Altruistic People and Amazing Food: The Pittsburgh Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Written by Allison Frazer

Pittsburgh’s vibrant diversity is supported by numerous organizations to aid small businesses and foster a sense of community, one of those being the Pittsburgh Chinese Chamber of Commerce. 

The headquarters of the Midwest USA Chinese Chamber of Commerce is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, not far from Pittsburgh. This proximity affords members the opportunity to join events coordinated by the main office, one being a trip to China with other members from other chapters.

Tao He volunteers as the Director of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Midwest USA Chinese Chamber of Commerce when not at his day job of accounting at Louis Plung & Co. LLP. Each year, he volunteers between 150-200 hours to the organization to promote the flourishing of small businesses in the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and individual members.

The Chamber holds three to four events annually. This year, they hosted a Lunar New Year event as well as their Taste of Asia festival, where they partnered with restaurants within the association to showcase a wide variety of food for attendees. He stressed the importance of these events, because they help “build community” for members.

He reflected on the growth of the Chinese community in Pittsburgh: “CMU and Pitt have a large population of Chinese students, and we know the population is growing because of the appearance of more authentic Chinese restaurants in the area.” One of those restaurants is YoTea & Yoka Kitchen at 4615 Centre Ave. where diners can try authentic hot pot made fresh everyday.

In the future, Tao He hopes to plan a food tour trip of China, where members can travel together to discover new flavors and dishes. Their goal for the next year is to gain more members and create new partnerships around Pittsburgh to provide opportunities for members to expand their reach and to supply Yinzers a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine.