Community members, business leaders, and families gathered Saturday evening, March 7, at the Northern Academy of the Arts Middletown Campus for a Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival potluck celebration hosted by the Hudson Valley Asian American Chamber of Commerce (HVAACC), with support from the Orange County Taiwanese Association.
The relaxed networking event featured shared food, cultural performances, and opportunities for local entrepreneurs and community members to connect.
Building business connections
“My name is Jim Zhang. I’m the president of Hudson Valley Asian American Chamber of Commerce,” Zhang said while welcoming attendees. He explained that the chamber focuses on helping Asian American entrepreneurs build connections and strengthen their businesses.
“Basically, we have the mission… we call networking. People want to know other people to do business, to help each other,” Zhang said. “Number two, we call education… we want to help people know a better way to do business, more professional.”
Zhang noted that many members have approached him seeking additional training on professional business practices. “They specifically want guidance on how and when to involve attorneys and CPAs in key areas such as business planning, mergers and acquisitions, and expansion throughout the Hudson Valley,” he said. Zhang added that the organization is committed to supporting its members through enhanced educational programs and access to reliable resources. “Our goal is to help them adopt best practices and build stronger, more sustainable businesses.”
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
He also emphasized the importance of unity in the business community. “Together as Asian Americans in the Hudson Valley, it’s more powerful,” Zhang said. “As a chamber of commerce together, it is easier to talk to government officials and bring benefits back to society.”
Originally scheduled two weeks earlier, the celebration had been postponed due to a winter storm. “Today we’re kind of combining Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival,” Zhang said. “Tonight is just a relaxed event—people join us, have entertainment, and enjoy the evening.”
Music and cultural performances
Students and faculty from the nearby Northern Academy of the Arts contributed several musical performances.
Ms. Zhou Wenwen, a Taiwan-born music professional who teaches at the academy, said the performers wanted to support the community gathering.
“We bring a string chamber, a pipa solo, a brass ensemble, and a Chinese chamber group,” Zhou said. “Basically all chamber music—small groups for a smaller audience.”
One highlight was Horse Racing, a folk tune from Mongolia called Sai Ma, celebrating the Year of the Horse. Zhou explained, “Feel the power of hooves pounding across the dusty steppes of Mongolia in the folk tune ‘Sai Ma,’ played by erhu and pipa. It was exciting for the audience and perfectly fits the festive mood!”
She emphasized the importance of preserving cultural traditions. “I think it’s important to promote traditional culture, because now many people forget the traditions,” Zhou said. “This is a good chance for us to review all this and also a precious opportunity to get together with our fellow country people.”
Community highlights
GanJing World—whose name means “Clean World”—shared how its platform can support local businesses through digital content and community engagement. Launched in 2022 in Middletown, NY, the platform offers video sharing, articles, and discussion forums. Its mission is to create a positive and safe online environment while giving businesses and creators opportunities to reach audiences interested in educational and uplifting content.
Visitors from outside the Asian community also attended. One Italian couple said they came after a friend’s invitation and immediately felt welcomed.
“For me it is to be at home,” one of them said. “The organization, the food—everything is fantastic. Italian and Chinese people are very similar. We love family, we love friends, and sharing food together.”
Zhang said the chamber hopes events like this will continue to strengthen cultural connections in the region. He noted that a larger celebration is already planned for May.
“We want to bring our tradition to the community,” he said. “That’s the goal.”
