Cheng is executive director of the Chinatown Community Cultural Center, which, among other things, will be hosting its Lunar New Year Festival on Sunday, the same day as the parade celebrating the Chinese New Year in D.C.’s Chinatown. That’s one week after the Year of the Tiger actually starts.
How did you get involved with the cultural center?
My family has run a restaurant in Chinatown for more than 30 years and my father, along with other business owners in Chinatown, founded the cultural center. I work at our family restaurant and I’m a second-generation Chinatown community member.
What does the cultural center have planned for Chinese New Year?
We do the Chinese New Year festival at the same time as the parade so people have a place to come in out of the cold and join in the fun. There’s a lot of stuff for kids, with arts and crafts, live performances, and musical instruments. We have someone doing Chinese calligraphy and film screenings, too.
Do you have a reach outside the Chinese community?
Most of our members are not Chinese. The Chinese population in D.C. is not as big as it is in the suburbs. We open our doors to anyone who wants to learn our culture.
How do you pull people in?
We’re a small nonprofit, and most people learn about us by word of mouth. We offer classes during the week, and people who come for tai chi or martial arts will tell others about us. We also have school organizations that come through for the education experiences we offer.
This year is the Year of the Tiger. Does that hold any special meaning?
There are 12 zodiac animals. If you’re born in this year, the superstition is that you’re stronger in character and have perseverance.
– Freeman Klopott
