Committee of 100 and The Asian American Education Project held the first event of a three-part series that examined the rich contributions of Chinese Americans to U.S. society, both historically and in the present day. The content was sourced from Committee of 100’s report “From Foundations to Frontiers: Chinese American Contributions to the Fabric of America.”

Specifically designed for Grades 6-9 educators and open to everyone, the series addressed three main topics: (1) the impact of the Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype on Chinese Americans, (2) Chinese American contributions in food, arts, and film, and (3) Chinese American contributions in business, science, and technology.  

This workshop series was facilitated by Ashley Chu from The Asian American Education Project.

Event Highlights:

• Gain Tools and Resources: Educators were equipped with strategies and free lessons. 
• Learn All Year: These three 1-hour workshops are being offered for free and are spread throughout the school year. 
• Earn Credits: Attendees earned New York City Department of Education CTLE credits through The Asian American Education Project.

Webinar Dates: 

• Chinese Americans and the Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype (Workshop I)
  Thursday, October 17th, 4PM ET, 7PM ET
• Chinese American Excellence in the Arts & Cuisine (Workshop II)
  Thursday, January 16th, 4PM ET
• Chinese American Excellence in Business & STEM (Workshop III)
  Thursday, March 27th, 4PM ET

More AAPI Education resources are available on both the Committee of 100 and The Asian American Education Project websites. Let’s create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Chinese Americans and the Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype

While Chinese Americans have found success in the United States, they continue to face barriers and challenges rooted in the perpetual foreigner stereotype. In this workshop, participants learned about the ways this stereotype has manifested in fields such as science and technology, civic engagement, and the arts.

Participants reflected on their ideas about what an “American” looks like and learn classroom strategies for combating prevailing and harmful stereotypes that seek to “other” groups of people. Participants increased their content knowledge about the perpetual foreigner stereotype and its impact on Chinese Americans. They also gained best practices and strategies for integrating APIDA content.

This workshop was offered twice on Thursday, October 17 to accommodate educators in different time zones. Each session presented the same content.