On January 5th, the Gold Mountain Bay Area Mom’s Classroom celebrated its 30th anniversary with a splendid gratitude banquet in San Jose. Volunteers, guest speakers, donors, colleagues from the Overseas Compatriot Education Center, and leaders from the overseas Chinese community gathered to express their thanks for the support and contributions from all walks of life, leaving behind countless precious memories.
During the event, attendees including Laura Lai, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, along with her husband Yunwen Zhen, Shuoya Zhuang, Director of the South Bay Overseas Compatriot Education Center, Huizhen Guo, Head of the News Department, Caifeng Xu, Secretary of the Center, Mrs. Xin Yuan Su, wife of ROC Ambassador to the Holy See, and the founders of the California Line Dance Association, the Lins, joined together to make the event even more illustrious.
The head of Mom’s Classroom, Yuli Gao, expressed gratitude to Director Lai, Director Zhuang, colleagues from the Compatriot Education Center, volunteers, donors, community leaders, and the media for their years of support, which has contributed to the brilliant 30-year journey of Mom’s Classroom. She especially thanked the six guest speakers for their insightful sharing, the Chinese School Association for their strong support in the 30th anniversary celebration activities, and the generous sponsors.
Yuli Gao mentioned during the banquet that Mom’s Classroom is currently actively exploring transformation directions. She noted that over the past 30 years, there have been continuous suggestions to establish a “Dad’s Classroom.” She also suggested to Director Zhuang that the educational resources of the cultural center should be fully utilized. With existing children’s story time and youth activities by FASCA, incorporating Mom’s Classroom to enhance the women’s segment and adding a “Dad’s Classroom” would make the overall program more comprehensive.
Director Laura Lai expressed that participation in Mom’s Classroom activities has been rewarding, offering not only delicious food but also opportunities to learn about health and wellness, and even hear interesting anecdotes. Over the 30 years, Mom’s Classroom has hosted over 600 events, thanking numerous supporters for contributing to this illustrious journey. The success of Mom’s Classroom lies in providing a platform for mothers to communicate and contribute, showcasing unity and enthusiasm, which is worth learning from and admiring. She wished Mom’s Classroom a smooth transition and another 30 years of brilliance.
Director Shuoya Zhuang stated that for 30 years, Mom’s Classroom has accompanied the overseas Chinese community’s growth by organizing numerous engaging seminars covering astronomy, geography, health, humanities, and more, not only uniting the overseas Chinese community but also becoming an important pillar of the Compatriot Education Center. Furthermore, the success of the food tour events, initiated by Yuli Gao, has enriched the overseas Chinese culture.
She thanked Yuli Gao for her dedication in making Mom’s Classroom an important platform for the overseas Chinese community. In the future, they will continue to work together to create a more brilliant next 30 years and even march towards a century of glory.
During the banquet, Mom’s Classroom volunteers took the stage to express their gratitude for providing them with opportunities to participate, allowing everyone to gain valuable experiences. Mrs. Yunwen Zhen, Mrs. Xin Yuan Su, and Lin Gui Xiang, a consultant on overseas Chinese affairs, among other distinguished guests, shared their thoughts and experiences.
The subsequent karaoke session heightened the atmosphere of the event, with Mrs. Yunwen Zhen, Director Shuoya Zhuang, and the Lins taking the stage to sing, adding more joy and warmth to the occasion.