The Chinese American Heritage Network (CAHN) promotes public interest in Chinese and Chinese American culture and history by building mutual supportive and collaborative connections among Chinese American heritage organizations across Northern California. The CAHN accomplishes this goal by collecting information about upcoming events, exhibits, and programs hosted by CAHN members and sharing that information among its members and the public.
Our History
By Douglas Hsia, Coordinator
It was year 2000, Corliss Lee, Carol Lee, and I visited the Auburn Joss House on a road trip. There we met Eric Chun, who had grown up in Auburn but had spent most of his adult life working in the music industry in Los Angeles.
After returning home, Eric inherited responsibility for the Joss House. Being more American than Chinese in his upbringing, he found himself wondering how best to maintain and interpret the Chinese heritage of the temple.
Over the years, I have traveled to many remote Chinese American historic sites across the West. Often these places are lovingly cared for by passionate local people who appreciate Chinese American heritage and history. Yet many of them could benefit from deeper guidance in cultural observance and, more importantly, from being connected to a broader community of like-minded community.
Out of these experiences, the idea of forming the Chinese American Heritage Network was born. We started with 14 founding members, and our roster is growing slowly as more stewards of historic locations come forward to join our cause.
The inaugural conference of the network was held on July 9, 2022, in the historic Delta town of Locke, bringing together heritage stewards, historians, and community leaders dedicated to preserving Chinese American history.
Attendees at the first CAHN conference at Locke, July 9, 2022.
Please use the contact box below to contact us with questions or if you are part of an organization that would like to join our network!
Chinese American Heritage Network 