卓越法拉盛商會(Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce)成立於2014年，身為創辦人之一的商會理事長 John Choe 接受我的訪問，讓我重新了解法拉盛獨有的社區文化與商會過去到現在如何將法拉盛的飲食、古蹟、藝術與亞洲封街夜市重新整合包裝成為紐約一個新興的觀光地區。
有別於法拉盛許多商會都是由不同的族裔各自創立，Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce 是唯一不分族群開放給所有法拉盛商戶與中小企業入會的法拉盛商會組織。
John Choe 希望真的能幫助到中小企業，提供各種免費商業輔導甚至技術輔導，而且不限年齡、種族或是營業規模，只要是入駐法拉盛的個人商戶或是中小企業都可以參加。
John Choe 說大部分紐約市民都以為法拉盛只有小吃，但法拉盛有很多藝文活動，除了許多亞裔移民以外，法拉盛也很多藝術展覽與音樂表演，希望藉著 Flushing Night Out 的封街活動讓社區裡的居民與紐約其他地區搭地鐵過來的遊客見識到法拉盛的融合文化，這裡除了亞裔也有拉丁裔、非裔、印度裔等。
Passport to Flushing 是夢幻法拉盛(Flushing Fantastic)延伸出的活動，藉著發放法拉盛觀光護照活動讓前來的遊客能到處蓋章拍照。每一次辦活動都要消耗很多人力與資金，但希望能繼續舉辦下去讓法拉盛隱藏的文化與古蹟被看到。
Flushing Chamber's John Choe Selected for 2019 Queens Power 100
Taehoon Kim, president of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce stated the following in response to City & State’s selection of executive director John Choe on the “2019 Queens Power 100,” a list of the most influential people in New York City’s biggest borough. The list is available online at City & State.
“We congratulate our executive director John Choe for his dedication and commitment to improving our community … We welcome this recognition because it reflects all the hard work and impact made by our staff, led by John Choe, and our members and board in supporting and promoting the most diverse and dynamic community in America.”
The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce is organizing and inviting the general public to participate in the first Flushing Community Health & Wellness Expo on Sunday, May 19, 1-4pm, at the Margaret I. Carman Green--Weeping Beech Park, located on Bowne Street and 37th Avenue in Flushing, Queens. The Chamber was selected by Partnership for Parks to participate in the Building Healthy Communities, an initiative of the Mayor’s Office, the Fund for Public Health NYC, and Astoria Energy LLC to activate public parks and promote community health in Queens.
“The Chamber is proud to have been selected by Partnership for Parks to organize the first Flushing Community Health & Wellness Expo. Our goal is to promote community wellness and also recognize the tremendous role of our health industry in the local economy,” stated John Choe, Executive Director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. “We invite all those seeking a healthy lifestyle, physical and mental fitness, and affordable healthcare resources to join us on Sunday, May 19, 1-4pm, at Carman Green.”
The Expo will feature expert presentations, family-friendly activities and workshops as well health professionals available to provide free advice, screenings, and samples.
“As New York state’s largest healthcare provider, Northwell Health is a proud supporter of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and the Flushing community,” stated Emmelyn Kim, Assistant Vice President of Research Compliance at Northwell Health. “Northwell understands that true community impact means aligning with community partners to enhance the health and wellness of the communities we serve.”
“The Flushing YMCA is excited to be partnering with the Chamber to organize our community’s first Health and Wellness Expo,” stated stated Tiffany Dunbar, Executive Director of the Flushing YMCA. “As an important part of the Flushing community, the Y strives to promote healthy living through exercise classes, wellness programming, swimming and personal training, and a belief that no one should be denied access to the life-changing effects of wellness. We are proud to promote our Summer Membership opportunities and fantastic summer camps. We hope that this Expo represents the first in a long-lasting tradition of bringing awareness to our amazing community.”
The Expo will showcase New York’s most diverse and dynamic health and wellness community and feature free demonstrations, workshops, and screenings by hospitals, professionals, and companies specializing in health and wellness products and services.
“We are pleased to provide health screenings and fun activities to the community at the Flushing Community Health & Wellness Expo,” stated Maggie Wong, Director of Marketing and Communications at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center.
Workshops will include presentations on Garden Therapy, a Bowne House Tour & Colonial Tea Demonstration, Solar Energy, Chair Dance Workout, Circuit Exercise, Hatha Yoga, Stroke Prevention, and “You Are What You Digest: Beyond Superfoods” with Shweta Parmar, Ayurveda Practitioner with Gutsier Living.
“Health and wellness affects our every word, thought and behavior. It’s our duty to maintain a balance for a well community is a happy community and a happier self,” stated Maureen Regan, Founder and President of Green Earth Urban Gardens Inc. We are proud to continue our partnerships with the The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and NYC Parks Dept to promote wellness in Queens.
“Flushing House is a not-for-profit independent senior residence with supportive services in Flushing,” stated Nancy Rojas, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Flushing House. “We are happy to partner with the Chamber to serve our senior community through this Health & Wellness Expo.”
