Cleveland Asiatown Oral History Project

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A nonprofit fundraiser supporting

OCA Greater Cleveland
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Additional funding is needed to complete a project to preserve the history of Chinese in Cleveland.

$535

raised by 10 people

$10,000 goal

Introducing the first trailer of the documentary

Update posted 2 years ago

Introducing the first trailer of the OCA Greater Cleveland documentary with support from the Cleveland Foundation Minority Arts and Media Fund, Margaret W. Wong & Associates, and many others.  The documentary is a living oral history of Chinese Americans and their experiences in Cleveland since the community's settlement here 150+ years ago.  We have an abundance of stories and interviews but can only fit so much into the 90-minute documentary.  We hope to be able to raise additional funding in the near future to include more of these stories in a series.  

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(1/7/2020) OCA Greater Cleveland (OCAGC) was awarded $15,000 from the Cleveland Foundation’s Minority Arts and Education Fund to produce a video documentary in 2020 on Chinese in AsiaTown to commemorate the 150th years of Chinese in Cleveland, Ohio.  

The grant will help OCAGC to implement the process of creating a 70-minute documentary that will highlight the history of Cleveland's AsiaTown through the perspective of Cleveland historians, community leaders, business owners, and residents. Cleveland's AsiaTown is a business and residential community on the east side of Cleveland with a high concentration of immigrants and citizens of Asian descent. By the 1920's many of the Chinese began settling and building businesses around Rockwell Avenue and East 22nd which is now considered AsiaTown.  By the 1950's Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese groups began migrating to Cleveland. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the MidTown region (of which Asiatown is a large portion) has a self-identified Asian population of 39 percent, well above the national and state average. 

OCAGC’s Vice President of Communication, Johnny Wu, will spearhead the production of the documentary along with our members and affiliates.  Through partnerships with various institutions and the community, Wu has already been able to commence the pre-production of this significant documentary in highlighting the diverse ethnic groups that make Cleveland great.  

“We are honored to have this opportunity to produce a documentary on Cleveland’s Chinese immigrant community about their history, culture, and economic growth that led to what has grown and become our AsiaTown today,” said OCAGC President, Lisa Wong. “The history will be told and recorded so future generations can look back and treasure our stories while moving forward for a better future for our community.”

A video documentary undertaking is not an easy task, it takes months of research as well as networking with key partners, conducting interviews, and obtaining licensings. “While all parties involved will be volunteering their time to help make this a reality, we are truly appreciative of this grant from the Cleveland Foundation,” said Wu. “Additional funds will help enhance the visual production including travel, studio time and rental cost, among other expenses.”

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