Interview with Cheng Imm Tan

On February 16, 2007, we went to meet Reverend Cheng Imm Tan. She is the Director of the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians, located in Boston City Hall. (Visit www.cityofboston.gov/newbostonians/ for more information.) The Office of New Bostonians was established in 1998 to respond to the need of the city’s growing immigrant population and diverse cultural and linguistic community. As the Director, she leads, manages and builds the organization. When we asked Rev. Tan what a typical day is like at work, she said that she has many meetings, often with people to tell them about the importance of the organization and to encourage them to support the organization.

Before working at the Office of New Bostonians, Rev. Tan was the Founder and Executive Director of the first domestic violence shelter for Asian women, called Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence. (Visitwww.atask.org for more information.) Rev. Tan started this shelter in 1987 to help Asian women break free from fear and abuse.

To succeed in her field, Rev. Tan said that it’s important to have a vision, and to be creative and confident. It is also important to be able to sell ideas and organize projects.

Rev. Tan also loves martial arts. She is the founder and leader of Gund Kwok, the only known Asian women lion and dragon dance troupe in North America. (Visit www.gundkwok.org for more information.) The stereotypes of Asian women are that they are timid and weak. But that is not true! By performing and mastering the lion and dragon dance, which requires strength and discipline, the members of Gund Kwok prove that women are strong and confident. Rev. Tan explained, “Gund Kwok represents the power of women. We cooperate and work as a team. When somebody in the team can do well, it reflects on the success of the entire team and it encourages the whole team.” It seems that Rev. Tan cannot be apart from Gund Kwok and dragon and lion dance.

Rev. Tan is a strong woman. She even has a strong view on love. She said, “Love is not based on romantic feelings, but respect from each other. Love is a decision you make.”

We enjoyed our visit and learned a lot from Rev. Tan. We think that she is funny, nice, and brave.