Description

Established in 2003 as the Midwest-US China Association by U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson (IL), Governor Bob Holden (MO) and others, the United States Heartland China Association (USHCA) has since 2018 expanded its reach from the original 12 Midwest states to now serve 20 states from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.  Recognizing growing isolationism and anti-China sentiment in many Heartland communities, USHCA aims to help leaders at the subnational level develop a more comprehensive understanding of the importance of a healthy U.S.-China relationship and foster constructive relations by creating channels of collaboration and opportunities for economic growth.  USHCA has become recognized as a trusted China resource and a forum for people-to-people diplomacy at the state and local level. 
In March 2021, HLF, along with the Ford Foundation, provided essential support for USHCA to maintain its small staff and programming during COVID.  Under the leadership of its first fulltime executive director, Min Fan, USHCA pivoted to digital platforms with creativity, producing new programs and resources such as The Way Forward webinar series, internships for community college students, a U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable, and the report Why China Matters to the Heartland .  Part of The Way Forward series included a well-received screening and panel discussion of the documentary film Far East Deep South on the little-known history of Chinese immigrants in the American South, including their relationships with African Americans.  
USHCA requests renewed general support to maintain the momentum and impact of its current programs, as they transition from virtual to in-person formats, and to expand its outreach to communities with less exposure to China-related expertise, capacity and resources.  To achieve this, USHCA will pay special attention to cultivating community leaders through China briefings for mayors, engaging agricultural practitioners as economic drivers for the region, deepening partnerships with diverse communities to build international connections and global experience, and furthering youth engagement to develop intercultural competency for college students of diverse backgrounds.  
If approved, our grant, together with renewed support from Ford, would primarily cover staff salaries and benefits.  $50,000 of the grant would match a new grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York for a new staff member in communications, an urgent need identified by USHCA.   
Recommendation: That the Directors of the Henry Luce Foundation approve a two-year grant of $250,000 to the United States Heartland China Association to provide general support for the Heartland China Program.    www.usheartlandchina.org