by Leng Tan, Stamford, Connecticut, USA
Some of us have stories to share about why we started this group. This is my story. I’m originally a Brooklynite and will forever be a New Yawker.
I am Chinese, but specifically Hainanese (as compared to Cantonese). We are descendants from a small island in the South China seas, called Hainan Island. My father, along with 100 other Hainanese Chinese men (most of whom were Merchant Marines and veterans from WWII), purchased a building on Schermerhorn Street and made this the Hainan Association. This building is where I as a young child, attended Sunday school, to learn Mandarin Chinese. The mission of the Hainanese Association was to also provide a safe haven for those who need help, elderly who have no family, newcomers who need a temporary place to rest their heads.
To the point, I recently became involved with the Hainan Association because we heard the building was being sold to a developer who wanted to knock down this building and the buildings adjacent to it in order to build a high riser complex of condominiums
I am trying to continue my father’s legacy. So this is my reason for being involved.
If you would like to share your thoughts, perception – we would love to hear it. Also any support you can provide, would be greatly appreciated. We need more Brooklynites to stand behind us, as one voice. My voice is small and is only one. Thank you for joining this group and helping me.
To contact Leng, please email leng@ctisraelidance.com