IMMIGRANT HISTORY WEEK 2007 CELEBRATION

IMMIGRANT HISTORY WEEK 2007 CELEBRATION
TAIWAN AND FRIENDS OF TAIWAN (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC & HONDURAS, GUATEMALA)
MULTI-CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Flushing, NY –March 15, 2007…Statistics indicate that 47% Queens residents are foreign born and Queens has the most diverse cultures in the world. In responding to NYC Mayor Blumberg’s office fourth year immigrant history week celebration, April 16 – 22, 2007, Taiwanese American Association of New York (TAANY) and Friends of Taiwan create a cultural program together. Taiwanese American, Dominican American, and Honduras American, Guatemalan American will show their cultures through songs, dance, films, and delicacies. The performance will be on Saturday, April 21, 7-9 PM at Taiwan Center, 137-44 Northern Blvd. (between Main St. and Union St.), Flushing, NY 11354. Free admission with reception at 6:00 PM.

Taiwanese started to migrate to New York City in 1955. Majority of the immigrants at the early stage of migration were college graduates. They came here through scholarship program. Besides study, they took care of each other. That led them to have East Coast Formosan Club on West 97 Street in Manhattan as a gathering place and a temporary living quarter for newly arrived students. Since United States immigration law had changed in 1970s, Taiwanese other than students have arrived in New York City to find a better life and free society. Through hard working, saving, and innovation, many Taiwanese have thrived to the top as the presidents of cooperation, bankers, and politicians.

TAANY offers numerous cultural programs. Passport to Taiwan program on the third Sunday of May in Union Square Park North attracts nearly 8,000 people. It offers Taiwanese performance art, art & craft, exhibition, and delicacies. International Cultural Parade and Lunar New Year Parade demonstrate our costumes and parade performance. We sponsor concerts several times a year to showcase Taiwanese American and Taiwanese musical talents.

Taiwan is a nation of multi-cultures, adopted cultures of Polynesian, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. In our program we are collaborating with Friends of Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Guatemala. We shall share Taiwanese American Heritage with them and learn their cultures as well.