The Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island (CCALI) & Chinese School first opened its doors in 1979 with only a few students. Classes were held on Saturdays at the West Hempstead Long Island Chinese Cultural Center. Over the years, enrollment increased and from 1985 until 2020, the school has been operating in NYIT at Old Westbury campus. As the Chinese School brought together a greater number of families in the Chinese community, the function of CCALI broadened to include the dissemination of the Chinese culture and the elevation of ethnic Chinese welfare in Long Island. In 1986, CCALI officially became a New York State non-profit community organization.
In recent years, CCALI membership expanded rapidly as a result of the influx of ethnic Chinese on Long Island, as well as, the growing interest in learning Chinese. Our students are not only locals from Long Island but also travel from Manhattan and Queens. Our School has an annual enrollment of 240 students with more than 20 teachers.
CCALI’s mission is to educate future generations about the Chinese language and culture and to expand Chinese cultural exchange in our society.
In 2014, CCALI was honored with a Citation from Nassau County in recognition of our economic, social, and cultural contribution to our community.
