The Chinese Culture Foundation cordially invites you to the Inaugural event of the

Him Mark Lai Learning Center

Saturday, June 22, 2013 2 PM Chinese Culture Center 750 Kearny St, 3F

750

Help us realize this vision! In lieu of flower baskets, contributions can be made to the Him Mark Lai Learning Center. Checks made payable to: Chinese Culture Foundation (Him Mark Lai Learning Center), 750 Kearny Street, 3F, San Francisco, CA 94108, or donate online at www.c-c-c.org

About the Him Mark Lai Learning Center:

Him Mark Lais life work exemplifies the quest to discover the history of Chinese in America. In all his work, he allowed the voices of the past to speak through his historical work. The In Search of Roots program was conceived by Him Mark Lai in the mid-1980s. Together with Al Cheng and other volunteers under the auspices of the Chinese Culture Foundation, the Roots program was developed and presented in 1991. The family of Dr. Richard and Tatwina Lee contributed generously to launch the program and sent the first group of interns to their ancestral villages in Guangdong Province. For over twenty years, the Foundation operated and supported this important program in close partnership with the Chinese Historical Society of America and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Guangdong Provincial Government ( ). The Roots Program has learned much from these incredible journeys, and it is in the spirit of cultural and self-exploration that we are committed to continue honoring the legacy of Him Mark Lai on both shores of the Pacific by establishing the Him Mark Lai Learning Center. Through the generosity of Laura Lai, and Rolland and Kathy Lowe, the Foundation is able to institutionalize and expand the In Search of Roots program.

King Jung Lam on one of the first In Search of Roots program visiting his home village in the 1990s.

Activities of the Him Mark Lai Learning Center will include:

From Dynasty to Democracy Walk : A two hour guided tour through Chinatown that highlights Chinese American contributions to American democracy, the importance in Chinese labor in building California and their uphill struggles to overcome legal, political and economic exclusion. In Search of Roots Seminars: Seminars and workshops on Chinese American history will be developed and tailored for high schools, colleges and universities, as well as the professional development needs of businesses and employee associations. These seminars will help promote cross-cultural understanding and connect people across racial, generational and socio-economic lines through stories, multi-media, and public engagement. In Search of Roots in California: Periodical field trips and study programs on aspects of Chinese American life and contributions. Participants will visit historic sites, such as, Locke, China Camp, Angel Island, gold-mining towns, fishing villages, to learn about our ancestors roles in the development of California. In Search of Roots in China: A study program focused on the study of ancestral villages in search of family roots and heritage, which includes an opportunity to experience connections .between people, families and institutions in China today.
In Search of Roots 2011 experiencing new family spirit after exploring their ancestral villages

Students from Washington Open Elementary, Santa Clara, learning about the history of Chinatown with Educational Docent Lois Kwan