ACE stands in solidarity with the 8 murder/hate crime victims and their families in Georgia. But we know this was not the first incident of this sort in the U.S. Hate crimes against Asian and Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities has been on the rise. Let’s take a deep breath, stand united, and work together to put a stop to this. Support local AAPI Organizations near you.
To learn more about this issue, and what you can do, see Stop AAPI Hate. They provide statistics, safety tips (in multiple languages), a way to report incidents, and more. The Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) points us to Anti-Asian Violence Resources. See also this interview with Cathy Park Hong in The Atlantic: “Why This Wave of Anti-Asian Racism Feels Different.”
ACE would like to thank the many donors who have contributed to our MCGives campaign to raise $50,000 to complete interior construction of our new office space at Moon Gate Plaza. Today is the final day!
If you haven’t donated yet, you can still do so, today only, on our ACE page at MCGives!
Donate to Asian Cultural Experience (ACE), Salinas Chinatown
What’s up for ACE in 2021? First and foremost, we will be moving forward with our plans to purchase #37 Soledad St. (Republic Cafe; see images below), and the neighboring #39 Soledad St. (El Faro) in order to merge and renovate both as the Chinatown Cultural Center and Museum. We will be raising funds for the purchase phase of the project with the deadline scheduled for Dec. 2021.
In the meantime, we will continue our historical and educational projects from our office/gallery location. Look for these projects both online and (when it’s pandemic-safe) in Suite A, Moon Gate Plaza, corner of Soledad and Lake Sts.
Asian Cultural Experience (ACE) Salinas Chinatown office/gallery, corner of Soledad and Lake Sts.
ACE has been accepted into the MCGives! Campaign, which kicked off today, Nov. 12, and runs to Dec. 31st 2020. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to complete interior construction of ACE’s office/gallery space on Soledad and Lake Streets at Moon Gate Plaza by early 2021.
Interior, ACE Office, Suite A, Moon Gate Plaza
Regular staff hours in a stable office space will enable ACE to apply for larger grants that will have more impact for the Chinatown community as part of the ongoing Chinatown Revitalization. Go to montereycountygives.com, click on “Meet Our Nonprofits,” then go to the Arts & Culture category and the Asian Cultural Experience page, to donate to our campaign. At this point, we have received $6,500 (thank you!) towards our goal!
Chinatown kids, 1930s.
Imagine historical and cultural exhibits inside our new space and visible in window displays; imagine lectures, programs, and activities for local kids and families, as well as for visitors and students. We also plan to incorporate a small, historical-themed library where people can learn more about the neighborhood and immigrant history.
Photos from the ACE Archives — waiting for an exhibit.
ACE Office at Moon Gate Plaza, corner view
Completion of the ACE office/gallery construction will help to activate Soledad St. alongside our neighbors on the bottom floor of Moon Gate, which include: the Red Artichoke Café, CSUMB Health Services, the Community Policing office, Urban Arts Collaborative, and Public Space’s art studios and gallery. The residential area of Moon Gate has already reached full occupancy, and residents there will also benefit from these organizations and services.
Eventually (after renovating the Republic Cafe building down the street), we plan to shift headquarters to the future Republic Cafe Cultural Center & Museum (we will be fundraising for purchase of that building with a deadline of Dec. 2021), and when that building has been completed, ACE will move, and Suite A will be available for another worthy business/organization.
We hope you will consider donating to MCGives! for completion of the ACE office/gallery space!
I. Asian Cultural Experience stands in solidarity against racist violence, and we strongly condemn such acts. The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Walter Scott, Sandra Bland, and many other African Americans saddens us. Although our experience is different from that experienced by African Americans, historically, Asian immigrants and refugees have been marginalized and targeted by acts of xenophobia and racism, and we have struggled for social justice and equitable treatment.
Therefore, as a culturally-specific organization, we recommit ourselves to addressing these issues and increasing understanding through dialogue and partnerships, and through historical exhibits and educational programs — especially as related to our diverse Salinas Chinatown community. We work to assure that our organization, programs, and policies are inclusive. Such actions will help to create the Salinas Chinatown we wish to see: a flourishing neighborhood that is a catalyst for positive and peaceful change, promoting justice and equity for all its residents and neighbors.
