As an immigrant from China, I have lived in San Jose in the past 15 years. Here is home. I have written a critically acclaimed novel, Beautiful as Yesterday (Simon & Schuster, 2010), about Chinese immigrants’ experience in the SF Bay Area.

My proposed project is called “Chinese Immigrants in Silicon Valley and Beyond - A Journey Through Photos and Stories”.

What:
A bilingual (English & Chinese) photoblog, where each featured immigrant shares a brief and meaningful personal observation/inspiration/story to promote interracial understanding and cross-cultural alliances. It's an ongoing project. Besides online presence, I plan to create a poster and a physical book based on the photo collection.

Who:
- Chinese immigrants from different walks of life, from different social, economic, professional backgrounds.
- Chinese immigrants living in Silicon Valley

Why:
Silicon Valley is home to one of the largest foreign-born populations in the US. About 38% of the two million people in this area were born outside the US, and immigrants make up 70% of the workforce in highly technical occupations. Chinese immigrants account for a significant proportion of the workforce in Silicon Valley. Since the Covid-19 pandemic begun, anti-Asian and anti-Chinese rhetoric and behaviors have surged. This photoblog is an effective way to showcase the wide range of Chinese immigrants and promote interracial and intercultural communication and understanding.

When:
To be launched in Q1 2022.

Promotion:
- my website and social media
- through my local, national and international networks
- Bookstores & libraries