About Us

Celebrate Chinese Culture in Boston

The Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association (GBCCA) is a registered non-political, non-profit organization to promote public awareness of Chinese culture and heritage, to enhance the well-being and social standing of Chinese Americans; and to provide an environment for people to learn Chinese culture, language, and arts. With nearly 60 years of history, GBCCA has innumerable accomplishments and memories from over the years. Here is a look back on some of them.

The Beginning

  • 1956 - Established as Social Club
  • 1959 - Funded the first Chinese Language School in Newton
  • 1963 - Incorporated GBCCA officially
  • Started the Chinese Family Camp in the 60's

The 70s

  • 1972 - Founded the Lexington Chinese Language School
  • 1972 - Started the Chorus group
  • 1978,1979 - Received federal grants for developing "Echoes of China"- a curriculum for students from grades 5 through 8
  • 1979 - Invited by Children’s Museum to start the annual Dragon Boat Festival along the Charles River
  • 1970's - Participated major cultural events in greater Boston Area
    • Chinese Festival at Decordova Museum
    • Orient Express at Jardon Marsh
    • Pledge Drive at PBS

The 80s,

  • 1980 - Revised By Law and established Board of Directors
  • 1980,1981,1982 - Organized the Youth Summer Job Program
  • 1981 - Obtained tax-exempt status for charitable and educational organization
  • 1982 - Grand opened Activity Center at Weston’s Field School,the first home of GBCCA.Began Adult education programs and Library
  • 1982 - Initiated a series of actions to stop Japan’s distortion of W.W.II history,including the protest at Japanese consulate in Boston on 9/17/82
  • 1982 - Started Evergreen Club for the elderly
  • 1982 - Founded Chelmsford Chinese Language School
  • 1982,1983,1984 - Participated "A Festival of Chinese Arts" in the Kennedy Library
  • 1983 - Supported the signed petition in demanding justice in the Vincent Chen murder case
  • 1983 - Hosted S.B. Wu’s campaign for lieutenant governor of Delaware
  • 1984 - Formed the Chinese Music Club
  • 1985 - Participated in the Chinese Traditional Art Exhibit at Museum of Science, GBCCA provided translation help
  • 1986 - Founded New England Chinese Youth Summer Camp
  • 1987 - Formed the Literary Club
  • 1988 - Formed the "Chinese Community Center Planning Committee", to raise fund and GBCCA home search
  • 1989 - GBCCA Chorus and Dedham,Wellesley Chorus participated the Jiang Wen-Ye memorial concert at Taipei National Concert Hall

The 90s

  • 1991 - Elaine Chao as keynote speaker in the first fundraising party for GBCCA permanent home
  • 1991 - Fundraising concert at Boston Symphony Hall for GBCCA permanent home,invited Violinist Cho-liang Lin
  • 1993 - Acquired the building at 437 Cherry Street in West Newton named it as the Chinese Community Center. Soon the Huaxin Chinese Language School at Chinese Community Center opened
  • 1994 - Start the annual participation in Boston First Night
  • 1995 - Published "the 50th anniversary of the victory of the Sino-Japanese war"
  • 1995 - Started Multi-cultural Family Night
  • 1997 - Established "Action to Revisit Chinese History" (ARCH)Committee. ARCH held an pictorial exhibit and a Concert for Peace in memory of the 60th anniversary of the "Massacre at Nanking"
  • 1997 - Published "the 157" anniversary of Opium War and the celebration of Hong Kong's return to China
  • 1998 - Co-sponsored the fundraising event Yangtze River flood victims
  • 1998 - Marched to protest against atrocities to ethnic Chinese in Indonesia
  • 1999 - Fundraising over $70,000 for Taiwan Earthquake victims
  • 1999 - Received the grant from West Suburban Elders Services to start the “Happy Hours for Elders”

The Millennium

  • 2000 - Donated $5,000 to Belgium physician Dr. Frans Vanaerschot's free clinic in Shanxi province, China
  • 2000 - Raided $15,000 for Dr. Wen-Ho Lee's Defense Fund
  • 2000 - Cynthia Ker,Chairperson of GBCCA's Board,was awarded a Medal for Outstanding Women from the City of Newton
  • 2000 - Received the Newton Mayor's Medallion Award for GBCCA's promotion of Multicultural music
  • 2000 - Began to offer Chinese Cultural Workship annually to Newton Public School. The workshop are to introduce Chinese calligraphy,arts,crafts and Chinese painting
  • 2000,2002 - Chinese Music Ensemble of GBCCA,joined by Performing Artists Salaon in Boston and Chinese Performing arts of North American in New York,presented Chinese Classical Music Concerts
  • 2000,2002,2004 - GBCCA Friend for Zigan organized concerts to benefit Zigan Fund
  • 2001 - GBCCA Library opened in the Center,received anonmous matching fund donation of $20,000
  • 2001 - Raised $26,000 for the 911 victicms
  • 2002 - Started the annual participation in WGBH TV Pledge Drives
  • 2002 - Expanded Chinese Cultural workshops to Wellesley public school
  • 2003 - Modernized the First Night Zodiac lantern by mounting it on a truck
  • 2003 - Celebrated 10th anniversary of Chinese Community Center
  • 2003 - Co-sponsored East Meet West Kite Festival
  • 2004,2005 - Participate in Bunker Hill College "Big Brother" program
  • 2005 - Co-sponsored the South Asia Tsunami Relief Fund concert and raised $36,000 that was presented to American Red Cross
  • 2005 - Founded GBCCA Huaxin School of Arts at the Center
  • 2005 - Raised $26,000 for the Katrina Relief Fund
  • 2005 - GBCCA President and Principal of Huaxin Chinese Language School was invited to the Asian American Women Leadership seminar
  • 2006 - GBCCA celebrated its 50th Anniversay by producing a biography musical "Starry Starry Night"
  • 2006 - GBCCA was invited by the Peabody Essex Museum to celebrate the Lunar New Year
  • 2007 - The renowned chef, Mr. Ming Tsai was the keynote speaker at annual banquet . He donated all his book sale proceeds about $1000.00 to GBCCA 2008 - Walk for Sichuan Earthquake Relief was organized by GBCCA. Over 80 organizations had participated. It was held in Boston Common. Over 2000 people came to the event. Near $180.000.00 was raised from this event
  • 2009 - GBCCA organized a picnic fundraising event for Taiwan Typhoon Morakot victim. It raised $12.000.00
  • 2009 - GBCCA participated in Plymouth No-Hate event and gave performance
  • 2009 - Dr. Lily Lawn won the Unsung Heroine of Massachusetts Awards