Rochester Chinese Community Association (Rochester, N.Y.)

In April 1985, the Lee families founded the Rochester Chinese Community Association, "to foster, encourage and promote Chinese culture," since there was not much Chinese representation at local festivals. The establishment of the RCCA preceded the Rochester Chinese Association (RCA), making it the first Chinese American association in Rochester. The RCA wanted the RCCA to merge under the former, but RCCA chose not to since they were already established and felt that they had a unique focus.

The RCCA was most active during the years 1985-1995. The RCCA held weekly Chinese lion and traditional folk dance classes. Mimi Lee's brother Don Lee, who received training in New York City, was the chief lion dance instructor. Mimi danced and taught folk dance. During the lion dances she also performed in the roles of the lion tail and lion teaser. Mimi served as treasurer of the RCCA, and in later years served as both treasurer and secretary. Other officers included Ann Lee (Mimi's mother) as president, Lily Lee (Mimi's sister) as vice-president/public relations, and John Tsang as secretary. Jack Decker, former Channel 10 president, also served as a public relations advocate.

The RCCA participated in numerous cultural activities, such as the annual Rochester Museum and Science Center's (RMSC) International Folk Festival. Since it occurred in summer, the Festival could not have local university student groups participating. Therfore, the RCCA provided the cultural representation. They also shared Chinese culture and performed at area elementary and middle schools, restaurants, especially restaurant openings, malls, and festivals, including the Corn Hill and Darien Lake International Festivals.

By the mid-1990s there was a larger Chinese American community and the RCCA began to disband as the founding members graduated, found full-time employment, and moved on to other activities. Other groups, such as the Joy Luck Dancers and the Rochester Asian Organization (RAO), started by Raymond Lau to provide services to Asian immigrants in the Rochester area, had been formed. The RAO spearheaded the establishment of an annual Asian Lunar New Year's celebration put on by several organizations. Don Lee also established a student lion dance group at Monroe Community College (MCC) and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

Mimi Lee is a founding member of APEX at Kodak. Mimi, along with her sister Lily, Paul Sun, and Jeffrey Hwang, had also started the Grapes Fellowship Group for singles in the Rochester Chinese Christian Church (RCCC). Lee is also a founding board member and current president (2003-2004) of the Asian/Pacific Islander/American History Project of Greater Rochester, Inc. (APA-HiP).

From the description of Rochester Chinese Community Association (RCCA) records, 1985-1995. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155424476