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II. An invitation from Herb Wong — to members and friends of ACE and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance:
I would like to invite you to enroll in an online discussion on anti-Asian discrimination and hate incidents. OCA is hosting a virtual four day summit of plenaries, workshops and entertainment for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and allies across the country. The summit will consist of advocacy training and issue based workshops on how the COVID 19 pandemic has impacted the AAPI communities. The virtual summit will take place from July 29-August 2nd
Community members will be able to discuss anti-Asian discrimination and hate incidents, civic engagement during a pandemic, impact on small businesses, mental health, and more. Students will have the chance to explore financial literacy, career building, and college readiness this season. Working professionals will be able to hear from mentors and peers on the changes in corporate spaces and building inclusivity.
Workshops are free and open to the public! RSVP is required, register and find more information here: bit.ly/ocasummit.
This has been a time of great change and uncertainty for all of us. In January 2020 we were ready to forge ahead with new programs, and to continue plans forrevitalization of Chinatown.
Our future office/gallery space at Moon Gate Plaza. Photo: J. Vengua, 2019.
However, as news of the pandemic spread in late February and March, we sadly realized we would have to cancel the 2020 Asian Festival and all events except those we could do online.
We are now using ZOOM for meetings and working on infrastructure projects: creating a solid membership database, working on fund and grant development, communicating with members through social media, and we recently mailed out our first newsletter.
Most importantly, we all look forward to taking up where we left off: creating new historical and educational programs, lectures, and exhibits with our valued partner organizations. Look for our next newsletter in September.
Join ACE!
If you are not currently a member of ACE, we would like you to join us. We appreciate any support you’ve given, and hope you consider supporting (and helping to shape) our current goals. We want to improve our process of informing you about membership status. Going forward, membership will be on a calendar-year basis, with dues notification going out at the beginning of the year.
ACE meeting in the old Republic Cafe building on Soledad St. We are now planning and negotiating for purchase of this building to make it a cultural center and museum. Will you join us in this process?
ACE has accomplished much toward its vision of preserving the Asian culture and history of Salinas Chinatown; for example, the Asian Festival (salinasasianfestival.com), “Stories of Chinatown,” an educational exhibition, and many outreach opportunities about Salinas Chinatown history. Read our blog archives or the ACE Walking Tour site to learn about some of ACE’s major accomplishments and milestones.
Your membership in ACE supports and advances our vision of Salinas Chinatown. As a member, we will keep you informed of our activities by sending you our quarterly newsletter, monthly meeting reports, Asian Festival booklets, and invitations to all ACE activities, especially the Asian Festival.
You can join or donate to ACE by going to our website and clicking on DONATE/JOIN in our menu, or download and fill out the ACE membership form (see red link below) and mail it. You can also contact us by email at acesalinas2014@gmail.com. In addition to Membership, we have Volunteer and Sponsorship Opportunities for those who wish to do even more for ACE. Help us plan for the future of Salinas Chinatown’s diverse community!
The 13th Annual Asian Festival (previously scheduled for end of April) has been cancelled, with a possibility of rescheduling later this year, pending further information about the coronavirus.
Right now, ACE continues (online) behind the scenes. We are gearing up to hold meetings via ZOOM; we’ll be publishing our first newsletter this month, which will be sent to ACE members, and continuing to make plans for the future, looking forward to the time when we will be able to move into our space at Moon Gate Plaza, and start up our offline projects again.
One of our partners, Dorothy’s Place, has been providing for folks who are unhoused and living in tents/on the streets in Chinatown. Dorothy’s has placed water and 3 washing stations outside their building, they continue to provide meals for takeout, coronavirus information, as well as general health and counseling services. Please consider making a donation to Dorothy’s Place.
