Play, Learn, Grow.

Portland’s thriving Cantonese-speaking community faces a shortage of opportunities to learn and preserve our heritage language. While Cantonese natives were the first Chinese immigrants to America, existing programs focus exclusively on Mandarin, creating a gap for Cantonese-speaking families children's linguistic development.

Started in 2022 as the only Cantonese language program in Oregon, we are a free, community-supported initiative for young children and families.
Our main goals are:

Language Development:
Cantonese instruction through songs, games, and play, focusing on vocabulary building, conversational fluency, and comprehension.

Cultural Connection:
Host tradition informed events and activities that immerse children and families in Cantonese culture and customs.

Community Building:
Provide a supportive community for Cantonese-speaking families to share resources, sustain cultural continuity, and foster a sense of belonging.

Meet the Team

黄可靈
Theola Wong
Founder + Executive Director

Hi! I’m Theola and I’m so happy you are here. I am a 2nd generation CBC (Canadian born Chinese) who now lives in Portland, OR with my husband, stepdaughter and young son.

My mother and grandmother who lived with us, are from Hong Kong. My father’s side of the family is from Guandong Province, in Taishan County.

Our family spoke Cantonese at home, and I attended Cantonese weekend and summer school as a child. I am conversationally comfortable in Cantonese

Now, married to an American, we speak English at home though I speak to my son daily in Cantonese. As I am not a native speaker, I push myself to teach him what I do know and keep learning together in the process.

Kevin Lo
Treasurer

Kevin Lo (he/him) is a native Cantonese speaker originally from Hong Kong. Before settling in Portland he lived in Canada and the San Francisco Bay Area. He currently works as a Data Manager for a community development financial institution (CDFI) focused on affordable housing and early care and education. He earned his Bachelor's in Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, before completing his Master of Public Administration and Master of Arts in International Relations at the Maxwell School in Syracuse, New York.

彭明儀
Leah Pang-Garcia
Secretary

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Leah moved to New York City at age 15, where she served as the primary translator and interpreter for her non–English-speaking parents. Her Cantonese roots have remained central to her identity, from her close friendships in New York to her ongoing commitment to preserving her native language and culture. As one of Portland Cantonese Play + Learn’s founding families and current Board Secretary, Leah is passionate about fostering a welcoming space where Cantonese language and culture can thrive for future generations.

許沃文
John H. Chung
Director

John H. Chung is a retired attorney with 35 years of experience in securities regulation, compliance, and BD/RIA oversight. He has served as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer for Silicon Valley Bank’s broker-dealer and asset management subsidiaries and as Executive Vice President and COO of Wells Fargo Van Kasper. John has also provided expert testimony in over 80 securities litigation and arbitration cases nationwide.

A graduate of Queens College, Brooklyn Law School, and the Securities Industry Institute (SIFMA/Wharton), John is a member of the New York and California Bars. He served on the board of the Asian Pacific Fund for over 10 years, contributing to community outreach, donor cultivation, and judging the annual Growing Up Asian in America program.