The main stage of the Expo at Carman Green will feature performances by local groups, including K-Pop Dance by Kolo NY, martial arts demonstrations by Master Michael Ro and the Ultimate Champions Taekwondo of Flushing, and a fencing demonstration by the Queens Fencing Club.
“A healthy community is a better and more vibrant community,” stated Michael Yen, Head Coach of Queens Fencing Club. “As an integral part of our community, the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce is partnering with local businesses, healthcare professionals and organizations for our inaugural Health & Wellness Expo to help Flushing residents get more information and services to improve their health. The Queens Fencing Club supports this ongoing effort to advance and maintain the health of our community.”
This event is made possible through the generous support of Partnerships for Parks, a joint program of the City Parks Foundation and the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation.
The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce joined with our community during National Voter Registration Day to launch a voter registration campaign in Flushing, Queens. The event was organized by Asian Pacific Americans Voting & Organizing to Increase Civic Engagement (APA VOICE), a non-partisan collaboration of 19 organizations seeking to increase civic engagement in the Asian American community. The last day for New Yorkers to register to vote in time for the general election is Friday, October 12.
“At a time of crisis, when our community is under attack, we all need to come together, build solidarity, and assert our rights as Americans,” said John Choe, executive director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce. “We stand today with APA VOICE to proclaim that National Voter Registration Day is only a small step in the road to community empowerment and equality.”
Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in the nation, and at 15% of New York City, play a critical role in determining election outcomes. Flushing and its surrounding neighborhoods have the highest concentration of Asian Americans in the city, and Tuesday’s event will attempt to register new Asian American voters and urge them to become more active civic participants.
“Asian Americans make up 15 percent of the City’s population and is the fastest growing ethnic and racial group in the state,” said John Park, Executive Director of the MinKwon Center. “Far too often, our voices are dismissed and our community is not given the priority it deserves. Our voices are our future, and it is essential that Asian Americans, immigrants, and other marginalized communities register to vote and exercise our power this November.”
“As the fastest growing ethnic group in New York State, Asian Americans make a difference with our voices when we choose to vote,” said Jennifer Sun and Thomas Yu, co-executive directors of Asian Americans for Equality. “As a proud member of APA Voice, AAFE is fully committed to a vigorous ‘get out the vote’ campaign before the upcoming general election. We urge members of our communities to register, to learn about the candidates and, most importantly, to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6.”
“Voting is both our right and our civic duty as Americans. I have been alarmed by recent data showing more and more people are staying home instead of participating in this cornerstone of our democracy, said Assembly Member Ron Kim. Now more than ever, when so many of our rights that we have taken for granted seem to be threatened, it is important that we exercise our fundamental right to choose the people who represent us in government. I thank the MinKwon Center for working with our local community partners to bring greater awareness to this issue and helping to register more and more people to vote.”
“Be the change you wish to see in your community, and register to vote. Quite simply, neighborhoods and communities that vote get more attention from those who hold office, and in these times our communities cannot sit on the sidelines,” said Annetta Seecharran, Executive Director, Chhaya CDC.
“Voting is a civic duty and together we can empower our communities to raise the APIA voice through voting,” said Karen Zhou, Executive Director of Homecrest Community Services, Inc.
About the Greater Flushing Chamber of Flushing
The Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce is a multicultural membership association of entrepreneurs and civic leaders that fosters the economic growth, inclusive diversity, and shared prosperity of our community through advocacy, networking, and education. More information is available at flushingchamber.nyc.
In the past, this discussion on the “History and Commerce in the Old and New Netherlands” led by Jack Eichenbaum took place in January 2017. Now after a year and half, Jack has some new insights to share after ruminating on the subject and the “geo-synchronous” parallels it provides.
On September 30th, from 2:30PM thru 4:30PM in the Queens Historical Society, the talk will be held again. There will be a small admission charge to cover light refreshments, but anyone representing Dutch or Belgian commerical or diplomatic interests are invited freely so long as they inform Jack Eichenbuam in advance. Inform him by calling 718-961-8406 and feel free to communicate any opinions or information you can impart on the subject.
Jack Eichenbaum was appointed Queens Borough Historian eight years ago, and one of the priorities he has set out to do is establish local awareness of how Nederlanders influenced the growth, singularity and success of NYC compared to its English colonial counterparts.
Sergey Kadinsky, author of Hidden Waters of New York City, will lead this ride. Join Sergey, NYC H2O, Guardians of Flushing Bay, Empire Dragon Boat Team and Friends of Flushing Creek on a
bike tour along this waterway that explores Flushing Creek from its source to its mouth.
Flushing Creek is an urban waterway hidden in plain sight that runs between two highways through the heart of the largest park in Queens. The creek originates in the midst of a complex network of
roads. It first expands into two lakes before being confined in an underground culvert. It then re-emerges in Willets Point from where it eventually empties into Flushing Bay.
This is the stream that flowed past the Valley of Ashes in The Great Gatsby. Arguably, it is the centerpiece of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the site that hosted two World’s Fairs.
Flushing Bay and Creek have the largest number of combined sewer overflow (CSO) outfalls in the city.Billions of gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater are discharged into these waterbodies
every year. The future of Flushing Creek is the subject of controversy. Come learn about why it deserves our advocacy.
