NEW YORK, NY – Yesterday, Assemblymember Grace Lee, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Welcome to Chinatown hosted the second annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Breakfast at House of Joy in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Over 300 attendees from the Lower Manhattan community joined elected officials from across the city and state to welcome the Year of the Snake.

On January 29th of this year, New York public school students celebrated Lunar New Year as a statewide school holiday for the first time making New York the first state in the country to observe the holiday by closing schools. Assemblymember Lee led the legislation to make Lunar New Year a statewide holiday in 2023.

As part of this event, Assemblymember Lee and Manhattan Borough President Levine honored two Chinatown organizations and four New Yorkers in recognition of their exemplary contributions to Chinatown and the greater Asian American community:

• The American Legion, Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 - Veterans organization committed to administering mutual aid and mentoring youth in the New York Chinese community.
• UA3 - Nonprofit organization serving vulnerable populations in Manhattan’s Chinatown via food pantry initiatives and healthcare supply distribution.
• Chi Loek - Retired community board member, former youth counselor and advocate on behalf of the NYC AAPI community.
• Michele Wong McSween - Author of the first bilingual Mandarin children’s book series.
• Kathleen Kim - The first Asian American Puppeteer on Sesame Street.
• Maxine Ng Dalio - Founder and director of Bodhi House, and philanthropist.

Distinguished guests included Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, New York State Liquor Authority Chair Lily Fan, Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assemblymembers Harvey Epstein, Tony Simone, Jennifer Rajkumar, Council Members Christopher Marte, Susan Zhuang, Keith Powers, district leaders, state committee members, and representatives from Chinatown family associations, local Community Boards, Democratic clubs, and small business owners.

“Today I am filled with pride and gratitude,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “When I fought for the legislation to make Lunar New Year a statewide school holiday, an event like this one is exactly what I envisioned; a room of not only Asian Americans but one that included diverse community members from all over New York celebrating Asian culture together. It is my honor to recognize The American Legion, Lt B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291, UA3, Chi Loek, Kathleen Kim, Maxine Ng Dalio, and Michele Wong McSween for their outstanding contributions to the Asian community and to New York.”

“It’s an honor to be celebrating the Year of the Snake alongside Assemblymember Lee and the Chinatown community. With one of the largest Asian populations in the country, New York is a beautiful hub of Lunar New Year festivities, and I'm grateful that students statewide finally had the day off to celebrate Lunar New Year thanks to the legislation Assemblymember Lee championed,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “May this year bring health and prosperity for all.”

"One of my favorite memories of Lunar New Year is seeing the joyous celebrations on Super Saturday – the streets of Chinatown covered in confetti, alive with the energy of families, businesses, and community coming together," said Vic Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Welcome to Chinatown. “We’re honored to host this breakfast on the morning of Super Saturday alongside Assembly Member Lee and Borough President Levine, celebrating our vibrant neighborhood and ensuring Chinatown remains a thriving home for generations to come."

"I am deeply honored to be recognized alongside so many incredible leaders in our community. Thank you to Assemblymember Lee and Borough President Levine for these proclamations and for their support of our community,” said Kathleen Kim. “This event reminds me how far we’ve come in fostering inclusivity. It’s a privilege to be part of this movement and continue breaking barriers, especially in children’s media with shows like Sesame Street, where representation can inspire future generations."

“I am honored to be here today celebrating the Lunar New Year alongside those who make this community so vibrant and multicultural. It is a beautiful thing to celebrate our differences and share our culture with the global city that is New York,” said Maxine Ng Dalio. “Throughout my philanthropic and nonprofit work, I've witnessed how investments into education, community, and cultural spaces can uplift individuals, multi-generation families and the greater neighborhood. Chinatown is energetic and inspiring, resilient and multi-layered. And Lunar New Year is a celebration of family and community, so it means so much to be honored today and to be part of this movement.”

"On behalf of the American Legion, Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291 I would like to extend our deepest thanks to Assemblymember Lee and Manhattan Borough President Levine for honoring us and for inviting us to be a part of today’s Lunar New Year Breakfast celebration,” said Commander Thomas Ong of The American Legion, Lt. B.R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post. “We are proud to stand with our community and elected officials in honoring the legacy of Chinese American veterans and giving back to the Chinatown community."

“It’s so important for kids to see themselves represented—not just in books, but also in the community they live in," said Michele Wong McSween. "Having access to stories, language, and cultural traditions helps families stay connected to their heritage and gives children a sense of pride in who they are. I’m so happy to be here celebrating the first year that all New York State students have a day off for Lunar New Year. Now, Asian American students can feel pride in their traditions and culture knowing that their community is celebrating right along with them.”

“UA3 is grateful to be part of such a special occasion, thank you for including us,” said Don Hong, President of UA3. “As we continue our work to support underserved populations, we remain committed to promoting health, education, and opportunities for Asian Americans in New York."