekends. Every Saturday, Mr. Chiang, his wife Sunny, and the entire family traveled from their upstate New York home to meet with other members of the Chinese-speaking non-denominational church he founded in Franklin Park, NJ. His wife recalled her husband as a very faithful person, and wished to retire and devote more time to the church. 

Alexander Chiang worked as a computer specialist for Marsh & McLennan in the North Tower. The firm lost 295 employees and 63 contractors in the attacks.

For more information about the Church in Franklin, visit: https://www.churchinfranklin.org/index.html

Source(s): The New York Times, Syracuse Post Standard

Ming-Hao Liu, 41 (劉明灝)

Livingston, NJ

A teacher at heart. The former Taiwanese national rugby champion spent his weekends as the principal at the Livingston Chinese School in New Jersey. During a trip back to Taiwan, he left behind gifts intended for his two sons and stuffed 50 textbooks into his suitcase. If it weren’t for his engineering job at the World Trade Center, Mr. Liu would probably be content at planning parties and organizing trips for pupils and parents alike. 

On one trip to Tennessee, he let students get up before the bus and answer these questions in Mandarin: “Why do you love your parents? What do you want to do for your parents?” recalled his wife, Jiun-Min.

Mr. Liu worked for Washington Group International in the South Tower, which lost thirteen employees in the attacks. He left behind his wife and two children, Allen and Austin. 

For more information about the Livingston Chinese School, visit http://livingstonchineseschool.org/lcs2/

Source(s): Chicago Tribune, The New York Times

Mandy Chang, 40

New York, NY

Wanderlust fulfilled. The Taiwanese immigrant’s true passion was her travels around the world. Egypt, Russia, Turkey, and Latin America. She’s been to them all. Mandy wanted to visit every continent by the time she hit 50 and only had Australia and Antarctica left. 

Mandy worked as a manager for First Commercial Bank (第一銀行) in the South Tower. Located on the 78th floor, the office lost three employees that morning, including Ching Wang, 59, of New York, NY, another native of Taiwan. Mandy left behind her mother, Feng-yu. 

Source(s): The New York Times, Taiwan News

On September 11th, 2001, Samuel Chiang’s eldest brother Alexander, an immigrant from Taiwan and father of two, perished in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. On the eve of his funeral, Samuel wrote an editorial for the World Journal reflecting their relationship as a family. With permission, former TAP-DC board member David Chang has translated the article for our English-speaking audience. Here is their story.

Before the first plane crashed into the World Trade Center, I called my brother to surprise him (I had planned to provide him with a long-awaited gift), but no one answered. It was intended to be a surprise, so I didn’t leave a message for him. Not long after, I learned a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. I was so frightened that my limbs trembled, and I frantically attempted to contact him. Because he usually arrives at work before 8:30, and his office is located on the 95th floor of the North Tower, he never called me to report on his safety. If something happened, he would contact me. Then the second plane hit, and my company sent all employees home. Since my colleagues knew I was searching for my brother, I could not travel downtown. As they guided me across the Queensboro Bridge, the World Trade Center had disappeared, and I could no longer control my tears. My heart sank. It took me six hours to return home, and I was devastated because I knew I couldn’t bear the fact that I had lost my older brother.

There’s an eight-year age gap between us, he was the eldest sibling in my family, and I was the youngest. Between us, I have a brother and a sister. Growing up, I don’t know where my father was inspired to name us. He called him “Huai,” and he named me “Han’, reflecting the rivers in China. When I was in the second grade, he left home to study at the Affiliated Senior High School in Taipei (師大附中), but I admired him as a child; because he was eloquent, handsome, intelligent, and considerate. He also had leadership qualities, and the praise from relatives and friends always centered on him. Despite being mischievous, he always took care of his younger siblings. My sister Ping once told me when she was in elementary school, my brother would help deliver her bento lunch. Passing by the playground one day, he accidentally dropped her bento box, and food spilled on the ground. Quickly putting her food back into the steamer, my sister noticed her bento was different than usual and saw her brother eating food with a few grains of sand in the corner of his mouth and said nonchalantly, “you changed to a bigger bento today, are you full?”

