Earlier this month, TACL held its Spring Retreat in Long Beach, CA which brought together 85 board members and alumni from across the country for a meaningful and energizing weekend. 

The retreat kicked-off with a TAPpy hour at The Bungalow Long Beach, co-hosted with TAP-LA and TAP-OC, where attendees reconnected and built new relationships overlooking the California sunset. Over the next two days, the TACL family engaged in thoughtfully curated programming designed to explore TACL’s past, present, and future.

Highlights included an interactive history session, group discussions around identity and leadership, a zine-making workshop that encouraged creative self-expression, and a powerful Leadership Panel featuring former TACL National Presidents. These sessions provided space for attendees to reflect on their personal journeys, share stories, and engage in dialogue about the evolving role of Taiwanese American leadership in today’s world.

The most exciting reveal of the weekend was the announcement of the Fall Convention…Taking place from September 19-21, 2025 in Austin, TX!

In addition to programming, the weekend featured a variety of activities that showcased everything Long Beach had to offer. Attendees could take part in dragon boat practice, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, or even complete a lively city scavenger hunt around Long Beach. Small group dinners consisted of local favorites such as In-N-Out, Downtown Disney, Mexican street tacos, and much more.

The retreat wrapped up in a truly special occasion, TACL’s 40th Anniversary Gala aboard the historic Queen Mary. This milestone celebration honored four decades of leadership, advocacy, and community building, and provided an inspiring close to an unforgettable weekend.

Whether you’re a longtime member or new to the TACL family, this retreat reminded us all why we do what we do—and why this community means so much. Here’s to the next 40 years! 🥂🇹🇼

The Taiwanese American Citizens League (TACL) proudly celebrated its 40th anniversary with a sold-out gala at The Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, bringing together over 160 program leaders, alumni, community members, and civic leaders from across the country.

Masters of ceremonies Erica Brozovsky and Tiffany Chang highlighted TACL’s legacy of community building and leadership development across generations. TACL National President Peter Han officially welcomed guests to the celebration. “I’m excited to celebrate our momentous milestone with everyone!” states Peter Han, “It’s been an amazing 40 years with more to come!” Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Director General Amino Chi shared congratulatory remarks. Susan Redfield, President of Sister Cities of Long Beach presented certificates to honor TACL’s continued service and impact. Long Beach shares a meaningful sister city with Taoyuan and sister port with Port of Kaohsiung relationships with Taiwan.

The gala featured live performances by Taiwanese American musicians Jessica Chen and Alan Wang, whose string duo performed popular Mandarin pop songs and an original medley composed by fellow committee member George Shaw. The evening included a high-energy concert performance by Niko Rain, an alum of LYF youth camp. Their performances reflected TACL’s commitment to uplifting Taiwanese American talent and culture.

Group photo of all of the gala attendees.

Guests were treated to a touching video montage that captured TACL’s programs over the decades—from the founding of TAP chapters nationwide to the expansion of youth camps and political internship programs such as LID, LYF, and PIP. The video also featured a heartfelt voice message from TACL’s founder, Li-Pei Wu, who reflected on the organization’s origins and its enduring mission to cultivate Taiwanese American identity and leadership. The tribute served as both a nostalgic look back and a call to continue the legacy for future generations. The event also honored past and current presidents of TACL and its programs for their leadership and contributions. More than 25 names were read aloud in gratitude as they stood to warm applause.

Attendees relive TACL’s history through the video montage

The keynote speaker of the evening, Andrea Yi Shan Yang, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the United States (TECRO), traveled from Washington, D.C. to share remarks on the importance of community engagement in strengthening U.S.-Taiwan relations.

Keynote speaker, Andrea Yi Shan Yang, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the United States (TECRO)

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the “TACL Legacy of Service” award to long-time community leader Ho Chie Tsai, founder of TaiwaneseAmerican.org and founding member of TAP-SF. The award was presented by Congresswoman Judy Chu, a strong supporter of the Taiwanese American community, praising Tsai’s decades of dedication to supporting the Taiwanese American identity and mentoring future generations. In his remarks, Tsai reflected on his decades-long connection with TACL, beginning as a high school student in the 1980s when he met early organizer Rob Liu. He later discovered his own mother, Shu M. Tsai, served as TACL-LA’s first Executive Director in 1992. Tsai shared how attending TACL’s first National Convention and serving over a decade as a LYF youth camp counselor deeply shaped his passion for youth mentorship and inspired his later work in community building. He accepted the award in honor of his mother and the late James Tseng, noting, “All our work is intricately connected.”

