In the fall of 1971, a group of Chinese Americans in the Detroit Metropolitan area was invited by Dr. Andrew Yang to the Bloomfield Hunt Club to hear a presentation by K.L. Wang on the need for a national Chinese American organization.  The purpose of the organization was to promote the welfare and interests of Chinese Americans, to encourage Chinese Americans to become more active in the American way of life, and to play an advocacy role in legislation pertinent to Chinese Americans.

In the early seventies, the Vietnam War was still raging and the U.S. Government did not recognize the People’s Republic of China. Relations between China and the Untied States had not thawed.  There was concern that a potential confrontation between the United States and China could lead to possible incarceration of Chinese Americans as experienced by the Japanese Americans in World War II.

民权法案是在1964年才通过的, and the Immigration and Nationality Act was passed in 1965.  These acts put the Chinese Americans more at par with the general American community and other ethnic groups.  However discrimination still existed in social welfare programs, 经济和教育机会.  An organization was needed to seek social justice, protect civil rights and ensure economic opportunities.

The above concerns have been in the minds of many in the community for some time.  Consequently, they were receptive to the concept of a national organization.  筹备委员会成立了. 亚历克斯·H. 马克被选为委员会主席.  Others on the Committee included David Hwang, Joseph Lee, Mrs. S. W. Ting, H.C. Tai, Charles Wang和Andrew Yang.

第一次会议于1971年11月举行, 建立目标, 新组织的目标和组成.  在2月20日, 1972, a general meeting of Chinese Americans in the Detroit area was assembled to vote on the constitution and elect a 董事会.  Dr. 亚历克斯·H. 马克被选为校长，H.C. 副总裁大.  The Association of Chinese Americans (ACA) became the name of the organization.  The Board held its first meetings at the offices of Dr. Andrew Yang在密歇根州伯明翰报道.

On May 26, 1972, over 200 people attended ACA’s inaugural dinner at the Chin Tiki Restaurant.  Lt. 州长詹姆斯·H. 密歇根的布里克里作了主题演讲, and officiated at the installation of the first 董事会.

ACA was incorporated in the State of Michigan in July 1972 and received an IRS tax exemption in October 1972.  It published its first quarterly newsletter under the editorship of Elizabeth King, 1972年9月.  ACA grew rapidly and reached 210 members by mid-1973.

Fourteen ACA members attended the inaugural Convention of the Organization of Chinese Americans (亚奥理事会) in June 9, 1973.  ACA provided much of the leadership in the formation of the national organization and was officially voted to become the first chapter of the national Organization of Chinese Americans (亚奥理事会).  Greater Washington organized its chapter in the fall of 1973.  St. Louis voted to become a chapter of 亚奥理事会 in early 1974.  These three chapters became recognized as the charter chapters of 亚奥理事会.

ACA hosted the first National Convention of 亚奥理事会 in May 1974, in Southfield, Michigan.  150多名代表出席了会议.  代表们来自西雅图、丹佛、圣. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Boston, New York, Washington DC and many other cities in the Midwest.  大会的主题是团结.  The goals and direction of the organization were established for the next few years.

ACA continues to thrive because of the dedication of many of its members and leaders.  一个成功的组织不是凭空产生的.  Many members have put in considerable time and effort to make the Association beneficial to the members and to others.

One of ACA’s major contributions was to establish a communications and cooperative link with the other Chinese American groups, including the On-Leong Merchants Association and the National Welfare Council.  ACA had co-sponsored a health clinic and activities for the elderly and had conducted voter registration drives. ACA became the center of attention during the Vincent Chin affair. Various programs were offered to members during the 80s such as a health plan through Total Healthcare, 一所广东话学校, 中国电影在福特总部放映. ACA hosted the 亚奥理事会 National Convention again in 1989.  ACA在2000年率先行动, the formation of the Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) in an effort to unite all Asians in celebrating the APA Heritage Month. 在过去的25年里, ACA led the movement of recognizing scholarship and excellence among the High School students by granting scholarships to outstanding students. ACA continues to play a leading role in the community, 在亚奥理事会, and as a link to other ethnic and Asian Pacific Islander groups and communities.

唐人街医疗诊所

The 唐人街医疗诊所 in downtown Detroit was a long time dream of Dr. Sik吴叮.  Under the leadership of the ACA Social Welfare Committee Chairperson, George Lim Poy, Sr.1973年9月9日，它成为了现实.  The mission was to service the medical and social needs of the estimated 300 older Chinese American adults living in the Chinatown area at the time.

