Following is a selected listing of noteworthy events from the beginning of the Asian American Movement to the present day (1971-1999).

1971
� Basement Workshop, the first Asian American arts and cultural organization on the East Coast is founded in New York City by Danny Yung, Eleanor Yung, Peter Pan, Frank Ching and Rocky Chin. Funded by the Ford Foundation, Basement Workshop was an outgrowth of the research and data complied for the Chinatown Report1969. After the study was completed, Danny and his colleagues continued to compile information about Asian American communities the germ for the Asian American Resource Center.

� The Demo Club is founded by college-educated Chinatown street kids, who fashions the group after a San Francisco Chinatown community activist group called Leeway. It organizes the summer field-day program and the Rock Springs Memorial Youth Program at Basement Workshop.

� A group of students called the Concerned Asian Students stage a three-day takeover of the Asian Studies Department at City University of New York to force the administration to institute the first Asian American Studies program in New York City.

� The first Chinatown Health Fair is held on Mott Street, as a result, the Chinatown Health Clinic is established.

1972
� City Arts Workshop creates the first Chinatown mural, Chinatown Today. Every summer through 1978, Asian American artists, friends, students and community members participate in creating murals.

� Asian Center is founded to serve as a food co-op, a gathering place, and a point of departure for many Asian American groups.

� Yellow Pearl, a boxed collection of graphics, poetry, song lyrics, and photographs reflective of Asian American identity, culture, history, and community issues is published by Basement Workshop.

1974
� Asian Americans For Equality is initially founded by those concerned about the lack of Chinese construction workers employed building Confucius Plaza, the first housing complex funded with federal money.

� Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) formed at legal rights workshop at Asian American conference in Gouverneur Hospital on Manhattan s Lower East Side; founding group meets with West Coast representatives to coordinate plans for national organization

� Asian American Dance Theatre is founded to nurture emerging choreographers and dancers that reflect the growth and continuity of Asian cultures in a modern American context by combining traditional Asian dance with contemporary choreography inspired by Asian themes.

1975
� AALDEF represents Chinese Americans arrested in community-wide demonstration protest against police brutality in Chinatown; organizes rally to support innocent bystander Chinatown resident Peter Yew, beaten by police after complaining about their mishandling of a traffic accident.

� Seoul YWCA Club forms, which eventually becomes the YWCA of the City of New York Flushing Branch.

1976
� Asian Cinevision is founded as a community-based media arts center.

� The Asian American Assembly for Policy Research, a research project organized under the Department of Asian studies at the City College of NY, is established as a college-run community service program.

1978
� Japanese American Citizens League delegates from the biennial national convention adopt a resolution calling for redress and reparation for the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

� Asian Cinevisions, Bridge, and Asian American Dance Theater host the first Asian American Film Festival in New York City at the Henry Street Settlement. The film festival continues to be the oldest Asian American film festival in the country.

� Bridge Magazine publishes its first issue.

1979
� The first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter.

� Coalition of Asian Pacific American Associations forms to organize the First Annual Asian American Heritage Festival is held at Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park in New York City. Over 31 organizations participate.

� Soh Daiko, the first taiko group on the East Coast is established at the New York Buddhist Church.

� Chinese Staff and Workers Association (CSWA) is formed for mutual aid and support for recent immigrants; to assist in workers rights, education projects, etc. aimed at improving work conditions and job security.

1980's | 1990's