AMY CHAN

Amy shared some thoughts on family and community with us:

What did you want to be when you grew up?
As a young girl, either a nurse or a mom; in my teens, my goal was to be a financially independent and successful businesswoman who wouldn’t get married until the age of 35. (Could have been the influence of “Mary Tyler Moore” show.) It was a middle school art teacher who told my parents I should think about art as a career, and I found this field called “Commercial Art” that sounded promising.

What was your first job?
Bunching green onions on a farm in Tukwila, WA. Twelve clean, neatly tied and stacked bunches equaled nine cents. .

How did your elders prepare you for life?
By sharing what they didn’t know when they were my age. My mom is still preparing me, and now I get to pass it on to the next generation.

What is your favorite food?
Rice.

When did you first see Portland Taiko?
Marshall High School, in 2002. After the performance, I picked up a flier from the table outside the auditorium and was surprised to read that I could take a workshop with the amazing performers I had just seen. I signed up, and I’ve been involved with PT ever since.

What other kinds of art do you create?
I've always enjoyed creating things especially for a specific friend, something that pulls together elements of their personality and interests and history. The list includes lots of hand-painted and computer-generated greeting cards, embroidered wedding pillows, woodblock prints, napkins and napkin rings, a bowl made of peanuts, a Valentine's day wall hanging and a papier-mache hut for a turtle.

If you were an instrument, what would you be?
A shoebox guitar.

What are your proudest accomplishments?
Raising two adorable girls with one adorable husband. Performing in the first PT student recital. Having my own business. Making dinner out of practically nothing.

Where are three places you want to go, but have never been?
Sweden’s Icehotel, the Galapagos Islands and the Great Pyramids.

What keeps you involved with PT?
The people, the culture and the potlucks.

What other Portland community groups are you involved with?
...And why are they important to you?
Shortly after I moved to Portland, I joined the board of the Portland chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design. This is where I learned to truly appreciate what the word ‘volunteer’ means. In the process of trying to help out in my new community, I met some great people who’ve become my friends, allies, cheerleaders and mentors. I’m no longer on the board, but I’m still a member and contribute in other ways to stay connected.

As a parent, I’m also involved with Portland Public Schools. I am fortunate our school has strong community support from parents, neighbors and businesses, encouraging and magnifying my small efforts as a volunteer. It’s important to me because our schools need community help to provide a solid education for the people who are our future...and because it’s fun.

Do you have anything to add?
A kiai not only adds to your taiko performance, it also gives you super-strength when you need to move something heavy. Try it. SAAAH!

Thanks for being a part of our family, Amy! We so appreciate the many roles you play to keep our organization growing!

To contact Amy, please visit Amy Chan Design.