President, Chinese American Cultural & Art Association
Charles Pei Wang is currently President, Chinese American Cultural & Art Association, a New York based non-profit NGO specialized in promoting, bridging two way cultural exchange between U.S. and China. Prior to this new venture, Charles served as the Director of the Child Care Center Development Fund at United Neighborhood Houses. In 1994, Mr. Wang was appointed by then Governor Mario Cuomo as an Assistant Commissioner for Downstate Operations with the NY State Department of Social Services. In 1995 he became the First Executive Director of Chinese descent to head up the Greater Blouse, Skirt & Undergarment Association, a 500 member garment trade association in New York City.
From 1968 to 1989, Mr. Wang worked at the Chinese American Planning Council (CPC) in New York City’s Chinatown. He held various positions at CPC, including that of managing director and executive director, and helped make CPC one of the largest and most prominent social services agencies for the Chinese American community. From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Wang served as President of China Institute in America, and brought back to live this age old culture and art institution found in 1930. As a strong advocate for the right of Asian immigrants, Mr. Wang made possible the first public hearing on New York Asian American Affairs sponsored by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 1974, the publication of Outlook of Asian Americans in New York, by United Way-Tri State in 1989. From 1990 to 1995, Mr. Wang was appointed by then President George H.W. Bush as Vice Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, a sub-cabinet rank position and the History of Discrimination Against Asian Americans in U.S.A., was published by the Commission, the most comprehensive account of all legislation by the U.S. government against Asians to date. Among many visible accomplishment, the opening of a Social Security Administration office, in Chinatown; the construction of new public housing, hospital, senior housing, public school, new post office, the formation of the Chinese Immigrant service organizations of North
He was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a member of the President’s Commission on Mental Health/Asian American Panel. In 1980, he was invited to serve on the New York State Crime Prevention Task Force, and the New York State Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Financing. In 1982, he was elected as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the United Way of New York City, in 1989, Chairman of the Chinese Community Relations Council, and on the Board of New York City Partnership, Emblem Health Service and the WNET-Channel 13 Tri-State Community Board. He was Co-Chairman of the Human Service Council of New York, Vice Chairman of the New York City Health System Agency, Secretary of the Private Industry Council and Chairman of the U.S. Bureau of the Census 1990-2000 Asian and Pacific Islanders Advisory Committee, under President Ford and Reagan; Co-Chairman of China AIDS Fund, National Advisory Board to U.S. Department of Labor, under President George W. Bush, just to name a few. To stimulate two way trade between China and United States, he was appointed an advisor to Matsuoka America, a garment manufacturer in China, Rilin Construction Group and later, formed Rosen/Wang Global Partners to provide consultation and advice to firms doing business in China and U.S. Mr. Wang received numerous awards, such as Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Charles Wang Day in Manhattan, Distinguished Service Award given by governmental, educational and services organizations, too numerous to mention.
