He Xiaohui attends a fundraising party organized by leaders in the Chinese-American community in the greater Washington area. Provided to China Daily

He Xiaohui has enjoyed a 20-year love affair with the Chinese community in the greater Washington area. Cai Chunying reports in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Chinese Lunar New Year, which this year falls on Jan 31, has been celebrated in public schools and government offices in Maryland for eight years. And He Xiaohui, former president of the Coordination Council of Chinese-American Associations, had a lot to do with it.

In 2006, responding to a petition signed by thousands of Chinese-Americans along with members of Korean and Vietnamese communities who also observe the tradition, then Maryland governor Robert Ehrlich signed into law an official recognition of the holiday, putting it on the state's calendar.

His organization was the key player in mobilizing the local Chinese community and gaining support for the bill.

"The recognition has a far-reaching effect," says He, a resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland, who now sits on advisory boards of both the state and county's committee on Asian-American affairs. "It helps to educate American society about Chinese culture and tradition.

"Public schools started to teach about the holiday. We also saw government buildings being decorated with Chinese themes around that time each year," she says, adding that she has also been attending the governor's annual Lunar New Year party, a ritual since 2006.

He Xiaohui's 20-year love affair with the Chinese community in the greater Washington area started with her hobby: singing.

In 1994, six years after coming to the United States, He founded the cultural and performance-based Yellow River Art Ensemble to help local Chinese-Americans connect with their heritage.