Another moment was when other children bullied my second eldest brother “Hao” outside, and Huai rushed out to protect him. Hao’s forehead was broken, and blood flowed out. He foolishly threw himself into the well at the alley’s entrance to reassure Hao. He was scolded when he returned home, but when his father found out afterward, he was beaten up according to old family rules. In my young heart, he has always been like a hero.

When he turned eighteen, Alexander didn’t score well on the college entrance exam, so he returned home to prepare for the re-examination. We lived in the same room. It’s reasonable to say at that age; he was too busy studying, playing, and making friends all day long. How could he dump me? We are half-grown children, but we established a deep relationship that year. In fact, our two personalities are entirely different, but we have a perfect understanding and formed the best partner.

My mother died when I was fourteen, and I will never forget the day she passed… I was in class at school. The Chinese teacher on the podium explained that “lost mother” means a child who lost his mother. At this moment, I saw him walking into my classroom with tears in his eyes. Taking me home, I had a premonition in my heart that my mother had already passed away. I rushed out of the classroom immediately, and he came and hugged me tightly, I vented the grief and grievance in my heart with my fists, and he let my fists fall on him like raindrops; he kept telling me that he would help Dad take good care of us. Looking back now, he was only a junior in college, and he never broke his promise. He was like a bright light throughout my growing up as a teenager, and he became my role model in the persistence of faith and in dealing with others.

My brother immigrated to the United States in 1980, and I followed five years later. From the first day I came to the United States, he called me almost every day. We now have our own families, but the joy of brotherly conversation is still like the feeling when we lived in the same cabin. We thought about starting a business together, but that has not come to fruition. A recession hit in the early 1990s, and we were laid off. Then we decided to open a store, but with no business experience, we couldn’t figure it out. Two highly educated brothers are unable to perform. I often asked him why our fate ended up like this, but he always comforted me with confidence, whether worried or not… at least he never showed it in his eyebrows. We worked fourteen hours a day, and never cared about the distribution of time or the workload, and we hoped we could share more, especially since this was a cash-income business. Although our income was far less than that of our previous jobs, the workload was pretty heavy, but we never argued as we worked together day and night. He instilled confidence to make me believe we would escape this haze. We later returned to our professional lives, but it was a period we cherished amid the challenging economic times. This comforted our father in Taiwan and made friends around us envy this deep brotherhood.

Our lives have improved over the years, and his two children blossomed academically and professionally. On September 10th, my brother told me on the phone he would be able to fulfill his lifelong mission – to quit his job and dedicate his life to God and the church. Those words were still in my ears, but I faced his sudden death. In the past few days, I visited one hospital after another, knowing there was little hope. Still, I refused to give up, anxiously awaiting the updated list of injured patients being released. Volunteers pat on my arm, and the sound of comfort made me fall deeper. When I filed a missing person report with the police, I had to fill out a ten-page form but filled out his information quickly. It turned out that our experience growing up together has carried me up to that point.

In my spare time, I host a local radio program in the Chinese-speaking community, and talk about how to face life and death. I thought I could be calm, but my heart was broken, and I couldn’t bear it all. After 9/11, I completely forgot that I became the de facto head of the family. When I thought of the tragedy from a human perspective, I couldn’t restrain the grief in my heart. At the time, I only thought of myself as the younger brother. When I talk with my father on the phone, I try to be calm, because my father always says, “the boss is done; I will bury him in my heart….” But when I talk with my other siblings on the phone, I always try to be calm and shed tears before speaking.

