US committee to build exhibit at Expo's US Pavilion

NEW YORK: Committee of 100 (C-100), in partnership with the USA Pavilion, will build an exhibit entitled "The Chinese in America -- We are Family" at the USA Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

C-100 said Friday that to create this exhibit, C-100 plans to rally people of Chinese descent across America to submit headshots to create a Wall -- "The Chinese in America" -- of photographs organized by Chinese family name to demonstrate that "We Are Family."

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In January 2010, C-100 will launch a public outreach campaign in traditional and digital media (YouTube, Facebook, etc.) to encourage Chinese Americans to upload their photos.

The exhibit will also feature Chinese Americans who have contributed to important aspects of American life such as technology, the environment, the arts, sports, business, community service and government.

It will show how America helped shape these extraordinary pioneers. The effort will serve as a platform for grassroots fundraising for the USA Pavilion and can be preserved for future use in museums, public spaces and beyond.

The Committee of 100 is inviting "Master Builders of the Wall" to help fund this effort by purchasing a Brick at the USA Pavilion to be inscribed with the name of the person/family or an organization they wish to honor.

C-100 Chairman John Chen said: "We are honored and pleased to be the strategic partner of USA Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 - a historic opportunity to build bridges between China and the USA."

C-100 Governor Shirley Young said, "The Wall of Chinese in America: We Are Family" will show the world "our pride in America and in our Chinese heritage and build a bond with all those who share a family name."

The Shanghai World Expo 2010 will be held from May 1 to October 31, 2010 with projected 70 million attendees and 192 participating countries. At more than 60,000 square feet (about 5,575 square meters), the USA National Pavilion will be one of the largest pavilions. It will showcase American culture, values, and businesses while at the same time celebrating the friendship between the peoples of the United States and China.

Founded in 1989, the Committee of 100 is a national non-partisan, non-profit membership organization comprised of prominent Chinese Americans in a broad range of professions. The Committee has dedicated its efforts to a dual mission: encouraging constructive relations between the peoples of the United States and China, and encouraging the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life.