Ho Chie Tsai walking to stage to receive TACL’s “Legacy of Service” award

The illustrious city of Washington D.C. opened its doors for a weekend to remember as the #TACLfam gathered for our Fall Convention, hosted by TAP-DC. Our theme for this year centered around leadership and “TACLing You”. With such a diverse group of community members, leaders and advocates from across the country, we were able to gather for inspiring discussions, workshops and opportunities to connect.

The convention kicked off on Friday hosted by TAP-DC with a record-breaking TAPpy Hour at the Royal Sands Bar in Navy Yard, drawing over 100 attendees! This vibrant gathering showcased the strength of the TACL community, with DC board alumni attending from as far back as 15 years ago. Participants enjoyed refreshments, shared stories, and forged new connections, which set a lively tone for the weekend ahead.

Our first day of programming was packed with engaging programming focused on leadership development, with a leadership workshop led by Amy Chin and an emotional intelligence workshop led by Jorinna Tran and Jeannie Shen. We also got to hear from amazing speaker panels starting off with a “Building Political Power” panel featuring: Anny Chiao-Yun Hsiao, Clifton Yin, Ben Wu and moderated by Angelina Liu. Following up we had a panel with AAPI leaders featuring: Ditas M. Katague, Chiling Tong, Stephen S. Kho and moderated by Peter Han.

We were honored to welcome Ambassador Tai to our convention as a special guest speaker. Ambassador Tai serves on the president’s cabinet and is the principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on U.S. trade policy. Her fireside chat was moderated by Phylicia Wu, where she shared the importance of having Asian American representation in politics and her experience being on the presidential cabinet. Attendees were inspired by her journey and insights on advocacy and leadership.

Saturday was wrapped up by splitting off and exploring the finest restaurants and sightseeing that DC has to offer.

On Sunday we had a brief workshop on working with Volunteers that was facilitated by Wellington Tzou. Followed up by separate tracks for our Taiwanese American Professional, Youth Camp and Alumni attendees. Where they each tackled various methods to better serve their goals. Our sessions included GOTV and Case Studies workshops led by Kathryn Quintin and Wellington Tzou, discussions on how to better service campers facilitated by Joel Cheng and how to increase engagement amongst alumni with Belle Lee.

The group gathered back together for some dynamic best practices workshops where our community leaders shared skills and knowledge to improve community engagement and organizational growth. Such as grant writing, cultural festival planning and board recruitment.

And in the blink of an eye, the convention came to an end. Not before we celebrated the weekend of learning and reconnecting with a banquet at Tony Cheng.

The TACL National Convention was not just an event; it was a gathering of passion, purpose, and potential. As we reflect on the weekend, we look forward to the continued growth of our community and the impactful work we will undertake together.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this convention a memorable and meaningful experience. We can’t wait to see you next year as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of TACL! We will bring it back to where it all started– Greater Los Angeles! Join us for a weekend in Long Beach with the Anniversary Gala on April 6, 2025. 

Last month, we made strides in supporting mental health within the Taiwanese American community by hosting our first event, “Dealing with Anger, Guilt, and Resentment.” Partnering with Anise Health, a provider of holistic mental health services for the Asian community, this virtual workshop addressed the complex emotions many community members face, especially those rooted in family dynamics.

Understanding that anger, guilt, and resentment often go unaddressed in our culture, we invited therapists Naomi Yu and Dr. Sean Cheng to share their insights and strategies for emotional well-being.

Here are 10 things we learned:

1. Negative emotions aren’t inherently bad—they are important signals. Dr. Sean Cheng shared that it’s helpful to view these emotions as data points rather than simply as negative experiences. By tracking our emotional responses without judgment, similarly to how we monitor our physical health, we gain valuable insights into our reactions and behavior. Naomi Yu echoed this by explaining how these emotions often reflect an underlying issue: anger often emerges when our goals are obstructed, guilt arises from actions we perceive as wrong, and resentment can signal unmet needs or boundary violations. Understanding these signals allows us to address underlying issues more effectively and use our emotions to guide us towards healthier outcomes.

