Written by Jennifer Chien
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ida Eva Zielinska
Responding to an invitation from Diamond Bar City Councilmember Chia Yu Teng, a Tzu Chi delegation led by Tzu Chi USA CEO Debbie Lee conducted an in-depth visit to the City of Diamond Bar in Southern California on December 16, 2025. The delegation, including Tzu Chi Education Foundation staff; principals, teachers, and students from Tzu Chi Elementary School in Walnut, California; and volunteers from the Inland Empire region of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, gained firsthand insight into the City’s operations and deepened Tzu Chi’s interactions with local government and communities.
Building Community Connections Through Children
City of Diamond Bar Mayor Steve Tye and City Councilmembers Stan Liu and Chia Yu Teng warmly welcomed the Tzu Chi delegation. Chia Yu Teng accompanied the delegation throughout their tour of the City’s departments, providing detailed explanations of municipal functions and services.
在香氣四溢中，學員們分組體驗研磨。有人細心轉動，有人興奮地搖動擂棒，茶粉、花生、芝麻的香氣在空氣中交融。攝影／駱淑麗
During the visit, Tzu Chi Elementary School students performed festive songs in the City Hall lobby for City staff and visitors, conveying blessings and gratitude through their pure voices and adding warmth to the municipal space.
Mayor Tye remarked, “It was very exciting to have the kids here for the very first time at our city hall. So it was wonderful to have them here and have them learn a little bit about Diamond Bar. And we got to learn about their artwork. So it’s beautiful that they left this for us.”
Recognizing Tzu Chi's Long-Term Dedication
“Our goal is to make Diamond Bar the No. 1 city to live in, to play in, and also work,” said Councilmember Stan Liu, sharing the City’s vision. “So, we encourage everyone to come out here, and take in our community,” he continued. “Plenty of parks and businesses. Many of our businesses are small businesses. Many of the business owners actually live in the City of Diamond Bar. We give back a lot to our community as well.”
Councilmember Chia Yu Teng affirmed Tzu Chi’s long-term dedication to the City of Diamond Bar. “Tzu Chi has organized various activities within our community, including health care, education, cultural events, and humanitarian relief efforts,” he said. “For instance, if there is a disaster, they would organize fundraising and donations to assist those affected.” To further highlight Tzu Chi’s profound cultural contributions, he added, “They have organized numerous cultural events. I’ve participated in many of these activities, and I believe their contributions to our community are immense.”
Explaining why he invited the Tzu Chi delegation, Teng said the visit was an opportunity for students to see how the City of Diamond Bar government works. “We warmly welcome them to our city government today. This allows the children to learn how our city government operates. We hope to spark their future interest in community service, government, and public service, and we encourage them to pursue careers in these fields and contribute to our community.”
The City of Diamond Bar government staff introduce each department’s functions to the visiting Tzu Chi delegation. The children listen attentively, finding the City Hall tour fascinating. Photos/Jennifer Chien
Civic Learning Begins With Children
Parent Jolie Huang shared her impressions of the visit, saying, “Well, it was quite enjoyable. The kids sang beautifully, and everyone really enjoyed it. It was truly a great opportunity. We live nearby but had never visited before. Having this chance was wonderful. The children should be happy.”
Tzu Chi volunteer Winnie Chiou, speaking from a community collaboration perspective, expressed hope for more future connections and actions, saying, “I’m deeply grateful for today’s opportunity to formally visit our city government. Through Councilmember Teng’s detailed introduction, we learned about the seasonal events planned by the city government. Looking ahead to April 2026, we have Earth Day and Arbor Day. We’re very much looking forward to participating with Tzu Chi’s charitable resources to make these environmental days even more meaningful.”
Chiou also noted potential summer event collaborations, adding, “There is the Summer Concert during the summer vacation, typically held in the evening with various booths. We hope to secure a booth to promote Tzu Chi’s bamboo bank and our major mission efforts, and we hope to have more volunteers to join us in supporting these efforts.”
Rooting Tzu Chi’s Missions in the Community
Tzu Chi USA CEO Debbie Lee shared her reflections, saying, “Today truly represents an exceptionally rare opportunity. We made our first formal visit through the children’s gratitude towards the community. We are also deeply grateful to our mayor and the two city Councilmembers for accompanying us throughout and providing comprehensive introductions to the current functions, services, and connections between the city government and the community.”
Lee noted that such visits not only broaden children’s horizons but also deepen parents’ and volunteers’ appreciation for public service. She shared Master Cheng Yen’s teachings, emphasizing Tzu Chi’s mission to take root locally and safeguard communities, adding, “We feel profound gratitude for every interaction like this. Most of the time, we live in such environments, yet we are unaware of how many people are serving us and how many are safeguarding our entire community.”
As Master Cheng Yen teaches us, we must take root locally, fulfill our part of the responsibilities to protect the community, and simultaneously extend this positive mindset to inspire more people.
Looking ahead, Lee said that Tzu Chi will actively collaborate with municipal resources, noting, “Through today’s visit, we not only gained insight into the city government’s diverse functions but will also better utilize these resources, particularly in promoting community safety, environmental education, and spiritual purification.”
She further mentioned the upcoming Earth Day, adding, “Together, we can explore how to channel positive energy for future generations, our planet, and our entire community. We will try to integrate education and action through collaboration between the city government and Tzu Chi.” Lee emphasized, “I believe every such initiative enhances our community and society while purifying hearts. This is precisely the positive energy our society desperately needs today.”
Led by Tzu Chi USA CEO Debbie Lee, the delegation’s visit to the City of Diamond Bar’s government offered students, teachers, parents, and volunteers a firsthand look at public service. Through children’s songs, municipal exchanges, and a shared environmental vision, the visit strengthened community connections and deepened Tzu Chi’s collaboration with the local government, reinforcing its commitment to take root even more deeply in the community.
