2018 Tacoma Moon Festival at the Chinese Reconciliation Park

Sign up as a Volunteer/Docent

Students who are interested in serving as a volunteer and/pr a park history docent, please click HERE to sign up.

Project Background and Description

Students in the Chinese Language and Culture Program routinely seek opportunities outside of the classroom to practice the language they have been studying as well to experience the culture and customs they are learning. Unfortunately, due to the 1885 “Tacoma Method,” the City still has an underrepresented Chinese community. The annual Tacoma Moon Festival, however, provides an event in which students can participate, both as volunteers and festival goers, to learn about Tacoma’s past history, current reconciliation effort (Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation), and Chinese and other Asian cultures. Students can taste mooncakes & Chinese tea while listening to live Beijing opera performances. Volunteers have the opportunity to meet and work alongside other volunteers of Chinese descent, students and teachers in other Chinese classes as well as international students, community leaders and local residents.

What you want to read about before you go:

To help each participant understand the complexity of the experience and put it in a larger context, please learn the park history and Chinese cultural topics:
·    Tacoma Anti-Chinese Riot of 1885
·    The Tacoma Method
·    Request for Reconciliation (1991)
·    City Council Resolution (1993)
·    The Chinese Reconciliation Park
·    Park History in Chinese
·    Chinese Moon Festival Traditions
·    Moon Festival Celebrations by Regions & Cultures
Video:
·   “Of Race and Reconciliation” Emmy-nominated documentary produced by KBT

Relate, engage, go above and beyond:

·    Not just volunteer but participate in as many activities as possible as festival goers
·    Try something different and new
·    Go out of your way to interact with the people you’re serving, other volunteers, and staff people
·    If you finish the task you came to do, ask for another project that could use your help or just step in and volunteer at another activity tent

Remember to take notes and share:

You are encouraged to share the moments, your thoughts and experiences on the festival day and later. We will have two post-event meetings to discuss and share your experiences.

(ON THE EVENT DATE) REMEMBER TO:
·    Take notes (on your phones, notecards, journals, etc.)
·    Take photos
·    Post on Social Media
(AFTER THE EVENT) REMEMBER TO:
·    Tell a friend or a family member
·    Write in your journal
·    Post on Social Media
·    Enter the photo contest Instagram #TacomaMoonFestival
·    Attend one of the post-event sessions: TBA

How can participants connect and share:

·   GroupMe Group  [Tacoma Moon Festival 2018!!]
(closed group)
·    Instagram #TacomaMoonFestival
·    UPS Chinese Program FB
·    Tacoma Moon Festival FB

What you might like to reflect on?

·    What has been rewarding or disappointing about this experience?
·    What do you bring to this site/event? As in what can you connect this site/event with from your past, heritage, previous courses or other aspect of your person?
·    What is one idea/takeaway from this event?
·    Why is this an important event to support?
·    Why is it important to have the Chinese Reconciliation Park?​

Logistics (volunteer schedule; ride sharing)

Sign up for one or more of the volunteer shifts on the event date (9/15):
·   Morning Set up 9:00 – 12:00 (2 drivers; 6-8 volunteers)
·   Afternoon 12:30 – 3:00 (drivers; docents/volunteers)
·   Afternoon 2:30 – 5:00 (drivers; docents/volunteers)
·   Afternoon 4:30 – 7:00 (drivers; docents/volunteers)
·   Evening Tear down 7:00 – 8:00 (drivers; volunteers)
Carpool meets at Wyatt Parking Lot next to Wyatt Hall North Entrance:
·   Detail will be distributed later.

Project Goals

·    To provide opportunities for students of Chinese to practice and use what they have learned in the classroom
·    To raise students’ awareness and understanding of a culture that many have not been exposed to outside of the classroom
·    To engage students in not just new information and ideas but, through volunteerism and physical labors (loading and unloading, set up and tear down for the events), to exercise their minds as well as their bodies
·    To instill interest and motivation in learners of a difficult Asian language that requires constant effort and perseverance
·    To provide an informal but personal immersion learning experience that could complement the formal classroom study
·    To connect students to the community, and to allow them to network with a diverse group of organizations and businesses
·    To learn about the City’s past history, its continuing reconciliation effort and how individuals can contribute to it
·    To place students in volunteer positions where they may learn new skills and can build camaraderie among themselves

Info Session for 2018 Project Participation

These info session will provide more history on the Tacoma Method and the development of the Tacoma Reconciliation Park:
September 4, 5:00-6:30 pm, Wy 203–Prof. Andrew Gomez will talk about the Tacoma Method; Prof. Perry will talk about the citizen’s effort to start the CRPF non-profit group working with the City and the State
September 12, 12:00-1:00 pm, Wy 209–film screening “Of Race and Reconciliation”

Project Faculty and Student Volunteer Leaders

Chinese Language and Culture Faculty:
Prof. Menjun Li | Prof. Lotus Perry
CIWA Visiting Teacher: Prof. Junmin Zhang

History Department Faculty:
Prof. Andrew Gomez

Student Volunteer Leaders: