01/31/2025
CCACC News - CCACC 2025 Lunar New Year Celebration Successfully kicks Off on 1/25
The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) and Westfield Montgomery held a grand Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Westfield Montgomery Mall, attracting numerous residents to participate and enjoy this festive occasion filled with joy and traditional charm.
The event commenced at 10:40 AM with a Dragon Parade performed by the CCACC Youth Dragon Team inside the mall. Led by Catherine Brady, Marketing Director of Westfield Montgomery, and special guests Taylor Krause and Garrett Josemans from Netflix's reality show "Love Is Blind," the Dragon Team paraded around the mall's main stores and the Food Court.
At 11:00 AM, they returned to the central stage to officially open the celebration, instantly drawing a large crowd of spectators and creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. Following this, the event hosts, Ms. Dorothy Lin and Mr. Charlie Tatum, took the stage to extend heartfelt New Year greetings to the guests and audience in attendance.
Honored guests arrive to extend their congratulations
As introduced by the hosts, Ned Li (CCACC Co-founder & Director of CCACC Adult Day Healthcare Center, as well as the chief coordinator of this event) was the first to take the stage to deliver a welcome speech. On behalf of Rita Lewi, Executive Director of CCACC, he warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and audience and extended his heartfelt New Year wishes. He also introduced the Chinese meaning of the pair of grand spring couplets hanging prominently on display, leaving the guests in awe.
Ms. Brady then introduced and invited the special guests, Krause and Josemans, to the stage, prompting a wave of applause and cheers throughout the mall.
Next, Susan Lee, Maryland Secretary of State, took the stage alongside Chung K. Pak, Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings, to deliver a speech. She presented a proclamation jointly signed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, and herself, recognizing CCACC's contributions to the community.
Ms. Lee also invited Christina Poy, Administrative Director of the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives, and Dr. Yang Yu, Chair of the Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, to join her on stage, expressing their support and appreciation for CCACC.
Ashima Talwar, State Director of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen Office, took the stage to present a citation personally signed by the senator Van Hollen, recognizing CCACC's efforts in promoting multicultural integration.
Maryland State Delegate Joseph Vogel, who arrived just in time, then took the stage to deliver a speech. He shared his experiences attending CCACC events and highly praised the organization's dedication and contributions to the community over the past over 40 years.
Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive, took the stage alongside Kate Stewart, Montgomery County Council President, and County Councilmembers: Andrew Friedson, Gabe Albornoz, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Marilyn Balcombe, Kristin Mink, Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Dawn Luedtke, as well as Monique Ashton, Rockville Mayor, to present a proclamation.
In his speech, County Executive Elrich emphasized the important contributions of the Asian community to Montgomery County's multicultural landscape and reaffirmed that the county government will continue to support the development of the Asian community. Councilmember Kristin Mink specifically mentioned her Chinese heritage and expressed great pride in CCACC's achievements.
Maxwell Uy, Montgomery County Sheriff, along with Sean O'Donnell, County Deputy Chief Health Officer, and Kimberly Y. Johnson, Director of Area Agency on Aging of Montgomery County Department of Health & Human Services, took the stage to deliver speeches.
Julie Yang, President of Montgomery County Board of Education and CCACC Board Member, then spoke on behalf of the education sector and presented a citation to CCACC, recognizing its outstanding achievements in education and cultural preservation.
The spectacular performance captivated the audience
After the speeches by the distinguished guests, the event moved into the exciting performances part. First, performers from Shaolin Hung Fun Kung Fu presented a thrilling Lion Dance. Their superb skills ignited the atmosphere, and in particular, CCACC had specially prepared red envelopes to be distributed to the guests, audience, and children. Everyone eagerly fed the red envelopes to the lion, perfectly showcasing the traditional culture of the Lunar New Year.
The celebration featured a variety of performances, showcasing both traditional and modern arts. Martial arts were demonstrated by students from the US Wushu Academy, followed by captivating Chinese folk dances from the Madison Chinese Dance Academy. The Washington DC Taiwanese School (WDCTS) Yo-Yo Club impressed with their skillful performance.
Traditional arts were highlighted with live Chinese calligraphy and Guzheng music, while the CCACC Evergreen Tai Chi Club performed a Tai Chi Sword. Yi Dance Studio presented an umbrella dance, and Xiaorong Dance Studio performed a folk dance. The CCACC Evergreen Club Choir and members of CCACC Evergreen Club also performed a range of songs and musical pieces.
Other performances included a violin solo, Peking opera, and folk dances, as well as a dance performance by the Potomac Chinese School Parent Dance Class and line dance from CCACC Line Dance Club. There were also multiple Tibetan dance performances and a Rhythmic Tai Chi performance by the CCACC Yah Jue Music Tai Chi Class.
The performances part concluded with a flute solo by Jianchun Wang, followed by a K-Pop dance by CStar Inc. The DMV Qipao Fashion Dance Group showcased traditional Chinese attire with a Qipao Fashion Show.
Finally, we invited the children in the audiences to join the Little Dragon Play, and the cultural program concluded in a lively and festive atmosphere.
CCACC also prepared traditional handicraft and calligraphy booths, as well as a ping-pong automatic ball machine for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, the "Clothing Drive" received a warm response, adding love and warmth to the celebration.
Looking forward to meeting again
The spectacular performances, traditional cultural experiences, and enthusiastic participation in charity left every guest and audience member immersed in joy and warmth. We sincerely appreciate all the guests, performing groups, and volunteers who supported and participated in the event. A special gratitude to Ned Li (CCACC Co-founder and chief coordinator of this event), Chiao-Chiao Liu (Director of CCACC Community Services) and her team for their dedicated efforts and hard work behind the scenes. CCACC looks forward to reuniting with everyone at future events to continue creating a better community cultural life together!
In addition, CCACC will host two more Lunar New Year celebrations to continue the festive spirit. The details are as follows:
· February 1, 2025 (Saturday) from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Westfield Wheaton
· February 8, 2025 (Saturday) from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Westfield Montgomery
At the event on February 8, 2025, in celebration of the Lantern Festival, we will have 100 fun riddles for everyone to enjoy. We will also continue the "Clothing Drive" donation campaign.
Bring us your gently used or new clothes to donate to benefit Interfaith Works. Donors will receive a special red envelope to redeem at participating retailers within Westfield Montgomery. Only from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM on February 8, 2025 while supplies last.
(Article by CCACC Administrative Office)