Chinese American Citizens Alliance |
| Abbreviation | C.A.C.A. |
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| Formation | 1895; 129 years ago (1895) |
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| Type | Non-profit, Non-partisan |
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| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA |
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Region | United States |
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| Website | http://cacanational.org/ |
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| Remarks | The nation's oldest Asian American civil rights organization |
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Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.) is a Chinese American fraternal, benevolent non-profit organization founded in 1895 in San Francisco, California to secure equal rights for Americans of Chinese ancestry and to better the welfare of their communities. C.A.C.A. is the United States' oldest Asian American civil rights organization.[1]
Organization
C.A.C.A. was originally named the Native Sons of the Golden State (similar to the Native Sons of the Golden West) and changed to its present name in 1915 to reflect its national presence.[2] By that time, three lodges within California in Los Angeles (1914), San Francisco (1915), and Oakland (1917) were chartered as local lodges. In the early 1920s, the building housing the national headquarters at 1044 Stockton Street in San Francisco was completed.[2] As interest for local lodges grew beyond the Golden State, the organization's name was changed to accommodate a national alliance, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance.
As of 2016, there are nineteen local lodges around the United States, including Albuquerque, Boston, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Greenville, Oakland, Orange County, Peninsula (Silicon Valley), Phoenix, Portland, Salinas, San Antonio, Greater San Gabriel Valley, San Francisco, Tucson, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Greater New York.
The Grand Lodge became the highest governing body of the Alliance with its officers elected during each biennial convention. Local lodges each have their own board of officers and associates. In addition, each local lodge annually chooses a Grand Representative to serve in a Liaison capacity between their own lodge and the Grand Lodge.[2]
Mission and values
The Purposes and Objectives of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance are to empower Chinese Americans and to improve the organization by:[3]
- pursuing the highest ethics, morals, and values, practicing and defending American citizenship and American patriotism,
- bettering the economic and political opportunities in our communities,
- preserving historical and cultural traditions, and
- assuring the education of our youth and community.
The Cardinal Principles each Member must abide by are that:[3]
- A Member shall be a person of highest character and shall uphold the principles of charity, justice, fidelity, fellowship, and mutual help of other Members, shall support the pursuit of knowledge, and must suppress self-interest to foster an organization united in cause for the good of community and our Alliance.
History
C.A.C.A has had over a century of civil rights advocacy and local community development. The Chinese Times, founded in 1924 by Walter U. Lum, became the official and national newspaper of the Alliance for over 60 years and, at one point, grew to the largest circulated Chinese language newspaper in the country.[3] Many community projects, such as the City College of San Francisco Chinatown/North Beach campus, San Francisco Chinatown Playground, and a San Francisco Chinatown police substation, have been due to the efforts and influence of Alliance members.
In recent times, C.A.C.A. continues to promote immigrant literacy programs, support the preservation of historical sites and landmarks, and approach local and state governments to ensure Asian American topics are adequately covered in school curriculums.[4] In 2012, through the collective effort of many Asian Americans including members of the C.A.C.A., worked with the 112th Congress to secure the passage of two resolutions (H Res. 683 and S. Res. 201), expressing regret for the passage of Chinese Exclusion Laws.[5] For H Res. 683, the House of Representatives passed the resolution by unanimous consent expressing regret over the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.[6]
C.A.C.A. has had a history of youth outreach programs. The Chinese American Citizens Alliance LA Lodge Youth Council (YC) was formed in August 2001 and is supported by the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Los Angeles Chapter.[7] It was created in response to the growing number of students seeking college entry counseling. The main goals of the Youth Council are to assist students with the college admission process, provide opportunities for them to perform community service and for youth leadership development. Membership currently consists of high school students, college students, and recent college graduates residing in the San Fernando Valley, Chinatown, Foothill (Arcadia and Temple City), West and East San Gabriel Valley.[8]
