Cultural connections

Shirley Young and the Committee of 100 are using the arts to build bridges between China and the US. Guo Shuhan reports

Shirley Young's life during the past two decades has been filled with, in her words, "small things? yet, things big enough to bring about major turning points in some people's life. Hot tickets such as pianist Lang Lang, choreographer Huang Doudou, and new emerging singing star Shen Yang, who won BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in 2007, were all introduced to the right people and the world by Young.

They are just part of the 75-year-old's efforts to let the world know more about her motherland.

Young's birth father was a diplomat and her stepfather Ku Wei-chun, also known by his Western name V. K. Wellington Koo, was a leading diplomat for the Republic of China. So it is perhaps not surprising that from childhood Young's dream was to be involved in diplomacy.

Though her talent blossomed in business and she once served as corporate vice-president of General Motors Corporation, Young did not give up on her dream. She realized it in 1989, when she co-founded the Committee of 100, an independent non-profit group of prominent Chinese Americans based in New York. Its dual missions are to encourage a stronger relationship between the people of the United States and China, and encourage the full participation of Chinese-Americans in all aspects of American life.

More than 160 prominent Chinese-Americans have joined. Its members include cellist Yo-yo Ma, architect I. M. Pei, former American Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and figure skater Michelle Kwan.

"China is still a strange place to Americans to some extent. It has not completely internationalized, by virtue of the language and different thinking ways, therefore, it's helpful to be the bridge," Young told China Daily during her recent trip in Beijing to appreciate performances in the National Center for the Performing Arts.

Young moves smoothly between her two roles as businesswoman and "cultural ambassador".

As the first director and later governor of the committee, Young meets Chinese and American leaders to share perspectives from both sides. Surveys of American people's attitudes towards China on specific issues, done by a hired research company, are also presented to Chinese leaders.

She invites journalists from leading US media to China to know the country firsthand.

However, her real passion is the arts.

"Art is really the way to release people's mind and soul. It brings a spiritual value to society," Young says.

With her love of the arts Young has also organized a series of cultural exchanges, and is especially devoted to those that involve children.

"Culture and children are related. Children have no preconceived attitudes, so the opportunity to meet peers from another cultural background can leave a deep impression."

She is very proud of the unique exhibit the Committee of 100 created for the USA Pavilion of the Shanghai Expo: a video wall about the Chinese in the US called We are Family.

"It's exciting to find three or four generations of overseas Chinese, who may not know their family origins, are eager to use the chance to trace back."

Almost 11,000 people uploaded their photos for the video wall with their surnames, their Chinese heritage locations and their current residence in the US.

In fact, the influence of the exhibit goes beyond the Expo.

It was shown at the US embassy in Beijing this July and at the Western China International Fair. After the Expo, a permanent website extending the exhibit will be launched to create a continuing platform for connecting Chinese in the US.

"We didn't expect such a large number of participants and people like my son who cannot speak Chinese really care about their Chinese background," Young says.

"It's really moving to see many American adoptive parents help their Chinese children upload photos to strengthen their motherland ties and their pride in being Chinese."

There are two websites related to the project: www.jointhewall.org www.comebuildthewall.org

(China Daily 10/30/2010 page11)