At CBCAC, we believe that everyone, no matter socioeconomic background or immigration status, should be engaged and active citizens with access to the information and knowledge they need to advocate for themselves.
Based on this belief, CBCAC centers our civic education strategy to be flexible and active to reflect the current issues facing our community, with a focus on providing education on basic city, state, and federal government structures. At every election cycle, we host candidate forums, townhalls, and workshops in Chinatown or in Chinese on the key issues voters are concerned about, in order to ensure candidates recognize and value their Chinese American voters. We provide equitable opportunities for residents to contribute to civic discourse and give input to governmental programs.
Civic Education Workshops
Covering a range of foundational topics and issue-based campaigns, our civic education workshops are bilingual in Cantonese and Mandarin, and couched in cultural nuance in order to deliver the messages as effectively as possible.
Voter Engagement Outreach
During each election cycle, we organize volunteers to canvass the community, hold ballot education workshops, Candidate Forums, and provide rides-to-the-poll opportunities for our immobile or elderly community members. As a non-partisan 501c3 organization, we focus our efforts on turning out the vote.
Town halls and Listening sessions
Periodically, we invite city and state departments to come listen to Chinatown residents and provide bilingual accessibility at these sessions. We also hold quarterly town halls with our elected officials to address concerns and issues.
Impact
At CBCAC, we believe every resident, regardless of socioeconomic background, immigration status, or language, should be aware of what is going on in their community, what policies will effect them, and know what they can do about it. We have empowered countless community members to fight for their rights and needs since 1998.
CIVIC EDUCATION WORKSHOPS
“I now know that I have a role to play in my community”
Through a series of civic education workshops and community hearings, our residents learned about the government structure and responsibilities, and had opportunities to interact with elected and government officials, confirming our residents as community subjects and participating in community development.
In 2024, we hosted over 40 civic education workshops.
“I have been a citizen for over 20 years, but I have never voted because I do not know English. The Chinese Voter Guide CBCAC provided helped me understand these positions and candidates. I voted for the president in the 2024 election. And I also encouraged some of my friends to vote.”
— 86-year-old Grandma Mrs. Wong
VOTER ENGAGEMENT
“I used to think voting doesn’t do anything, but now I realize the power I have in my vote”
Bilingual voter education activities have enabled our residents to learn more about their political rights and to see the changes brought about in each election, including but not limited to the passage of the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History (TEAACH) Act, the Chicago’s first Asian American majority ward, and more.
In 2024, CBCAC engaged over 6,000 voters.
Support Our Civic Education initiatives!
Donate now to direct more resources to our immigrant community! Your donation will help us reach more voters, residents, youth, and seniors to be engaged and heard.