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"This project has been a wonderful opportunity to work with the next generation of historians! It is so meaningful to see them reflect on these stories and learn more about Chinese American history, not just in Redmond, but throughout our region. And, I hope the experience will inspire them to explore and connect with the history of their communities in the future."
-- Halee T.
Redmond Historical Society
Thank you to our donors, who gave generously in support of this project.
Jianguo Chen, Fei Chua, Ying Zhang, Sharon Zhou, Zhengbo Zhou
Thank you to the incredible Little Masters Club volunteers who dedicated time to this project:
The Little Masters Club encourages teens to lead projects, teach peers, and seek opportunities to work together.
This approach allows students to "learn by doing" and gives them an opportunity to shine independently. To this end, each project is youth lead and implemented.
Youth Leader: Meiling H.
Meiling is a bright and capable young woman, who graciously volunteered her time in to support this important project as both a student researcher in our Community Research Team and as a peer leader. Her competent leadership was evident in her attention to detail, and her dedication to ensuring the project’s success.
I am Meiling Hou, a junior at the Bear Creek School in Redmond. I was honored to lead my team, under the guidance of Ms. Halee from the Redmond Historical Society, in researching the history of Chinese Americans in Redmond and visiting Chinese residents who currently live and work in the city during the summer of 2025.
This unique research experience was not just a journey into history and a chance to explore my own roots, but also an opportunity to witness the meaningful contributions that contemporary Chinese Americans have made to Redmond’s growth in areas such as technology, business, civic life, and arts. Most importantly, it inspired me and my peers to engage more with the city we call home, and to work together to build a strong and vibrant community.
Arts Research Team
Isabella Y.
Hi, my name is Isabella Yang, I’m 17 years old and I’m a current senior at Bellevue High School! I primary focused on the Poets/Artists contributions during the Redmond Chinese Heritage Research project.
Business Research Team
Elissa S.
Hello, my name is Elissa Song, I’m a sophomore at Eastlake High School. I love photography, Taekwondo, piano, and art.
Business Research Team
Tiger Y.
My name is Tiger Yan, and I am currently a sophomore at Skyline High School. Some of my hobbies consist of tennis, origami, and investing. One aspect of this project that I really enjoyed was learning more about my culture and the business industry.
Business Research Team
Youyou Z.
My name is Youyou and I am a senior at the Bear Creek School. I joined this project because I’m studying business and economics, but also because I wanted to better understand the struggles people of my heritage faced to get to where we are today. For this research, I focused on Chinese American restaurants and food stores, which helped us better understand both the challenges these businesses face and how they continue to shape our communities.
Community Research Team
Yixuan "Yaya" L.
I am a Chinese student raised in the United States and a current sophomore at the bear creek school.
Early Residents Research Team
Wendy Q.
I’m Wendy Qu, a youth researcher with the Redmond Chinese Heritage Research Project and an 11th grader at Bellevue High School. I’m drawn to stories, people, and the meaning behind everyday moments, and I love capturing them through thoughtful writing, photography, and music. Motto: “Be brave enough to begin."
Early Resident Research Team
Shelia Z.
My name is Sheila Zhang and I am a junior at the Overlake School in Redmond. I was born in Hong Kong and grew up in China for the first years of my childhood. This project has been so meaningful to me and I have loved getting the opportunity of educating myself and now others about Chinese Heritage in Redmond.
Tech Industry Research Team
Serena C.
My name is Serena Chu, and I am a current freshman at Interlake High School. For the Redmond Chinese Heritage Project, I examined the role and impact of Asian immigrants on the high-tech industry in Redmond and the Greater Seattle Area through interviews and historical research.
Tech Industry Research Team
Lingyuan Y.
My name is Lingyuan Yan and I'm in 11th grade. My passions include playing guitar and fencing and I've lived in the Redmond area for nearly my entire life.
Immigration Research Team
Jason D.
Immigration Research Team
Fiona W.
My name is Fiona Wang and I’m a sophomore this year at Bellevue High School. I love learning about history of all kinds and how it affects our society today!
We would also like to thank Li Chen and Jianguo Chen for their guidance as part of our leadership team for this project.
Li’s thoughtful and enthusiastic support has been a critical part of the Redmond Historical Society’s partnership with the Little Masters Club. Without her efforts to engage local teens, this project would not have been possible. Li joined the Little Masters Club in 2019 by founding the Beijing Volunteer Program, leading a group of Chinese American teens to visit migrant worker families and provide summer camps for underprivileged children in Beijing. She currently serves on the LMC board, overseeing public relations, and aims to foster multi-dimensional communication and cooperation between LMC, local governments, corporations, and other nonprofits to encourage more children to serve their communities.
From the beginning, Jianguo has been a driving force behind this project. His curiosity about Redmond’s history and his passionate support of our local Chinese American community inspired this project. In addition to over twenty years of experience in the tech industry, Jianguo is also an dedicated volunteer, generously contributing his time to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, Little Masters Club, and the Redmond Police Foundation.
Volunteers like these bring energy, passion, and care to every project. Their dedication helps preserve history, share stories, and strengthen our community—making these experiences possible for everyone.
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