Editor's note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan's Second Wave's On the Ground Kalamazoo series.

When her then 2nd-grade daughter came home from school and started talking to her in English, Grace Li heard an alarm sound in her mind. It was 1972. Immigrated from Taiwan, Li was determined that, even as the family acclimated to life in their new home, the Chinese culture would not be lost to the next generation.

Li gathered a handful of students from the surrounding Kalamazoo community, ages five to eight, and launched the Kalamazoo Chinese School on a Sunday afternoon in her basement. 

NCourtesy, KalamazoO Chinese AcademyMany forms of Chinese visual art are offered at the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy.ow in 2024, from the humble beginnings of that basement classroom, the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy (KCA) is growing and thriving with more than 60 students from approximately 50 families at the Portage Zhang Senior Center in Portage. Elaine Lui has served as board president for the past two years. 

“But I began as a parent volunteer about 12 years ago,” says Lui. “I have taken different roles over the years, but I became increasingly involved since KCA became a 501c(3) non-profit organization. That gave us a chance to expand.”

While KCA had roots in teaching the Chinese language and culture to the children of Chinese-speaking immigrants in 1972, it has now expanded to include children of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  

“We are trying to build a bridge,” Lui says. “KCA is a place for all, for anyone who has an interest in learning about the Chinese language and culture.”

First: Language skills

Developed to teach children between kindergarten and 12th grade, KCA offers three programs. The first program consists of language courses — heritage Chinese, non-heritage Chinese, and AP Chinese preparatory classes. Heritage Chinese language courses are designed for Chinese-speaking families. 

Non-heritage language courses are designed for non-Chinese-speaking families on a more introductory level. The AP Chinese prep classes are designed for students who have a serious intent to develop language and writing skills at a higher education level. 

“When my family first came to the United States from Shanghai, it seemed so Western-centric to me, as if missing half the world,” says L. Sam Zhang, executive director of KCA and the author of a children’s book series about the first Chinese festivals. “Life is richer when you know more about the world around you.”

CourtesyL. Sam Zhang, her husband, Michael Hypes, and daughters, Alexandra and Amilia.In practical terms, Zhang feels that Chinese language skills and knowledge of the Chinese culture improve job opportunities for upcoming generations. She is the parent of two daughters, ages 4 and 8, and while they are not fully fluent in the language, she hopes that KCA will encourage her daughters to have an interest in the language along with a cultural focus. 

Second: Performing and visual arts

The second program consists of performing and visual arts. Artists of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds are introduced to Chinese dance, the Lion Dance and youth martial arts, and Chinese YoYo, or diabolo. This ancient spinning game entertains students while developing their skills over 16 sessions. 

Courtesy, Kalamazoo Chinese Academy“Chinese YoYo is a tradition from over thousands of years,” says Zhang. “We use a bigger YoYo than Western ones, and we incorporate LED lights as the students perform tricks. It is one of our most popular shows that we put on. We have fifth-generation national award winners teaching the students.”

Courtesy, Kalamazoo Chinese AcademyHanfu, a type of Chinese dressmaking for dolls, is also taught at the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy.A new addition to the arts program is a class on Chinese dressmaking for dolls, called hanfu design.

“Every year, we try to introduce new classes,” says Zhang. “Last summer, we had a K-Pop workshop, for instance.” K-pop, Zhang explains, is short for South Korean popular music, blending pop, hip hop, R&B, rock, jazz, gospel, reggae, electronic dance, folk, country, disco, and classical added to its traditional Korean music roots.

Third: Traditional dance and martial arts

The third program offers classes in traditional dance in Chinese and other Asian cultures, called the Lion Dance. Performers mimic lion-like movements while wearing colorful lion costumes. The dance is traditionally performed during the Lunar New Year and other Chinese traditional, cultural, and religious festivals. 

Courtesy, Kalamazoo Chinese AcademyThe Lion Dance, one of the forms of traditional Chinese dancing, is taught at Kalamazoo Chinese Academy.“It is a celebratory dance,” Zhang says. “Since many of the dance moves are based in Chinese martial arts, we combined the dance with martial arts and also contemporary dance moves. Our performances have won regional awards.”

The dance program is for ages 5 to 18. The martial arts portion includes Five Steps Fists, Tai Chi, and Ba Duan Jin movements.  

“I love learning about my culture,” says Zhang’s 8-year-old daughter, Alexandra. “I love the performing part. I think the kids are really motivated.”

Courtesy, Kalamazoo Chinese AcademyTraditional dance is one of the offerings of the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy,“KCA has given me a chance to understand where I come from,” says 17-year-old Ivan Tai, a senior at the Academy and son of Elaine Lui. “My parents had me go when I was 5 — I’ve been in the school since, for 12 years — and at first, that was the only reason for me. 

"But once I started making friends, I began looking forward to it. I’ve been the longest language student at KCA. I can understand the language, but I’m best at reading and writing. Let’s just say, if I was stranded in Hong Kong, I could find my way.”

Tai notes that the language has many dialects, Mandarin being the most popular and the dialect he has learned at school. 

“I can’t change how I look, so I may as well have a better appreciation for who I am,” he says. “KCA has given me that. And my parents have always said, if I can’t find a job here, I can always try there.”

Courtesy, Kalamazoo Chinese AcademyTraditional Chinese painting is taught at the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy.“We are not all Asian faces at KCA anymore,” Elaine Lui adds. “When I have talked to non-Chinese parents about why they bring their children here, I hear different reasons. Some families have adopted a Chinese child — there are quite a few of these in Kalamazoo — and they want the child to keep their heritage. 

"Then, there are families who do business in China, and they want to learn more. We also have families who want their children to expand their opportunities in the world, to learn a foreign language. Children learn the easiest when they are young. And then there are those who simply are interested in a culture different than their own.”

“A majority of our language learners now are actually not Chinese,” Zhang says. “We welcome anyone from any background.”

Registration for KCA is a non-refundable annual fee of $35 per family or a discounted rate of $25 per family if registered by August 15. Need-based financial aid is available by request. For more information, visit the KCA website. To see a video of the Lantern Festival, check here.

Courtesy, KalamazoO Chinese Academy