The Making of Asian American Community Democracy: Rebuilding Chinatown in Post 9-11

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In witnessing the collapse of the World Trade Center, Psychotherapist Edward Ma was determined to do some healing for himself and the Chinatown community since September 11, 2001. In this presentation, Mr. Ma will discuss how he has engaged himself as a volunteer in healing himself by/and promoting participation in community democracy (voter registration for self-empowerment), in community healing, for rebuilding Chinatown and mainstreaming.

By taking advantage of his broad interests in art, culture, architecture, transportation, designing the development of water front, public space and sidewalk safety, and ecological harmony, Mr. Ma has participated in various reconstruction projects from the reduction of Canal Street congestion to Empire Zone, from receiving group psychotherapy himself to conducting group sessions for other 9/11 victims.

During the process of rebuilding, Mr. Ma will illustrate how the Chinatown community has gradually achieved consolidation through diversity for unity in building a political leverage power for the first time in 150 years, by sponsoring a Democratic Mayoral Candidate Debate with ensuing press conference by the Governor and Mayor. This political empowerment has been executed through participation of grass roots leaders, voter registration and community agencies.

In order to make better utilization of all the accessible resources, Edward Ma recommends a democratic decision-making process established in all community agency boards, and a community council with hiring a professional manager. Thus we could build a democratic community with quality of living. Mr. Ma’s slogans are participating, sharing, volunteering and healing.

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Author Bio

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Edward Ma, is a NY/NJ certified Psychotherapist, Member of Manhattan Community Board 2, and former New York City Human Rights Commissioner. Mr. Ma received his diploma in Psychotherapy from New York Medical College, and MSW from the University of Connecticut. He serves on the board of the Chinese American Planning Council (CPC), and provides consultation for the Chinese Community Social Result Services and Health Council, which is organized by 40 agency members, including Bellevue, Downtown, and Gouverneur Hospitals.

In the promotion of community advocacy, with the support of friends, Mr. Ma founded Asian American Community Consultation Association in 1995, functioning in an enabling facilitating role to assist Asian American community and their leaders in building access to mainstream resources for empowerment, justice and democracy. Workshops, lecture, and interview by television and newspaper are regularly given as public education on mental health, parent-child relationships, prevention of family violence, child/elderly abuse, etc. Testimonies have also been made in public hearings, letter writings and lobbying for legislation.

Mr. Ma also assisted in founding the Committee of Bridging the Gap No answer Between ACS and Asian American Community in the prevention of children remove from family tragedy due to alleged abuse.

Mr. Ma has made presentations at conferences by the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama in San Francisco in 2006, and New York City in 2007. His topic, Diversity and Group Coalition for Peace and Democracy, is about how Chinatown in the process of rebuilding through sharing, participating, volunteering and hearing for prosperity, justice, democracy, and mainstream.

Recently, Mr. Ma received special training in advocacy (by Coalition of Asian American for Children and Families), and How to Run Public Office in New York City (by The League of Women Voters). His philosophy is learning, growing, sharing and healing.