This past Saturday (May 23, 2026), our Malden Senior/Teen Center filled with stories, movement, and the rich aromas of food from across Asia. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable afternoon honoring AAPI heritage and the immigrant journeys that shape our community.
Our four speakers each brought something extraordinary to the room:
✨ Ricardo “Rick” Wong (Cuba / China / Spain) — physical therapist and martial arts instructor
✨ Natalie Ip (Hong Kong, China) — Miss Massachusetts, currently at Google
✨ Brian Lim (China / Cambodia) — founder and dancer of The Flavor Continues
✨ Tanu Phoenix (India) — leadership and community transformation advocate with the India Association of Greater Boston
Guided by our wonderful panel host Barsha Gautam, the conversation moved between memory and aspiration, struggle and reinvention. The Q&A was lively, generous, and full of curiosity — exactly the kind of dialogue we hope to nurture at every CCC event.
One audience member shared a reflection that captured the spirit of the day:
💬 “Every single speaker was articulate and admirable in their character, accomplishments, and journey as immigrant. I was so moved by their resilience and the hard work of translating hardship into creative resilience.”
The afternoon was also alive with performance. Rick led us through a graceful Tai Chi demonstration, grounding the room in breath and balance. Brian and his fellow artists from The Flavor Continues brought a high-energy breaking performance that had the whole audience cheering. And Tanu’s friends joined us with a beautiful dance performance that filled the room with color and rhythm.
We closed the day the best way we know how — gathered around a table of dishes from across Asia, tasting our way through one another’s heritage.
Thank you to our speakers, our host, our performers, our volunteers, and every single guest who made this celebration possible. 🙏
Supported by the Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation, the Malden Community Connections Grant, the Malden Cultural Council, and the Mass Cultural Council.
#AAPIHeritageMonth #ChineseCultureConnection #MaldenMA #EastMeetsWest #ImmigrantStories #CommunityArts
