CHCP Beautification Visit to Iris Chang Park

CHCP invites you to visit Iris Chang Park to celebrate Earth Day and to honor Iris Chang. Iris Chang was a Chinese American journalist, author of historical books, and political activist. She is best known for her best-selling 1997 account of the Nanking Massacre, The Rape of Nanking, and in 2003, The Chinese in America: A Narrative History.  The 2.6-acre park near Montague Expressway and Seely Avenue was inaugurated in 2019 to honor Iris. The park's six installations were very thoughtfully researched and beautifully created to carry on Iris' messages of personal activism for democracy and freedom for all.

We will first meet Iris’ parents, Ying Ying and Shau Jin Chang, who will share the family background as well as Iris’ academic love of China and its history, powerful and also tragic, as well as Iris’ recognition of Chinese American contributions and their identity in America. Through brief discussions at several of the park's installations having quotes from Iris, we will be able to know a little more of her perspective of life and what one’s role might be to improve world and community relationships.

Next we will clean and beautify the park to honor Iris, while also celebrating Earth Day (April 22), Women's History Month (March), and AAPI month (May). Some yard/landscape maintenance tools will be available, but best if you could bring your own broom, greenery disposal bags, small clippers, rake, sunhat, kneeling pads, gardening gloves, etc.

This is a free event with refreshments served after the clean-up session.

Please RSVP to CHCP Director Brenda Hee Wong at brenda.wong@chcp.org or 408-946-4015.

To learn more about Iris Chang:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Chang