Serving communities and making a difference since 1983.

OUR HISTORY

Since the 1980s, CAAL has been dedicated to serving Chinese American interests in Lexington. As the community has grown, CAAL has strengthened its social and political presence, focusing on civic engagement, cultural heritage, education, community service, networking, and social justice advocacy.

CAAL actively participates in town affairs, including elected Town Meeting, town-wide offices, board representation, and various committees.

- 1983: CAAL was founded to serve the Chinese American community in Lexington.  
- 2011: The CAAL Community Task Force (CTF) was established to promote civic involvement.  
- 2013: CAAL became a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  
- 2017: The CAAL Political Action Committee (PAC) was created to focus on local politics and elections.

THE COMMUNITY: Our Foundation and Strength

The Chinese American community in Lexington is at the heart of everything CAAL does. As the community has grown, so has CAAL’s commitment to civic engagement, cultural celebration, education, and community service.
With strong support from local families, CAAL has led major initiatives—from a $280,000 COVID relief campaign to the $75,000 “CAAL for Cary” fundraiser—showing the strength and unity of our community in action.
Our Lunar New Year Celebration, a decades-long tradition, brings joy to hundreds in person and tens of thousands online. Through events like the Candidate Forum, CAAL encourages civic involvement. Today, 16 Chinese Americans serve as Town Meeting Members, and 30 more are active on town committees.
In 2022, CAAL helped organize Lexington’s AAPI Heritage Month celebrations, including a 5K Run for Unity and a vibrant Asian Music Festival, which brought together nearly 1,000 residents.
The Chinese American community is not only CAAL’s foundation—it is our greatest strength. Together, we celebrate culture, serve others, and help shape a stronger, more inclusive Lexington.

We want to have people join us regardless of their background, and focus on what they can bring the toble - make them feel that there is a place to shine, and to utilize their talents.

CAAL is entirely volunteer-run. We welcome your involvement!

Join Us

Hua Wang
President

The leadership

- Committees and missions

    • Ensure the financial integrity and sustainability of CAAL by providing strategic oversight, fostering transparency, and promoting effective resource management.

    • Play a vital role in advancing CAAL's mission and ensuring its continued success in serving the community.

    • Ensure effective board oversight and governance practices within an organization.

    • Developing and implementing sound governance policies, recruiting and developing board members, and assessing the board's overall performance.

    • Acts as the "conscience of the board," ensuring the board operates effectively and fulfills its responsibilities.

    • Promote civic engagement with a focus on increasing member participation in town activities, elections, and governance.

    • Advocate for change on issues impacting the Chinese American (CA) community.

    • Support CAAL and Lexington community events and foster community connection through volunteer management

    • Empower Next-Gen CAAL youth through service and leadership development

    • Volunteer appreciation and celebration including PVSA application, verification and recognition

    • Support for newcomers by creating support groups to help newly arrived families with local resources, schools, and culture.

    • Promote academic achievement and cultural connection for Chinese American families in Lexington.

    • Foster strong community bonds through education and civic engagement.

    • Build collaborative partnerships with schools, educators, and local organizations.

    • Raise awareness on mental wellness and holistic student developments.

    • To preserve and promote Chinese culture in Lexington, foster cultural exchange, and inspire the next generation.

    • To make Lexington a hub for diversity and cultural appreciation.

    • Promote Lexington and CAAL events in bilingual and act as bridge between Lexington and Chinese American Community

    • Keep and strengthen CAAL’s visibility through connection, media and storytelling

Join Us

 

Get in touch

We’d love to hear from you—reach out today to become a volunteer, a partner, a sponsor, share your feedback, or ask any questions you may have.