Chinese Culture Connection's New HQ Serves Malden, Beyond

After 40 years in operation, the Chinese Culture Connection of Malden has recently moved to a new location to better serve the community.

“More and more Malden residents can attend our activities now, not just our old friends,” said Zijia Zhuang, communications & events coordinator at Chinese Culture Connection.

The Chinese Culture Connection, which offers various resources and programming aimed at supporting Asian immigrants and others, first moved to Malden from Reading, Mass., 20 years ago. It had been operating in private offices that could not accommodate its usual meetings, which had to be held in the Malden Public Library.

“In the library, it was quite difficult to do activities like this,” Zhuang said, gesturing to the spacious room now in use in the group’s new headquarters. “You couldn't have snacks, chat freely, play music, or even do some exercises. We always felt that we couldn't fully utilize our functions. Now residents can just walk in and attend any activities they want,” she said.

The new space can accommodate activities for about 50 or more people; it also has a separate small classroom and staff offices. The group, also known as CCC for short, has in addition, set up several bookshelves to create a bilingual library. At the time of writing this article, books were already available to readers. 

READY TO READ: Books in Chinese and English line shelves at the Chinese Culture Connection in Malden. Photo: Wenqi Cao.

“We plan to offer bilingual books for both adults and children. For children’s books, we’ve connected with publishers in China who send sample copies that are then shipped here,” Zhuang explained. CCC also publishes a monthly events calendar in both English and Chinese.

The office is now open every week, from Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., unless it’s a holiday.

“Everyone can drop by anytime,” Zhuang said.

During a recent visit, residents were gathering for the Monday meet-up, a weekly event. CCC also hosts Chinese knot-making workshops every other Tuesday and Tai Chi classes every Friday.

In January, the group is set to launch a new bilingual parent-child music program on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. The program targets families with young children and will be led by an instructor.

Additionally, they have a program called East Meets West Cultural Dialogue, which is a monthly activity that aims to promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture. For example, last month they held a large event called 2025 Potluck Night. They invited people from all ethnic groups in Malden to bring some food from their own culture.

“Between 80 and 100 people attended our event,” Zhuang said.

They also plan to hold film screenings. Previously, they had to rent a space from Beebe School in Malden. But now, they have a wall that can be used for film screening, so they’re planning to bring this event back to the office. “However, we need to consider the number of people that can be accommodated,” Zhuang added.

Yihua (Eva) Jiang, communications manager at Chinese Culture Connection, started teaching Chinese knots last year. Participants have included former Malden residents now living in South Boston, as well as visitors from Manchester, New Hampshire, and even Ohio, all coming to experience this traditional Chinese craft.

For many learners, it was their first attempt at making Chinese knots, said Jiang.

They expressed a desire to connect with Chinese culture, and bring their handmade creations home as symbols of good luck.

THREADING TOGETHER: Communications Manager Eva Jiang uses a lighter to help Eil Orne finish his Chinese knot bracelet. Photo: Wenqi Cao.

Jiang said the visitors put a lot of effort into this learning workshop and came early on this windy day. She was deeply touched.

One visitor from Ohio said she thought it would be “full of grannies” at a weekday morning workshop. Instead, she discovered a diverse group including a pregnant woman and a college student on winter break who was attending with his father.

While not a large gathering, it was an intimate group filled with warmth and goodwill.

Serving Malden, Beyond the Chinese Community

“After moving, we shifted to community building more, not just culture-focused activities,” Zhuang said. “We have staff to help Malden residents deal with any kinds of problems they have.”

Because the group is based in Malden, it mainly caters to those residents. But that could soon change.

“We hope to radiate out to the Greater Boston area,” Zhuang said. “Malden’s diversity means we don’t focus on any single demographic group. We hope to expand our impact in the future.”

“Our primary focus remains the Chinese American community in the Malden and Greater Boston area,” Zhuang said. “But we also hope our cross-cultural programs can serve anyone interested in Chinese culture, including American-born residents.”

They are making efforts toward this goal. For example, a recent community potluck dinner had many participants from different backgrounds. “As a city of immigrants, Malden's population reflects diverse ethnic backgrounds. Haitians, Indians, and other groups regularly participate in our activities,” Zhuang said. CCC also participates in Mystic River area events. Since Malden is part of the Mystic River basin, these outdoor activities naturally attract more local participation.

CCC currently hosts two major annual events that draw participants beyond Malden. One is the Thanksgiving Ping Pong Tournament, now in its 11th year. The tournament attracts over 200 athletes from across the Boston area and beyond, providing opportunities for community connection and friendly competition.

The other is the Malden Lunar New Year Celebration Gala. As the organizer, CCC draws 1,000 to 2,000 participants to this major event. “So these are our two major events,” Zhuang said. “But now we hope to be able to break through this geographical limitation and promote our projects in more places.”

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: Communications Manager Eva Jiang explains Chinese knots at a workshop. Photo: Wenqi Cao.

But funding remains the group’s biggest challenge.

“Like many nonprofits, we rely heavily on grants, and this year has been particularly difficult. Many funding sources have tightened,” said Zhuang. “Whether we're planning expenses or trying to move programs forward, limited resources are the most significant obstacle we face.”

But, still, the group says it’s doing its best to serve community members and expand.

They recently have collaborated with the Brookline Public Library and will also go to the Medford Library to hold some activities. “We encourage more people to attend our activities. Residents can learn about upcoming programs through our social media accounts,” Zhuang said.

A Gateway for New Immigrants

At a recent Monday resident meet-up, approximately 10 people attended a health workshop. CCC invited a physiotherapist to share medical information with residents and recommend affordable massage services in Malden. Sampan spoke with those in attendance but is withholding their last names for privacy reasons.

Ann, a resident and CCC volunteer, said the workshop was especially helpful, given that health is a major concern for elderly community members. “I came hoping to know more about the ways I can reduce the pain in my body,” she said.

Mary, another resident and volunteer, shared her thoughts on the new space. “This place is bigger and cleaner. Now we finally have a space where Chinese immigrants can gather and participate in activities together.”

CCC maintains WeChat groups to keep residents informed about upcoming events. “When there’s news or upcoming activities, we share it in the group and notify each other,” Ann said.

“Whether it's questions about activities or problems you need help solving, the staff answer what they can.”

“Staff members … help residents fill out forms and applications, and explain correspondence to elderly residents who struggle with English,” Mary added.

“Malden is often called a ‘gateway city.’ Many immigrants first settle here before eventually moving elsewhere,” Zhuang explained. “Malden serves as a first stop for many newcomers. Some may have preconceptions about the city being economically struggling. However, after living and working here, they discover how enriching it is to interact with people from different cultures. I think that’s very meaningful.”

“Malden provides opportunities for new immigrants and helps them integrate into American life,” Zhuang said. “However, during periods of increased immigration enforcement, ICE has conducted arrests in Malden.”

But, she said, “This space is meant for everyone. By participating in our activities, you can get to know people around you and feel closer to the local community. That’s what we’re here for.”