When I was in middle school, I read Yuan Mei’s essay on offering sacrifices to my sister. It was moving. Why can there be such a deep affection between brothers and sisters? I don’t have Yuan Mei’s literary talent to express this brotherhood. There is no difference in the feelings of losing a sister. My sister is coming to the United States to attend my brother’s funeral. Since I got married, this would be the first time we would get together for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s just that the eldest brother is gone, and the mooncake split between the four of us is now three. Time will dilute the grief, but how can I recover with my brother gone? But as the two rivers flow, our brotherhood will never be diminished.

Alexander is survived by his wife, Sunny, and his children, John and Grace. (Source: Original Article)

From June 19th to June 24th of 2023, TACL LYF held its 40th annual youth summer camp in Northern California at Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds. This year’s summer camp had 135 campers with over 30 staff members. Coming back from Covid, the demand for these in-person connections is higher than ever. As a result, TACL LYF experienced a new high in demand with a waitlist of up to 40 campers.

Leading Youth Forward (LYF) Camp is a weeklong Taiwanese American youth leadership summer camp that is designed to be a safe environment for youth to discover and develop who they are. TACL LYF’s mission is to help individuals become whole person leaders through an understanding of heritage, self, and the world. The week-long camp consists of traditional American summer camp activities such as campfire and mixed with Taiwanese cultural experiences like dragon boat racing and night market games. Another main pillar of this camp include workshops designed by staff to foster self-awareness and self-discovery.

Besides the unique mix of activities, what makes TACL LYF unique is the lifelong community it fosters. The TACL LYF community consists of both second and third generation campers, 100% volunteered staff, and supportive parents. Most of the staff in leadership positions today have been a part of the organization for 4+ years, many of which were also once campers themselves. Three of the four program directors this year (Julia, Aileen, and Michael) were campers for multiple years before joining the staff team after graduating high school. 

This year’s theme is LYF: The Greatest Show, a play on The Greatest Showman movie. It is about braving the unknown sea of judgment and discrimination to reveal your authentic self to the world.

The takeaway and goal for campers this year is to know that when the sharpest words want to cut you down, TACL LYF is here to hold space for even those parts of yourself you feel the need to hide away. Make no apologies, this is you.
To learn more about TACL LYF, visit https://lyf.tacl.org/ .

May, a month of commemorating and celebrating the diverse cultures within the Asian American and Pacific Island communities, passed by with a blink of an eye with no shortage of opportunities to bring together and spotlight the many AAPI identities. The programs of TACL were no different, as different chapters found their own way to recognize both AAPI and Taiwanese American heritage within their own groups. Read below for quick recaps on how each chapter celebrated this month of unity and pride!

TAP-Atlanta Recognition for Census Engagement

TAP-ATL received the Census 2020 Engagement Award by the Georgia AAPI Hub – a huge honor for all the efforts that were pushed out leading up to the 2020 Census Campaign for “Write In Taiwanese”. At the ceremony, the census team went over the results gathered by the census and how it reflected the AAPI community in Atlanta.

TAP-Boston at Newton Taiwan Day

TAP-BOS celebrated AAPI month at the 16th annual Newton Taiwan Day celebration! The group came together with dozens of Taiwanese organizations to enjoy Taiwanese food and culture, which included a flag-raising ceremony, dragon parade, and performances. The TAP Boston booth offered homemade pineapple cakes and refreshing wintermelon tea, and members educated the community on what TAP does and how to get involved.

TAP-DC’s Special Giveaway to their Members

TAP-DC found their own way of celebrating with their community by hosting a virtual giveaway event while also engaging their members to participate in various activities to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month! From attending TAP-DC’s very own events like karaoke and learning Chinese Yo-Yo to reading an Asian American memoir and grabbing a boba drink, there was something for everyone!

TAP-Los Angeles at the Annual Taiwanese American Heritage Week Festival

TAP-LA team proudly promoted Taiwanese culture and identity by encouraging people to leave stickers on their hometown in Taiwan or where people have traveled to on a large Taiwan map at the TAP-LA booth. The exciting engagement drew a crowd, including TECO Director General Chi, Mayor of Monterey Park Henry Lo, Council Member Thomas Wong, Miss Taiwanese Americans. Besides the Taiwan map conversation starter, TAP-LA booth also offered traditional night market games such as the ring toss game and the marble game.

