

Exploring the Lost History of 'Little Syria'
New exhibit shines spotlight on how the Chinatown area of today was once a hub of Syrian, Lebanese immigration.
Adam Smith
Nov 14, 2025


Photos: Halal Bites and Delights Draws Huge Crowd in Roxbury
Children ate huge pink balls of cotton candy, women held their babies while nibbling on smores waffles and families and friends formed long lines for halal burgers and dishes at Halal Bites and Delights outside the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury on Nov. 8. Vendors included Ashur Restaurant, Chai Street, The Halal Guys, Halal Buns and Boston Dosa Party. From top row, left to right: Kids eat cotton candy; cotton candy booth; friends Khadija, Ikran, and Mis
Adam Smith
Nov 9, 2025


AARW Pushes Rent Control Effort, Talks About ICE in Dorchester
As the cost of living in Massachusetts has risen dramatically for many residents, the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) has been campaigning to put rent control — which was abolished decades ago in the state — on the ballot in November of 2026. That effort, which has deadline of this Nov.19, is just one initiative the Dorchester-based nonprofit has been supporting to help Asian Americans in the Greater Boston area.
Liam Crampton
Nov 9, 2025


Ken Liu ‘Prediction Is a Fool’s Game’
Boston-based writer Ken Liu Talks About ‘All That We See Or Seem,’ Life Parallels, AI, the Future and Present
Christopher John Stephens
Oct 28, 2025


Boston Asian American Film Fest on Tap at Local Theaters
The 17th annual Boston Asian American Film Festival runs through Oct. 26 with screenings at the Coolidge Corner Theater, the Emerson Paramount Center, the Museum of Science and elsewhere. ArtsEmerson, the main sponsor of the event, says the film festival “empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community.” One of the key short documentaries, “Love, Chinatown,” directed by Luk
Sampan Editor
Oct 17, 2025


Miss Chinese Boston Crowns Lauren Xu
Hundreds of business and community leaders gathered on Oct. 5 at Empire Garden Restaurant in Boston’s Chinatown for the coronation of Miss Chinese Boston 2025, Lauren Xu. In attendence were Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, City Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy, former Suffolk County Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Robert J. Dello Russo, Boston Veterans Services Commissioner Robert Santiago, Miss Boston 2025 Tess Riordan, and Miss Worceste
Esther Zee Lee
Oct 17, 2025
‘Much Ado About Keanu’ Is Just Too Much to Be an Excellent Adventure
The problem with many pop culture Critical Studies texts is that they take themselves too seriously. Readers need only go back to academic Camille Paglia, whose 1990 writing on then mega superstar Madonna tried to elevate the singer actress to the status of feminist icon. Paglia’s writing on Madonna has not aged well. More effective has been the 125 volumes and counting Open Court Philosophy series, which has effectively contextualized such subjects as Bob Dylan, Mister Roger
Christopher John Stephens
Oct 17, 2025


For 'Love, Chinatown' Director, Neighborhood Is a ‘Symbol’ of Community Spirit
W hen director Lukas Dong set out to tell the story of Boston's Chinatown, he not only visited the neighborhood, but also its people. Then he discovered former longtime resident Cynthia Yee and current resident Gwen Liu, a bright-eyed college student, and knew they'd be perfect for his documentary assignment, "Love, Chinatown." Together, the two women explore the streets, memories, and emotions that define a neighborhood constantly balancing tradition and change. The film deb
DongDong Yang
Oct 15, 2025


Nonprofit Health Uganda Helps Fill in Where USAID Left Off
The nonprofit Health Uganda is providing needed scopes and other medical devices to boost healthcare in southern Uganda.
Adam Smith
Oct 14, 2025


Armed With Thoreau Scholarship, Former Chinatown Student Hopes to Give Back
E ach weekday for several years, Macki Mei would take the 40-minute subway ride from her childhood home in Dorchester to Chinatown, where...
Adam Smith
Oct 10, 2025


'Martyr' Event Lists Names of Palestinians Killed in Gaza
Volunteers kneeled down over a long scroll of paper on Wednesday evening outside Harvard University to begin the long task of writing down the names of Palestinians killed so far in the genocide in Gaza.
Adam Smith
Oct 8, 2025


CPR Saves Lives. That’s Why Every Student Should Know It
Sudden cardiac arrest is an unpredictable emergency. Every year in the United States, there are more than 35,000 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), yet the overall survival rate is only about 10%. This means that out of 10 people who collapse, perhaps only one will survive. Unfortunately, in emergency situations, many bystanders are left unsure of what to do due to a lack of CPR knowledge—missing the best window for saving a life.
Mingjun Zhan
Oct 3, 2025
What’s Behind Metric Media’s Info Request for Nation’s Public Colleges? Sampan Finds Out
A news report on GBH posted recently caught our attention. The story was about how the head of a national media company, Brian Timpone,...
Liam Crampton
Oct 3, 2025
Rise Up Against the Fear: Why It’s Our Duty to Stand Up for Free Speech and Expression
F ear can be a powerful weapon against a people’s freedoms. And what better way to spread fear than to make an example of those who speak...
Sampan Editor
Oct 3, 2025


Chinese Progressive Assoc. Starts New Chapter as Leader Karen Chen Moves on
Karen Chen is moving on from her role as executive director of the Chinese Progressive Association.
Adam Smith
Oct 1, 2025


An Autism Doctor’s Life Lesson
In an interview with the Sampan about her personal and professional life, Dr. Xue-Jun Kong spoke about her son, now 28 years old and pursing a graduate degree in mathematics, as well as her goals and focus areas in autism research, including founding the Synapse Lab for Autism Research at MGH and Boston Children's Hospital.
Adam Smith
Sep 29, 2025


Measles, Once Gone in the U.S., Now Called ‘Canary in Coal Mine’
Massachusetts has had only eight cases total from 2015 till now, with several zero-case years. But with concerns around vaccine skepticism and a surge in measles cases nationwide, some are worried about the potential for this preventable disease and others to make a comeback.
Anna Hu
Sep 24, 2025


In Dense Chinatown, Housing Can Come at Cost of Trees
I n a neighborhood starved of both new affordable housing and greenery, a development project has forced residents and activists to...
Liam Crampton
Sep 19, 2025


Docs at Boston Rally Call for Solidarity With Palestinian Healthcare Workers
Dr. Yipeng Ge was one of several healthcare professionals who spoke in solidarity with Palestinian medical workers at a rally on Sept. 14 called “The People’s Prescription: Healthcare Workers & Allies Rally for Gaza.”
Adam Smith
Sep 16, 2025


Hugo Nakashima-Brown Joins History and Innovation
Boston-based furniture artist draws from classical Chinese designs, tradition and craftsmanship F or wood sculptor Hugo Nakashima-Brown ,...
Adam Smith
Sep 14, 2025