Big thanks to Dorothy’s Place and Victory Mission Salinas and their staff, along with officers Gabe Carvey and Manuel Martinez, for keeping an eye on the Republic Cafe, and offering to help ACE with clearing the front and sides of the RC building, and painting the exterior walls and sidewalk. This allowed us to check and repair the front doors and parts of the exterior wall. This is an example of inter-board cooperation and real community — something we will continue to carry on with as we move into our temporary offices at Moon Gate Plaza and develop our programs.
If you would like to volunteer with ACE or help us develop plans and funding sources for renovating the Republic Cafe, please contact us!
Photos of “before” (way before) and “after” below:
1943: Young Wally Ahtye looks down on the street from his family’s balcony above the Republic Cafe. Photo: Ahtye family collection.
ACE Board, members, and community partners meeting inside the Republic Cafe (1st floor).
A week ago, before cleanup; tents and trash obscured the front doors, keeping us from entering the building, and prompting worries about fire and break-ins. We hope to one day renovate this site for the Chinatown Cultural Center & Museum. Photo by L. Hirahara (2/2020)
Taking a break from painting the building, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Grillo, and an unidentified worker_L. Hirahara photo (2/2020)
ACE Treasurer Larry Hirahara and Javier Rodriguez discuss an exterior wall repair issue. Photo: J. Vengua 2/2020
Mr. Grillo and ACE member Kathleen Slattery discuss Soledad St. History. Grillo’s grandfather, who was Filipino, owned the Arres Pool Hall across the street. Photo by J. Vengua 2/2020)
More painting… Photo by J. Vengua 2/2020
They also cleaned up the sidewalk in front of the adjoining lot. Moon Gate Plaza is seen in the distance, next to the Suey Sing Hall. Photo by J. Vengua (2/2020)
ACE is looking forward to Spring (or early Summer) when we will be occupying our new office/exhibit/gallery/library/meeting space in Suite A on the corner of Soledad and Lake Sts. (Moon Gate Plaza) in Salinas Chinatown! We can’t wait to start new projects. Exhibits? Workshops and classes? Art? Movement? Discussion groups? Films and lectures? Contact us if you have ideas… We are also thinking of a sculpture or memorial to place on that empty plinth in front of our entrance.
We would love to be open during the Asian Festival (last Saturday in April), but we are not sure if the space will be ready by then. Regardless, stop by during the Festival for a look, or if open, drop in and say Hi!
The Japanese Buddhist Temple of Salinas‘ Mochi Festival will be held on Dec. 15. Come and watch mochi pounding, New Year’s festivities, and enjoy eating mochi.
Kazarimochi
You can reserve orders (by Dec. 8) of 3 kinds of mochi:
Regular mochi (rice cake): $5/lb
Kazari (kagami) mochi (brings good luck): $5/set of 2
Anko (daifuku) mochi (stuffed with aduki bean paste): $5/set of 4
Just contact Larry Hirahara at seedyguy@aol.com or the Buddhist Temple at 1-831-424-4105. Pick-up time is 11 am to 1 pm, Dec. 15.
The Third Annual Chinatown Block Party is coming soon, on Saturday, Nov. 9. This event celebrates the beginning of the revitalization of Chinatown, and assists people experiencing homelessness to take steps to get into housing; 30 to 40 booths from a wide variety of service organizations will distribute free, necessary items like food, warm clothing, and information on affordable housing and health care. Live music by 9-10 performers will play from a stage on the corner of Soledad & Market Way. ACE and CSUMB VPA students will have a pop-up event at the Republic Cafe on 37 Soledad St.
Food will be prepared for all at the Japanese Buddhist Temple kitchen on California St., where kids will also have their own party with Frisbee painting, jump house, crafts, and other activities. An Open House featuring the Final Draft of the Chinatown Revitalization Plan will be available for viewing on this day (for the duration of the event) at Japanese Buddhist Temple, before it is presented to City Council. You will also be able to join tours of the new Moon Gate Plaza, which is now in the final phases of completion.
There will be plenty of parking (see maps and parking info below). We look forward to seeing you there on Saturday!
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