TAP-New York Gets Creative with Taiwanese Inspired Cocktails

TAP-NY’s cocktail making event featured Eric Lin, a cocktail enthusiast and TAP-NY member; he taught TAP-NY members about clarified milk punches, a mixology technique dating back to the early 1700s. For this particular session, they made a pineapple clarified milk punch infused with brown butter and Kavalan whiskey to try to mimic a pineapple cake in a cocktail! Attendees were able to chat about their favorite cocktail bars in New York and try the different naturally made syrups and ingredients that made up their cocktail.

TAP-Orange County Outing at the Anaheim Angels Taiwan Day Baseball Game 

TAP-OC participated with 700 people to watch the Anaheim Angels Taiwan Day baseball game against the Boston Red Sox. It was a spectacular feat where so many of Southern California Taiwanese communities got to enjoy the baseball game together as well as cheer alongside the Taiwan Cheerleaders, Rakuten Girls, on the field to as the Angels scored home runs and got the win for the night!

TAP-San Francisco Hosts the 30th Taiwanese American Cultural Festival

From energetic performances by the Taiwan Acrobatics Troupe to authentic eats from Liang’s Village, the 30th Taiwanese American Cultural Festival welcomed over 10,000 attendees on May 13 for a joyous celebration of the Bay Area’s unique Taiwanese heritage. Small businesses, including Yun Hai, Bitty Bao, Boundless Ceramics and Cultural Roots Nursery, and local artist Felicia Liang displayed a variety of crafts, art, plants, and goodies for purchase, while visitors had the opportunity to indulge in traditional Taiwanese ice pops, peanut-flavored cold noodles, and dried beef jerkys from vendors including HTY Foods and Combo Market. Visitors of all ages had the opportunity to engage in fun, intricate activities; young children enjoyed paper folding and lantern making, while others participated in the “passport” experience, gathering stamps around Union Square before exchanging their passport for a raffle ticket.

Check out the festival recap below or click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH-jVVaIcyI

TAP-Seattle Brings Out the Artsy Youth with a Drawing Contest to Celebrate TA Heritage

TAP-SEA encouraged the younger generation in the community to draw inspiration from their Taiwanese American heritage and illustrate what that identity means to them. Submissions from 1st through 8th grade displayed not only creativity, but nostalgia as the artists brought back their memories. Well done to all the students that participated and congratulations to all the winners!

More than a month has flown by since the #taclfam got together in Denver, Colorado for our Spring Convention & Retreat for 2023. Yes, a retreat version of convention! This time around, the National Board of Taiwanese American Citizens League hosted all chapters and programs within TACL for a reunion that was unlike any other gatherings before. 

TACL has decided to change up the format after collecting feedback from all the past participants who wanted more opportunities to learn more from each other, both professionally and personally.

For this weekend retreat, we did things a little differently by focusing mostly on team building, cross-chapter and program learning, and more bonding time through various excursions that allowed members to get to know each other better while tapping into their shared interests.

These activities ranged from hiking in the breathtaking Colorado mountains, getting artsy at the Denver Art Musuem (fun fact: one member actually helped design the architecture!), enjoying the local brews and sights the city has to offer, exploring the unique world of Meow Wolf, practicing their golf swings at TopGolf, and sharpening their skills with indoor snowboarding and skiing at Snobahn – then testing them at Breckenridge Ski Resort!. Not to mention, the boba runs! There was something for everyone.

Take a look below for some of these activities!

Last but not least, we did top off the weekend with a dinner banquet feast and, of course, karaoke before we parted ways. Thank you all who took the time to take part in our first convention retreat – we hope you enjoyed it!

Looking forward to seeing everyone again in San Francisco in September when TAP-SF hosts the the 2023 Fall Convention! 

Check out the trailer here: