Mount Hope Chinese Association Fosters Inclusivity With Community Engagement Event

OTISVILLE, New York — On Oct. 23, the Mount Hope Chinese Association and the newly-minted Asian American Advisory Committee gathered local residents and city officials under one roof to address concerns facing the Asian American community.

Held at the Mount Hope Senior Center, the event saw the attendance of several VIPs, including, Richard Guertin, City Court Judge for the City of Middletown; Paul Rickard, former Mount Hope Police Chief; Amanda Davis and Christopher Furman, Council Members for the town Mount Hope; and Curtis Hahne, Deputy Chief at Mount Hope’s Police Department, among others.

MORE ON LOCAL EVENTS IN NEW YORK:

“This [event] is a way to promote communication, as many residents have language barriers,” said Mount Hope City Councilor Amanda Davis. “But we’re making an effort — and we’re trying to make changes to bridge that gap.” 

Mela Wu, Chairperson of the Mount Hope Chinese Association and President of the Asian American Advisory Committee, emphasized the two-fold role of these events. “The main issues people are concerned about are civil rights, and the persecution by the current Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime.”

“[Asian American residents] hope officials understand this,” said Wu, highlighting how the Advisory Committee engages officials and works with the Chinese Association to implement community events to raise awareness, foster community growth, and enhance communication between residents and town representatives.