Written by Jennifer Chien
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Adriana DiBenedetto
On April 5, 2025, the sound of festive gongs and drums filled West 23rd Street in Chicago’s Chinatown in Illinois as two lion dancers appeared to lively cheers. As part of the ceremony, the lions “bit” into lettuce, oranges, and green onions — symbols of prosperity, good fortune, and wisdom, marking the joyful opening of Tzu Chi USA’s newly established Chicago Service Center.
Joining nearly 100 guests for the unveiling of the new service center were Dharma Masters De Yue and De Wei from the Jing Si Abode in Hualien, Tzu Chi’s Executive Director of Global Volunteers, Stephen Huang, Tzu Chi USA CEO Debbie Lee, Tzu Chi USA Midwest Region Executive Director Chong Hsieh, and Tzu Chi USA Midwest Region Deputy Executive Director Amy Hsieh.
Conveying Tzu Chi’s Humanistic Spirit Without Words
The newly completed Tzu Chi Chicago Service Center is a four-story, 9,300-square-foot building featuring a gently sloping gabled roof and gray pebbledashed exterior walls. The structure radiates a quiet serenity, infused with a warm and humanistic atmosphere.
The interior is thoughtfully designed, with the first floor housing a Jing Si Bookstore, a small worship hall, and a kitchen, creating a welcoming space for seniors to gather, worship, and share meals. The second floor serves as an education center, featuring multifunctional classrooms that support community outreach, the Tzu Chi Academy, and after-school tutoring programs. The third floor, with its lofty ceilings, is home to the stately Jing Si Hall. The fourth floor includes a Tzu Chi office, two consultation rooms for medical outreach, and a professional sound control room that manages the audio-visual system throughout the building. A basement provides additional storage for supplies.
Chuante Kao, the resident architect of the Jing Si Abode in Hualien, oversaw both the interior and exterior design. “Master Cheng Yen has always said that a building should be able to preach Dharma without a word,” Kao explained. “Only two main textures are used here: Pebbled gray and natural wood. Gray represents the kasaya robes worn by Buddhist monks and nuns. We are all cultivating ourselves by becoming part of Tzu Chi and doing good in the world. This office building represents a Tzu Chi member wearing a kasaya who awakens everyone with the crystal Jing Si Abode to achieve the purity of crystals in Chicago’s Chinatown, the center of North America. In addition, the bright colors give the office a youthful appearance, attracting young people to come in and join Tzu Chi.”
Kao not only offered design expertise to the Chicago Service Center free of charge, but also personally donated custom-built bookshelves, display racks, cabinets, and the first crystal Jing Si Abode statue in the U.S., allowing Tzu Chi’s humanistic values to be reflected in every detail in the new building’s design.
Bodhisattvas Offer Blessings and Hopes for the Future
At the opening ceremony, Master De Yue read a congratulatory letter filled with blessings from Tzu Chi’s founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen. “The completion of the Chicago Service Center is an important milestone for Tzu Chi to reach out to the people, get close to the community, and take root in education,” Master De Yue read aloud, continuing, “Today, the grand opening of this important hub with convenient transportation for seniors and community residents to participate in events not only symbolizes the stable foundation of Tzu Chi in the Midwest but also represents a compassionate venue for the recruitment of Bodhisattvas. In the future, it will host free clinics, a Jing Si Bookstore, after-school classes, humanities lectures, and a care program designed specifically for seniors.”
Master De Wei also shared heartfelt congratulations, saying, “When I see the crystal Jing Si Abode statue, I feel like I’m back home. This pagoda has given me a glimpse of a bright future. Many Bodhisattvas will appear here.”
Rely on yourselves and source locally’ are the words that Master gave me 36 years ago. The Midwest has achieved that. That’s why we have built such a majestic office. We are truly grateful to Master Cheng Yen for her integrity, character, and the love and commitment of Tzu Chi volunteers.
Illinois State Representative Theresa Mah expressed her gratitude as well, sharing, “We are very lucky to have Tzu Chi here. The volunteers have experience and can provide services to people in need. They will use love and compassion to change lives and make this community a better place. I am very grateful to Tzu Chi.” Nicole Lee, a second-generation Chinese American, also spoke on Tzu Chi’s contribution to the community, saying, “When the pandemic was at its worst in 2020, it was Tzu Chi that took the lead in delivering masks and disinfection supplies to community centers and senior homes. It was not just supplies but also care. Tzu Chi and other organizations are partners that the city government urgently needs. Tzu Chi not only solves surface problems but also goes deep into people’s hearts. This new office is a seed of hope that is taking root in Chinatown.”
Youthful Energy Shines on Multi-Generational Efforts
The day after the grand opening, on April 6, the Chicago Chapter hosted a Diligence Day training event, drawing nearly 150 Tzu Chi volunteers from across the United States to come together to cultivate their individual intentions and study Dharma teachings. The entire event was planned and executed by a team of younger volunteers.
Deputy Executive Director Hueyshann Sue, who served as overall coordinator of the event, said, “Most of our team members have jobs, so we met on weekends to move things, organize the office, discuss the process, and rehearse the sign language performance for the opening ceremony. During the last week, we came to the office after work every day and stayed to help until midnight. We were busy with this project almost throughout March.”
Volunteers Dennis Lee and Kuanhung Lin were in charge of the building’s audio-visual and security systems, building an impressive setup through months of testing and research. Lee additionally reflected on why the Chicago Chapter has been successful in attracting younger volunteers: “We invite people to the event and give everyone an important job. We don’t just ask them to move things but give everyone the opportunity to work with veteran volunteers to plan and respond.”
I am very grateful that we have been given many opportunities to take on tasks in different specialties so that we can try and learn more things we’re interested in. We have not only learned Dharma but also many other skills.
The completion of the Chicago Service Center not only brings a tranquil, humanistic presence to the local community but also provides a meaningful platform for young people to engage in community service. As Master Cheng Yen said, this service center will serve as a nurturing ground for Tzu Chi’s humanistic spirit and compassion in the Midwest, supporting the seeds of kindness as they take root and grow ever onward.
