Braintree's Chinese American population is growing. A new group aims to help them adapt.

Fred Hanson, The Patriot Ledger
·2 min read
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BRAINTREE − A new group has formed to help the town's growing Chinese American community.

The Chinese American Association of Braintree seeks to help Chinese Americans become part of the town and tries to promote cultural activities for the whole community. The group held a popular Lunar New Year celebration at town hall this year.

Justine Huang, the president of the group, said its genesis was at a meeting she had with Mayor Charles Kokoros a couple of years ago on how to provide needed services to the community.

The purpose of the group is to "help people with language barriers" access those services, she said.

One of the directors of the group is Frank Poon, who has retired after 25 years as an Asian outreach specialist for South Shore Elder Services.

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He said many in the Chinese American community "don't know how to ask for help."

The group will help with English language education, translation assistance, voter registration and government benefit applications.

Kokoros issued a proclamation declaring May Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month in town. He commended the group on its formation.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for us to make sure we have resources available to Asian American residents," Kokoros said.

The group also intends to host activities to bring together the town's Chinese community as well as the whole town. The group plans to hold a Mid-Autumn Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 10 at French's Common.

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The U.S. Census Bureau last year estimated that 19.7% of the town's 38,587 residents are Asian. That share represents an increase of nearly 43% since the 2010 federal census.

The association plans to meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in the Cahill Auditorium of town hall, 1 John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive.

More information, in both English and Chinese, is available on the group's website, caab-ma.org.

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Group seeks to help and celebrate Chinese Americans in Braintree