May 10, 2024 | Vol. 53, Issue 9

The only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England

Day: February 19, 2021

Amidst new state initiatives, bilingual senior home residents reflect on overcoming vaccine hesitancy

For weeks, a coalition of local organizations and medical professionals have urged Governor Charlie Baker to prioritize the state’s minority and immigrant communities during COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Further slowing vaccination efforts, vaccine hesitancy stemming from historical health inequities persists among eligible seniors in those communities. Two Chinese residents of the Brown Family House, who received the COVID-19 vaccine as part of Phase 1 of Massachusetts’ rollout plan, spoke to Sampan about the experience and why they overcame their vaccine hesitancy. […]

Upcoming Park Renovations on The Greenway

By Rachel Lake The Greenway Conservancy is delighted to announce a series of upcoming park renovations to The Greenway in Chinatown this spring. These upgrades are focused on safety and community use, and were informed by community feedback and input, as well as by recommendations of the Conservancy’s Chin Park Lighting Study.  Mary Soo Hoo Park on The Greenway is undergoing renovations this spring to better utilize and light this space. The Conservancy will remove the 5 granite structures in […]

Douzo owner Jack Huang on persevering through the pandemic

Boston Chinatown restaurants are some of the worst-hit businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several places have closed down without knowing if they will reopen again. What many businesses had thought would be a temporary closure a year ago still remains today. Douzo Sushi Owner Jack Huang said, “Asian restaurants actually took a big hit. In general, the hospitality industry has been destroyed.” Despite that, Huang’s business has persevered, and he shared in an interview with Sampan how they managed to […]

Wen-hao Tien wields metaphorical meanings in her new exhibit: Home On our Backs

Photo: Wen-Hao Tien’s Home on Our Backs: Dust to Mountains, Red Dress, and Nostalgia at the Pao Arts Center 2021 (Photo courtesy of Warren Patterson Photography) “We believe mountains can be moved, that worlds exist within a rock, and respond emotionally to the color red.” These metaphorical words perfectly exemplify Wen-Hao Tien’s new exhibit at the Pao Arts Center: Home on our Backs.  Originally, Tien is trained in calligraphy and monochrome works, but she has recently taken a turn into […]

Pamelyn Chee on being an Asian actress and upcoming film ‘Boogie’

Singaporean actress Pamelyn Chee fell in love with acting when she was seven, playing her first role as a duck in a performance with a Chinese Dance Troupe.  “I really enjoy the kind of feeling where you’re just 100% there. Acting is the only sort of thing that provides that feeling of being present,” said Chee. “It was 99% foolishness and 1% determination to never give up. …This was truly what I wanted to do, and I was okay with […]

Tech companies must address hate speech aimed at BIPOC

As tech companies have grown increasingly prevalent, moderation, especially in regards to hateful or discriminatory content, has as well. While most tech companies have policies that clearly delineate what is free speech and what is hate speech, for some — such as LinkedIn — enforcing those policies is what has become problematic. Edward Hsieh, chief operating officer of the Asian American Civic Association (AACA), said he received a harassing message from a LinkedIn burner-profile accusing him of being a “spy […]

Sam Wah Kee: Chinatown’s wealthy merchant turned fugitive

During the late 1880s and 1890s, Sam Wah Kee was the most wealthy Chinese merchant in all of New England, a leader of the Chinese Free Masons, and the uncrowned king of Chinatown. His ultimate fate is unknown, as he fled from federal authorities and apparently was never apprehended. It’s a fascinating tale of the rise and fall of an influential Chinese merchant in Boston’s Chinatown.  Sam Wah Kee, whose family name was actually Ah Moy, was born on October 1, 1856, in […]

PPP: round 2 changes geared towards small businesses

Since the pandemic began, local economies and neighborhoods have seen devastating challenges as businesses struggle to remain open or adjust to this new environment. The hospitality industry took the worst hit, with the number of open businesses decreased to 54.6% and a 64% decrease in revenue for small businesses in the industry. In Boston Chinatown, Relationship Manager at Citizens Bank, Herb Wong said, “I know a lot of business owners, they are struggling. They asked me, ‘Hey should we close […]

president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden sworn in on inauguration day

Advocates cautiously optimistic about Biden’s immigration policies

City representatives and advocates have said that president Joe Biden’s newest immigration policies have brought them hope, but that there is still skepticism in the community. While Biden’s sweeping reforms have appeared bold, it will likely take time for the former Trump administration’s actions to be reversed.  One of Biden’s first steps was to sign a memorandum on January 20 that ordered the attorney general and the secretary of Homeland Security to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood […]

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