2. Unpack the cultural expectations (also known as the “should’s) in order to better understand your needs and wants. Cultural influences heavily impact how we process and express emotions, particularly in collectivist societies where group harmony is often prioritized over individual expression. As Naomi Yu explained, many of us live according to “shoulds”—doing what we think we should do based on these ingrained cultural expectations. By acknowledging and challenging these cultural expectations, we can begin to shift towards a more balanced and authentic emotional expression. One way to do this is to challenge thought patterns and become more aware. Ask yourself: Where did I learn this? Where did this rule come from? What is this “should” about?

3. Setting appropriate boundaries helps prevent compromising beyond your comfort level and stops unmet needs from turning into resentment. In the Taiwanese community, we often prioritize others’ needs, sometimes at the expense of our own. This works if others also look out for you, but when they don’t, it leads to unmet needs and eventual resentment. This culture of self-sacrifice can make prioritizing your needs feel selfish, even when it’s not. Dr. Sean Cheng suggests identifying your starting point (Point A) by asking yourself what you need and want. Without this clarity, you might end up starting at Point C, already compromising more than intended given the natural instinct of anticipating and meeting other people’s needs first.

4. Shame is a barrier to self-compassion. Learn to disentangle your sense of self from feelings of shame by paying attention to how you talk to yourself. Within our community, shame often leads to self-criticism, making you feel worthless or undeserving of love. Mistakes happen, and it’s important to challenge the idea of being perfect or trying to be everything to everyone. One way to do this is by tracking in a journal how often you shame yourself each day over a few weeks, and work to separate your identity from these feelings of inadequacy. This helps encourage self-compassion, while gaining insight into your behavior and learning how to respond differently in the future.

5. Seek out “Yes!” moments. Instead of following the “shoulds” dictated by family expectations or societal success, focus on those instances that truly resonate with your values—where you feel joyful and aligned. These moments are powerful indicators of what’s truly important in your life. Notice where they occur, whether it’s when you’re being creative, connecting with others, or engaging in activities that bring you genuine delight. Experiment with different experiences to discover where your “Yes!” moments happen. Similarly, paying attention to “No!” moments—times of discomfort or dissonance—can reveal when your boundaries are crossed or when your actions aren’t in sync with your true desires. These moments are just as valuable in understanding yourself and guiding your choices.

6. Recognize default modes, but identify alternative choice points. In order to break free of the negative patterns, it’s important to recognize your default modes learned from your parents or societal expectation. From there, identify alternative choice points. You may end up choosing the same path, but your internal process may be different because of things you may be considering. And it’s helpful to slow down that automated process by saying, “Okay this was a default.” But the next time I’m encountering that situation, I have option A, B or C, and even with that I can say that that’s progress. Even if you end up with the same outcome, if your process to get there is filled with a lot more compassion, a lot more intentionality, a lot more mindfulness or self care, then you’re already breaking that cycle of negative learned patterns.

7. It’s important to acknowledge and validate your feelings, including anger toward your parents for imperfect or maladaptive parenting. As Naomi explains, the first step in healing is grieving—giving yourself permission to feel emotions like “My needs weren’t met,” “My parents weren’t emotionally available,” or “I didn’t deserve this treatment.” It’s okay to feel angry. Once you’ve allowed space for these feelings, you can begin to heal and move forward. Later on, if you can find compassion for your parents, it’s a positive sign of healing. You might think, “They let me down, but they did the best they could with what they knew, even if it wasn’t enough.” When you can hold everyone involved with compassion, it helps you come to terms with who they are, empowering you to decide what kind of relationship you want with your parents moving forward.

8. Navigating conflict is like leveling up in a game—you start with the basics and gradually take on tougher challenges. Dr. Sean Cheng uses the analogy of fighting small moblins in the forest with a wooden sword. These early battles represent smaller, less emotionally charged conflicts, where you can practice and develop your conflict resolution skills. As you gain experience and tools in communication, you become better equipped to face the “mega bosses”—the deeper, more complex conflicts, like longstanding issues with parents, with greater confidence and ability.

