By Gerrye Wong, CHCP Co-Founder and Trustee

At the May 2nd Asian American Stories (AAS) Award Ceremony attended by 450 supporters, awards were given to 20 of the 70 people who composed and submitted videos on the theme ALL OF US BELONG HERE. Snippets of all submissions were shown in a summary video as well as those composed by the first to third prize winners. CHCP supported this fine program, hosted by the non-profit Silicon Valley Community Media, by being a sponsor hosting one table for its Board members in attendance.  This event kicked off the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month of May, with many of the 70 contestants brought on stage to win specific awards chosen by a team of 15 judges. The 2024 entries came from all over the world, with one entrant from Alaska who was introduced on stage. To support the AAS fundraising effort, CHCP President Dave Yick and Director Edith Gong were high bidders for the auction prize of a private tour and reception for 20 guests at the famed Flintstone House seen off Hwy 280 in Hillsborough. 

This first-time award ceremony was well received by supporters, such as CHCP, who share the desire to encourage more Asian American stories to be told, similar to what CHCP plans to accomplish with its upcoming Oral Histories Project.

CHCP Co-Founder Gerrye Wong was honored with the 2024 Legendary Story Teller Award for her 40 years of writing about Chinese community and history in newspapers (Chinese Press and Asian Week), magazines (Vancouver's Chinatown news and Gentry), and websites (dingdingtv).  She spoke of the pride she felt telling the thousands of school children, who visited CHCP's Chinese American Historical Museum, of the stories of the early Chinese communities who settled in the San Jose area, as well as her proudest moment when she and CHCP Advisory Board Member Connie Young Yu, together with CHCP support, encouraged the City of San Jose to draft and issue a Resolution of Apology to the Chinese residents who were unfairly discriminated against in their past Chinatowns in the 1800s and at the turn of the century.

Gerrye Wong's video submission tells of her personal story growing up to finally learn to appreciate her Chinese heritage, not only embracing it, but proudly telling the world about the many contributions Chinese have made to America’s history.

CHCP Co-Vice President of Marketing/Outreach Dr. Arthur Jue was awarded an Excellence Award at the dinner for his one-minute video submission of retired ABC Reporter David Louie’s speech made at CHCP's January membership dinner. His video highlighted David Louie's journey and groundbreaking career as an Asian pioneer in media.

Watch Gerrye Wong's and Dr. Arthur Jue's videos:

CHCP Advisory Board Member Ron Chan also participated in the video contest, submitting two videos. The first video, about a virtual conversation with his late grandfather, was created by blending artificial intelligence with live recordings! Ron's second entry titled "I'm Coming Home" is of his father Alfred Chan, a WWII veteran, recounting his emotional return home from the war. Watch both videos below: