In order to distinguish associations from different regions, there was
consensus among the first oversea Chinese that organizations on the West
Coast shall be known as “hui guan”
(會館) or “tang”
(堂) whereas organizations on
the East Coast shall be known as “gong suo”
(公所), though both shall be known
as the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in English.
Therefore, with the exception of CCBA of Washing D.C., the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association on the West
is called “Zhong Hua Hui Guan”
(中華會館) and on the East, “Zhong Hua Gong Suo”
(中華公所).
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of San Francisco,
established in 1854, is the earliest such organization in North
America. In 1883, New York established its Chinese Consolidated
Benevolent Association. CCBA of New England was registered with the
State of Massachusetts in 1923. However, it was established before this
time. According to CCBA New York City’s website, it was recorded that
Mr. Zhong Huang Chen (陳宗璜),
president of CCBA-New York from 1910 through 1911, was president of CCBA-Boston.
Mr. Xin Jian Yu (余心簡),
president of CCBA-New York City from 1914 through 1918, became president
of CCBA-Boston after his term in New York. From this historical
account, it is evident that CCBA-New England, formerly known as CCBA-Boston,
was established over 100 years ago.
CCBAs of North America
Introduction to
the
Chinese Consolidated
Benevolent Association of New England
The
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England,
popularly known as CCBA, is a tax-exempt organization
establish in 1923. Currently with 35 members consisting of
family associations and community organizations, CCBA serves
as the umbrella organization for the Chinese communities of
New England. Originally located at 14 Oxford Street, it
relocated to its current address at 90 Tyler Street in the
1980s when the City of Boston sold the building that was the
Quincy Elementary School to CCBA for
one
dollar.
A president, an English secretary, a Chinese secretary, a
treasurer, and an auditor complete the executive board of
directors who manage the daily affairs of CCBA with the help
of several office workers. Unlike the 43 members of the
board of directors who are delegate representatives from
member organizations, the 5 members of the executive board
is elected by the board of directors biennially.
To fulfill our mission and pledge to the constituents of the
Chinese community, the CCBA building is a community center
where programs are held to benefit people across the ages.
The building comes alive each afternoon as grade school age
children and teens from low income families arrive to
participate in after school programs managed by the Phillips
Brooks House through Harvard University. Three nights a
week, the CCBA sponsored Ping Pong Club is in session,
providing a setting for exercise and socialization for
people with a passion for ping pong. A flurry of activity
fills the minutes and hours each weekend as dances from
China are taught to children, giving them a glimpse of their
culture and a connection to their roots; adults get together
to sing and perform excerpts from famous Cantonese operas;
classes learn and practice the Yuanji Dance, a combination
of martial arts, physical therapy, meditation, dance, and qi-gong
exercises for the benefit of mind, body and soul; and the
elderly boogie to the music of Saturday Night Live,
the Macarena, and the Electric Slide.
CCBA is also home to two family associations, a federal
credit union, Chinese and English classes, a magazine and
media services group, and the well-known Chinatown Crime
Watch program, where volunteers patrol the streets of
Chinatown daily to provide the ever-present vigilance needed
to keep crime rate at a minimum around the neighborhood.
Besides sponsoring activities, CCBA manages Tai Tung Village﹐Waterford Place
and Tremont Village, apartment complexes that provide the
much needed affordable housing to the Chinese community.
Partnering with Chinatown Main Street and other
organizations, CCBA coordinates activities such as the lion
dance celebration for the Lunar New Year, the annual August
Moon Festival to attract visitors to Chinatown to further
economic growth in Chinatown, and hosts dignitary visits to
the Chinatown community.
