Hung Tao Choy Mei hosted a free community event at the Masonic Temple Ballroom, 1000 U Street, NW, Washington, DC from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, on Saturday, 5 December 2009. Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute sponsored this event in order to bring a little bit of warmth, food, and support to the community around us. Additionally, we wanted to help the Nori Amaya Foundation, founded in memory of Nori Amaya of Coppi's Restaurant.

We collected numerous cans of food, toys and several bags of winter clothing for needy DC residents. All non-cash donations were donated to Martha's Table. Many thanks to Martha's Table for their assistance in getting these donated items in the hands of those who need them.

Despite the area's first snowfall, the show went on with performances from:

• Hip-Hop Dancers,
• Hung Tao Choy Mei Lucky Lions,
• Dance Asia Alliance,
• Malcolm X Drummers & Dancers, and,
• Clavekazi Salsa Dancers.

All cash items were donated to the Nori Amaya Foundation.

Fiesta AsiaHung Tao Choy Mei assisted Washington DCs annual Fiesta Asia festival on Pennsylvania Avenue, sponsored by the Asia Heritage Foundation, by managing the martial arts stage, and by providing festival volunteers.

The Martial Arts stage at Fiesta Asia is a chance to see many kinds of Martial Arts taught in the surrounding DC metropolitan area within the space of a few hours. Each segment brings the talents of students and their teachers to this public forum to be on display in the heart of the festival on America's main street, Pennsylvania Avenue.

HTCM performed student forms, with a four lucky lion routine, and added color, culture, and good luck to the festival's parade.

Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute students jetted off to Hong Kong for a quick overnight rest and then on through China's immigration point to the area around Nan Hai in southern Mainland China. Dozens of Jow Ga schools attended a Happy Jow Ga Family night celebration from Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and of course, the United States, as well as from other surrounding areas. Hung Tao Choy Mei students wowed the mainland audience with a traditional lion dance routine. Despite rain and blowing wind from the tendrils of a major typhoon in Hong Kong, our Chinese hosts outdid themselves in serving hundreds of students, teachers and friends of Jow Ga from all over the world. When it rained on the performance floor, our hosts brought out a rug to keep everyone from slipping. When we ate all their food, they showed up with more. In Hong Kong, Hung Tao Choy Mei students competed in an international Kung Fu tournament. And when not sleeping, they were always on the go, walking the streets of Hong Kong and visiting Jow Ga schools. Many thanks to our Hong Kong friends, to friends and parents of Hung Tao Choy Mei students for helping make this trip to the other side of the world a success.

Judith JamisonJudith Jamison received the Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute's Paul Robeson award on May 2, 2009 at the historic Lincoln Theatre. Before receiving the award, Ms. Jamison regaled the audience with stories about her illustrious dancing career and her unflagging support of modern dance. Asian Heritage Foundation, the Washington Dance Center, Silk Road Dance, Furia Flamenca Flamenco Dance, and the HTCMLI's own lucky lions provided an international backdrop on an unforgettable evening of performance and conversation.

Chairman
Vincent GrayTESTIMONY D.C. Youth Development Strategy, Implementation Plan Presented to Special Committee on the Prevention of Youth Violent Crime Chairman Vincent C. Gray
Presented by: Abdur-Rahim Muhammad Founder and President Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute November 17, 2006 Good Morning Chairman Gray, My name is Abdur-Rahim Muhammad. I am a fourth generation Washingtonian and the Founder and President of the Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute, a 501(C) (3) nonprofit located on U Street, NW and focusing on the youth of our city. I would like to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak this morning regarding the District's Youth Development Strategy Implementation Plan.

The Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership development organization focusing on the youth of Washington, DC. By participating in the Leadership Institute's programs and attending the Institute's classes, students develop life-enhancing skills along with positive values, a sense of purpose and direction, and a commitment to progressive community development. Confidence and skills developed through our programs, equip students to set goals and enable them to reach those goals, while overcoming life's inevitable challenges. The Institute's training program develops physical strength, a strong will, a quickened mind, and an ethical and moral base from which to evaluate one's own actions and those of others. Students learn self-reliance, personal responsibility, to strive for excellence, and to become successful adults and leaders in their chosen fields. Training at the HTCMLI is preparation for living a meaningful life.

Jeff E. Welch
in Hong KongAs I sit here and try to think about how to describe my trip to Hong Kong, China and Malaysia, I think about how it all came about. It was a little over two years ago when I walked into the Hung Tao Choy Mei Academy. Sifu was eating a bowl of vegetable soup. He looked up and asked incredulously, "How did you get in here?" We talked for about 30 minutes, and I made up my mind that this was the school for me.

Kung Fu means "great skill achieved through hard work." You can achieve Kung Fu in anything if you diligently practice for years. Our martial arts philosophy emphasizes this effort and determination more than natural talent. Student progress is based on individual improvement, not just the achievement of a particular abstract high standard. Instructors teach control as a basic core value of the art. We show students how to become self-aware of their mind and body, and to own the responsibility for correcting their thoughts and actions. Regular feedback is given on achievements and areas for improvement, to ensure each student is actively participating in their growth process, and to reinforce that they should be proud of their specific accomplishments.

U Street EntranceThe Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute engages in fundraising activities to finance its programs. We seek corporate contributions and sponsorship. We are a member of the DC Chamber of Commerce. We provide demonstrations of our student's martial arts abilities within the community for honorariums and donations. Your contributions enable us to reach out and make a difference. Please consider supporting the Leadership Institute.