9. Use calming techniques to cope better with intense feelings in the moment. During emotional escalation, the part of the brain that manages impulse control can temporarily “go offline.” By focusing on lengthening your exhale, you can activate your parasympathetic nervous system—the “rest and digest” system—helping you physically slow down and bring your brain back online. This technique can help you stay grounded and manage intense feelings more effectively.

10. We shouldn’t wait for a crisis to address our mental health, just as we wouldn’t wait for a heart attack to start exercising. Many in the Asian community, including Taiwanese individuals, often view mental health through a pathological lens, associating therapy with something only needed in severe cases. However, everyone can benefit from therapy, self-care, and self-compassion, regardless of the situation. By challenging internalized stigmas and normalizing conversations about mental health, we can create a more supportive environment.

Interested in learning more about mental health topics? Visit Anise Health, explore TACL’s mental health resources, or reach out to us at wellness@tacl.org

To celebrate Women’s History Month, Taiwanese American Citizens League (TACL) hosted an inaugural virtual fireside chat as part of the national women’s initiative on March 20, 2024, featuring a powerful panel of Taiwanese American women leaders in the TACL network. This engaging fireside chat delved into their experiences navigating cultural bridges, asserting themselves as leaders, and shattering both glass and bamboo ceilings. The discussion covered a range of leadership topics relevant to the intersection of Taiwanese American culture and the identity of women.

Key Takeaways from the Insightful Conversation:

• Balancing Cultures: Panelists discussed navigating situations where Taiwanese and American cultural expectations clashed. They emphasized the importance of contextualizing situations and honoring the intentions behind cultural norms.
• Diverse Voices, Shared Values: The discussion showcased the multifaceted nature of the Taiwanese American experience. Panelists came from various backgrounds and industries, but all spoke to the importance of cultural identity and community engagement.
• Leadership Styles: The discussion explored how their upbringing as Taiwanese Americans shaped their leadership styles. Several panelists highlighted the value of “servant leadership,” prioritizing team support and fostering a harmonious environment.
• Breaking Barriers: The panelists shared stories of overcoming the glass and bamboo ceilings – invisible barriers hindering women and minorities in leadership roles. They emphasized resilience, trusting your gut, and celebrating your unique cultural identity.
• Empowering Women: The panelists offered invaluable advice for aspiring Taiwanese American women leaders. Building community, mentorship, and advocating for yourself were highlighted as key strategies for success.

The fireside chat concluded with a lively open forum, where attendees had the opportunity to engage with the panelists, dig deeper into the topics discussed, and share their own stories. The conversation reframed how we can bring our unique perspective of navigating blended cultural expectations as assets rather than limitations. To conclude the event, attendees were given a list of journaling ideas, generated from the collection of questions submitted by the group. Addressing structural barriers and cultural expectations is a generative process. The more we can practice thinking through these issues, tapping in our vulnerability, and connecting with each other, the more prepared we are to react to difficult situations in real time. 

This event focused on fostering a sense of connection and inspiration within the Taiwanese American community. TACL is committed to empowering and celebrating the achievements of Taiwanese American women leaders. The women’s initiative provides a safe space for Taiwanese American women and allies to discuss hardships, celebrate big and small wins, and share advice with each other.

For those already part of the TACL network, please join our dedicated Slack channel to engage further with our Women’s Initiative group. For those not yet part of the TACL network, find your nearest TAP chapter and start your TACL journey to further your connection with the Taiwanese American community today. The goal of our group is to foster a supportive community that empowers more Taiwanese American women in leadership.

Special shoutout to our moderators and panelists for facilitating this engaging discussion!

• Moderators:
  • Belle Lee, Co-Director of Alumni Relations of TACL National Board and Former TAP-BOS President
  • Cindy Lee, Vice President of TACL National Board and Former TAP-LA President 
• Panelists:
  • Jessica Tan, Co-President of TAP-ATL
  • Jeannie Shen, President of TAP-DC

Stay tuned for future events and initiatives!

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.