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Wei Han somehow fits his many volunteer positions in with his full-time job in database management. The Amberwood Drive resident was the first Chinese immigrant to be elected to Town Meeting in 2012.
“When I learned about Town Meeting,” he says, “and that the town is run entirely by volunteers, I had to join. The concept of self-governing is unknown in China.”
Han helped organize the Winchester Chinese Network and invited members of the Select Board and other groups to come and talk to the children at the Winchester School of Chinese Culture.
Han emigrated to the U.S. in 1992 when he enrolled in Gonzaga University. He moved to Winchester in 2003.
“After I moved to town, I ran into Gloria Legvold and Sandy Thompson and they told me about their Multicultural Network (now called the Network for Social Justice),” he says. “At that time, the town was almost all white and I say hats off to the founders of the network.”
Han is now on its board of directors.
And last year when some Chinese elders were sitting in front of the Jenks Center, he says, “People welcomed them inside. Now, the Jenks offers classes in Chinese calligraphy.”
Han’s daughter Nicole’s organization, Heritage Bridge, pays for the materials.
“Chinese calligraphers live 10 years longer than the average Chinese individuals,” he adds.
In case the volunteer jobs aren’t enough, Han is also on the board of WinCAM.
“WinCAM is a hidden gem; people don’t realize how much work they do,” he says.
And then there’s another board he sits on — the Winchester Community Music School.
“They’re building a diversified community,” says Han. “Chinese-Americans want to do their part.”
During COVID — when there was a shortage of protective gear — many of the residents got supplies from their Chinese relatives and delivered it to local hospitals, rehab facilities, nursing homes and other facilities.
“One woman put masks outside her house for folks, and she brought some to the Stop & Shop to be given out during senior shopping hours,” he says.
