Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association
Dec 11, 2018

Community leaders met with ODT's management and company for a frank and candid discussion about the on air incident and our concerns with the performance and inadequate apology. ODT listened to our concerns and offered a heartfelt apology for their actions.

After watching a dress rehearsal of the performance, community leaders suggested some changes to the Tea Dance. ODT Artistic Director, Derryl Yeager was receptive and vowed to make some improvements. ABC4Utah reporter, Rosie Nguyen, filed a report in the first video.

After the meeting, we sent a video we made, "Lessons Learned", to explain why their original efforts to apologize were insufficient.

We subsequently received the video at the top with a rough draft of the new and "revamped" Tea Dance. We found it to be acceptable and we thank ODT for all of the hard work that was put into making these changes. Given the short time frame available to make this improvements, it is impressive indeed and ODT's company must be commended. We accept the apology and thank ODT for demonstrating their sincere regrets for the unintentional, but hurtful portrayal of our community.

In addition to the change to the performance, ODT agreed to join the Utah Cultural Alliance, to work together with the APIA community and to attend cultural competency training. These efforts are appreciated.

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