The chartered members of the staff at the clinic included Dr. Ting, serving as the first medical director, Alice Lowe, R.N.，林poy, R.N.，还有Jane和Kin Yee.   十年后，凯西·魏，R.N.来加入诊所.  Some years later the clinic was fortunate to have two registered pharmacists, Peter Yee和Mirian Tsang.  这些年来有很多人, ACA成员和社区志愿者, who came forward to augment the services of the regular staff.

1979年,博士. 丁氏已退休及. Silas Cheuk, a family physician, as the medical director, succeeded him.  Dr. Cheuk had been our guiding force and he served continuously from 1979 until he retired in 1996.

The original clinic was conducted in the On-Leong merchants Association building on Cass Avenue.  The office was generously donated by On-Leong and for many years they also picked up the dinner tab each evening for the staff and volunteers at the clinic.  一九八五年应安良商人之邀, the clinic was moved to their newly renovated building just around the corner on Peterboro Avenue.

Although the prime focus of the Clinic was to serve the medical needs of the seniors, services were provided to individuals of all ages regardless of their financial background.  Annual flu shots were conducted with vaccine donated by Dr. 卓和安梁商人.  Limited medications were provided to all clients free of charge.  Some of the medications were purchased by ACA, but most of them were free samples donated by Dr. Cheuk.  Dr. 辛西娅·周捐赠了皮肤药物.  In the early years, the average client population was small consisting of 12-20 people.  The client visits grew throughout the years and they averaged 60 once each month in recent years.  Social services were also provided as time permitted.

In 1996, the needs of the Chinatown population changed and, 作为一个结果, 华埠诊所关闭了.

底特律救助中心

Dr. 玛丽莎壮族明, 与ACA总裁一起, 安东尼•李, 1989年成立了上门服务中心.  They formulated the concept of seeking State funding to provide services to the older adults in the Cass Chinatown area.  Several proposals were drafted and submitted to the various State Agencies for funding.  Community support was strong, especially by the Governor’s Commission on Asian Affairs.  As a result of the strong endorsement by the Chinese American Commissioners, 狮子座何, 罗兰黄, 还有安东尼·李的辛勤工作, ACA was able to obtain several grants to fund the Drop-In Service Center.

该中心于1990年10月正式开业.  The Drop-In Service Center provides the Chinese American community with a broad scope of social services including assistance and counseling to new immigrant families.  The program was successfully expanded to the Canton and Plymouth area in 2005.  ACA currently provides preventive mental health and outreach services to over 700 clients in Wayne County.  ACA provides quality services to an ever-increasing number of clients through the generous support and collaboration from various community agencies, corporate sponsors and local 教育 institutes.  The Drop-In Service Center also offers daily senior hot lunch, 长期护理计划谘询, 语言帮助, 心理健康咨询, 健康检查和计算机培训.

2011年1月, the Center relocated to its present location inside the Hannan House on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. The new location allows the Center to reach out to more people, especially in the nearby cultural area of downtown Detroit and Wayne State University.

A 华人社区中心 (CCC) in Madison Heights, MI

ACA has always dreamed of owning a Community Center, 这对我们来说, 社区的利益攸关, 另一个家. Such a center is intended to embody the spirit and purpose of ACA – to serve the Chinese, 亚洲人, 以及整个社区. Thus, the CCC fulfills ACA’s mission of maintaining the presence of Chinese/Asians in the community. 它, 同时, as a voice and can play an advocacy role for 亚洲人 as well as the culturally diverse population in the community. The dream was finally realized in December 2003 when a vacant 10,000 sq ft building that used to be the old Chi-Chi restaurant was purchased for the price of $1.4 M. ACA members, Mason and Grace Yu generously donated $1M. Ford Fund, Detroit Edison and many ACA members donated the rest.  The establishment of this physical presence in Madison Heights is another landmark achievement in the 38 years of ACA’s history in Michigan.

The 华人社区中心 (CCC) opened its doors to serve the community on August 8th, 2005.  凯发网站地址 and activities were immediately put in place. 志愿者s and staff are diligently working to keep the building open and maintained seven days a week as the demand for its use keeps rising.  Numerous corporate and government grants were successfully obtained in the past five years to support the CCC’s programs and operation.  从文化, 教育, 以及社会服务于社区关系, the CCC offers a broad scope of activities that benefit the community.  因为CCC属于社区, 我们的凯发网站地址如夏令营, 中国画, 高级园艺, 乒乓球, 舞厅跳舞, and daily hot lunch cover a wide range of interests and an age spectrum from the young to older adults. In 2011, the Center underwent a major renovation with the replacement of the flooring and carpeting in the two main halls. We continue to work on enhancing our services to the community and to fulfill our commitment to serve.