文化无界，自信发光 | ECPA 亮相 Eastchester 高中国际日文化展示活动

On March 27, 2026, Eastchester High School (EHS) celebrated its annual Multicultural Day, transforming the campus into a vibrant hub of global heritage. The Eastchester Chinese Parents Association (ECPA) would like to express our sincere gratitude to the EHS administration and the Multicultural Day organizing committee for inviting us to participate in this extraordinary celebration, which engaged over 500 enthusiastic students.

Hosting a dedicated Chinese cultural pavilion, the ECPA team delivered an immersive experience that combined historical storytelling, traditional arts, and modern technology. Led by lead organizer Bonnie Kuang, our volunteers provided students and faculty with a unique window into Chinese civilization.

The Power of Storytelling: “Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao”

The cultural journey began with a deep dive into history. Bonnie Kuang personally shared the classic historical tale, “Returning the Jade Intact to Zhao” (Wan Bi Gui Zhao). By recounting this story of diplomacy and courage, ECPA offered the school community a meaningful lesson in ancient Chinese wisdom that resonated with many teachers and students alike.

A Tapestry of Art and Innovation: Tradition Meets the Digital Age

The central exhibit of the pavilion showcased the delicate beauty of Chinese craftsmanship and forward-thinking innovation:

• The Art of Calligraphy: The calligraphy station remained a focal point of student interest. Under the patient guidance of our volunteers, students learned to write their names and auspicious characters such as “Love” (爱) and “Health” (健康).
• Intricate Paper-Cutting and Sketches: Man Yu Chen’s exquisite Chinese character paper-cutting demonstrated the precision of this folk art. Additionally, students enjoyed sketching iconic motifs, including giant pandas and bamboo.
• Technological Fusion: Ms. Ling Zhu from the NEW YORK ART FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH presented a “Year of the Horse” AI interactive project. Despite local connectivity challenges, the project successfully demonstrated the possibilities of preserving traditional culture through modern technology.

Intellectual Strategy: The Appeal of Chinese Chess

To round out the experience, the Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) station became a popular interactive zone. Managed by our strategy experts, the area drew a steady stream of interested students. Participants from diverse backgrounds were captivated by the strategic complexity of the game, fostering a lively environment of intellectual exchange.

Identity and Belonging: The True Impact

Beyond the exhibition of culture, the event served a significant role in fostering a sense of identity for Asian-American students. As Bonnie Kuang observed:

“Seeing our students engage with their heritage with such pride was the most rewarding part of the day. In their eyes, we saw the light of confidence and a profound sense of cultural belonging.”

Acknowledgments and Future Outlook

This success would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers and the support of our partners. Our heartfelt thanks once again to Eastchester High School for providing this wonderful platform to celebrate diversity.

• Lead Organizer: Bonnie Kuang
• Volunteer Team (in alphabetical order): Man Yu Chen, Bonnie Kuang, Lei Niu, Xiang Shu, Rosie Tao, Xinya Xu, Liu Yang, Wei Yang.
• Special Support: Ms. Ling Zhu (NEW YORK ART FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH), PROJECT READY.

We look forward to our next collaboration at the Eastchester Middle School “We Are Eastchester” event on May 30!

2026年3月27日，Eastchester High School (EHS) 校园内迎来了一年一度的 Multicultural Day（国际日）。Eastchester 华人家长会 (ECPA) 衷心感谢 EHS 校方及国际日组委会的诚挚邀请。此次盛事吸引了超过 500 名学生积极参与，让我们有机会在如此广阔的平台上展现校园多元文化的魅力。

在此次活动中，ECPA 成功承办了中国文化展区。通过将历史叙事、传统艺术与现代科技相结合，志愿者团队为全校师生奉献了一场丰富的文化体验。在核心组织者 Bonnie Kuang 的统筹下，ECPA 向社区生动展示了华夏文明的深厚底蕴。

讲好中国故事：经典历史跨越国界

文化的传播不仅在于视觉展示，更在于精神的传承。活动当天，Bonnie Kuang 亲自为师生讲述了中国经典历史故事——“完璧归赵”。通过这个关于智慧与勇气的篇章，不少外籍师生表示，他们不仅领略了文化意蕴，更深刻感受到了中国古代文明中蕴含的处世哲学。

艺术与创新：传统手艺与现代科技的交响

展区的核心地带展示了中国民间艺术的细腻与当代创新的魅力：

• 笔墨丹青： 书法体验区深受学生欢迎。在义工们的悉心指导下，学生们认真书写自己的中文名以及“爱”、“健康”等寓意美好的汉字，沉浸式体验汉字的结构之美。
• 非遗剪纸与绘画： Man Yu Chen 现场展示的汉字剪纸精美别致，吸引了众多目光。此外，学生们还尝试画起了国宝大熊猫与翠竹，感受中国画的独特神韵。
• 科技融合： 来自 NEW YORK ART FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH 的朱玲老师带来了“马年 AI 互动”项目。虽然现场网络环境带来了些许挑战，但项目成功运行后引起的广泛关注，展示了传统文化在数字时代焕发的生命力。

智力博弈：中国象棋倍受青睐

作为本次互动的亮点之一，中国象棋区域吸引了许多爱好益智游戏的同学。不同族裔的学生被这种充满策略魅力的东方博弈所吸引，展台前围满了观战和对弈的人群，现场气氛活跃，成为了促进学生跨文化交流的绝佳平台。

文化认同：点亮学子的自信之光

国际日的意义不仅在于跨文化的科普，对于校园内的华裔学子而言，更是一次身份认同的重塑。正如 Bonnie Kuang 在活动感言中所述：

“看到华人学生们在交流中流露出那种自信和自豪的光芒，这正是我们努力的意义。他们在这里找到了文化的归属。”

致谢与展望

本次活动的圆满完成离不开全体志愿者和合作伙伴的大力支持。在此，我们再次鸣谢 Eastchester 高中校方，感谢你们提供这一促进社区融合与文化交流的优质平台。

• 核心组织者： Bonnie Kuang
• 志愿者团队（按姓氏首字母 A-Z 排序）： Man Yu Chen, Bonnie Kuang, 牛磊 (Lei Niu), 舒翔 (Xiang Shu), Rosie Tao, Xinya Xu, 杨柳 (Liu Yang), 杨薇 (Wei Yang).
• 特别支持： 朱玲老师 (NEW YORK ART FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH)、PROJECT READY 启航。

让我们共同期待 5月30日 在 Middle School 举办的 “We Are Eastchester” 活动，届时再聚！