Meet the Candidates!

The Belmont Pan-Asian Coalition partnered with the Belmont Chinese-American Association to host town-hall style forums for contested local elections on March 25 and March 27, 2024.

Jessica Park and Boston Korean Traditional Dance Group performing fan dance. Photo by Amy Saukkonen.

Lunar New Year Unites Belmont in 3rd annual event

“The biggest crowds of the day stood shoulder-to-shoulder, watching different groups perform. There was a Lion Dance by Tiger Crane Kung Fu, a Korean Fan Dance, an ensemble featuring erhu (a two-stringed Chinese violin), and a Tibetan group called Ex-TIPA.” —Belmont Voice, covering BPAC’s third annual multicultural Lunar New Year Festival and Parade

“Through vigils and petitions, members and supporters of Belmont’s Asian American community are working to address underrepresentation in local government and to reduce racial tensions.”

BU News Service

2nd Annual multicultural Lunar New Year Festival and Parade, March 2023

Video produced for Belmont Media Center by Belmont High School freshmen, Amy Wu Saukkonen and Marlene Loyall

Forum on How to Run for Office

With Select Board Chair Adam Dash and Town Clerk Ellen Cushman. Co-sponsored by the Belmont Democratic Town Committee, Belmont Against Racism, Black and Brown of Belmont, the LGBTQ+ Alliance, Community Organized for Solidarity, and UU the Vote, Belmont

 

BPAC Dance Fest at Town Day

BPAC presented enjoyed colorful Indian dances and classical music at the first ever Belmont Pan-Asian Coalition Dance Fest at Town Day May 21, 2022

“By simply stating that the act is unacceptable, excusing it as another side effect of pandemic isolation, and then not covering it in the newspaper, the Belmont schools, media, and community at large have shown that it considers assault on an Asian child to be no big deal. We should all be outraged.”

Spitting Incident, Belmont Citizen Herald

Belmont Media News Now Interview

Roger Colton interviews Tamy Tiongsun, Priya Licht, and Julie Wu of the Belmont Pan-Asian Coalition

 

Interview of Marie Myung-Ok Lee and Ed Lin

Julie Wu interviews Marie Myung-Ok Lee, author of Finding Voice, and Ed Lin, author of David Tung Can’t Have a Girlfriend until He Gets into an Ivy League College.

 

“Let us continue to appreciate, learn about, celebrate, and educate about the diversity and the individuality of Asian women everywhere. Because by doing so, perhaps we can lessen the possibility that another tragedy like this will ever happen again.”

Speech at Belmont Community Vigil

First Annual Multicultural Lunar New Year Festival, Belmont Center

Belmont was Proud to be Asian for Lunar New Year, 2022. Hundreds turned out to celebrate and enjoy a lion dance by Grand Master Winchell PC Woo Martial Arts Group, as well as crafts, a pan-Asian tea buffet, Thai food, multicultural snacks, and booths by local sponsors.

Belmont Community Vigil

Sponsored by the Belmont Human Rights Commission, Belmont against Racism, the Belmont Religious Council, the Belmont Chinese American Association, and the Belmont Pan-Asian Coalition. Featuring the Belmont High School Asian American Club. Click here for full text of BPAC co-founder Julie Wu’s speech.

 

“As a diverse group of Americans, both American-born and immigrant, with origins all over Asia, we are united in our alarm at the recent escalation in violence against Asians in the U.S.”

Statement on Anti-Asian Violence, Belmont Citizen Herald