The Chinese are everywhere! But relative to Australia, the Chinese population in Chicago is actually small (even though that’s not the opinion of Chicago citizens).

Hardworking, industrious, and certainly with its own experiences of past racial discriminations and anti-Chinese laws, Chinese Americans in Chicago today are an extremely proud race and an important Chicago community.

Based largely around formal family association organisations, I met many Chinese Chicago leaders including the Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M Daley, Gene Lee. Himself born in Chicago, Gene is arguably one of the most influential Chinese Americans in Chicago. I also met Deputy Consul General Xie Yunliang from the People’s Republic of China, Taipei’s Economic and Cultural Office’s Deputy Director General Sam Peng, and particularly the Chinese pioneer families like the Moy’s, the Ng’s, the Wong’s, and most notably the Lim Family Associations leaders.

During my short stay in Chicago, I met with Chicago’s Chinatown Museum Foundation leaders who unfortunately had their beloved museum severely damaged by fire. In addition to their television interview appealing for support to rebuild their museum, I was given the opportunity to be interviewed by Chicago’s NBC TV.

I was extremely excited to meet Chicago’s Chinese community and to be able to explain how the Chinese community were in Australia. They were particularly proud that a fellow Chinese, particularly a young one, was involved and aspiring in politics in Australia. I wonder who they were thinking.

Leaving Chicago, I am so blessed to have met so many Chinese-American key leaders with ties across the United States, China, Taiwan and even back in Australia. Their own stories and struggles that I have had the chance to learn about are also now part of my own deep and dear appreciation of the Chinese community in Chicago. Thank you Chicago’s Chinese. I’m very proud to be Chinese too!

Click here for selected photos on this website.

Click here for the complete album on Facebook.