Chyanne Chen, the Chinese-American candidate for City Council in District 11 of Jinshan, hosted a community event recently in collaboration with the American Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and local businesses. The gathering featured free medical consultations and a lively tai chi demonstration, and it brought some unexpected surprises.
One local resident, Jacky Zhen, made a special effort to attend and cast his crucial vote at a nearby ballot drop box. He praised Chen’s two decades of community involvement, stating that she is “undoubtedly the best candidate for the District 11 City Council.”
The event, which took place on the morning of the 19th, saw dozens of residents in attendance. With music playing in the background, participants followed an instructor as they practiced tai chi, performing elegant moves like “White Crane Spreads Its Wings” and “Laozi’s Embrace.” Following the tai chi, community members received free acupuncture massages from participating practitioners. Rosario Cervantes, a local citizen, shared her first experience with Chinese medicine, describing the massage as relaxing and expressing her need for shoulder relief after a long day of work. She emphasized her concern about public safety and housing issues, commending Chen for her extensive experience serving the community.
Local resident Jin expressed concerns about road safety and cleanliness in the area. She noted that overgrown trees obscure street signs, creating potential hazards, and mentioned a reduction in trash bins leading to instances of illegal dumping. Chen responded to these issues by promptly reporting the significant illegal dumping on Ocean Street.
Jacky Zhen, a long-time resident of District 11, arrived early to participate and, accompanied by Chen, voted at the nearby ballot box. He encouraged fellow Asian American residents to make their voices heard by casting their votes before the upcoming election on November 5. “Chyanne has deep roots in the community, participating in various unions and activities to advocate for our rights,” he urged.
Having immigrated from Guangzhou at the age of 15, Chyanne Chen has been actively involved in the Community Youth Center’s dragon boat team and held key positions with the SEIU-UHW. She is also a founding member of the Chinese American Coalition (UCA) and a former national director. During her immigration journey, she received significant support and hopes to convey that sense of community by fostering a positive environment for both business and residency. Through this event, she aims to promote tai chi and traditional Chinese medicine while encouraging cross-cultural exchanges and supporting local businesses.
Chen’s campaign platform focuses on a multi-faceted approach to enhancing public safety, combating the drug crisis and homelessness, and improving resources for employment, education, mental health services, and healthcare to ensure residents can live and work securely.
