Author: Ron Chan

Free Library Presentations

Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, February 8, 2026, Sunday, 2 – 4PM

Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, March 21, 2026, Saturday 2 – 4PM

Writing Family History With AI

Summary

• Hands-on Writing Family History with AI Workshop
• Blend of theory, demonstration, and practical application
• Explore storytelling fundamentals and AI-generated narratives
• Learn to use AI as a writing coach and create personalized stories
• Share family anecdotes and insights with fellow participants 

Explore the fusion of storytelling and artificial intelligence at our Writing Family History with AI Workshop. This interactive session merges theory, demonstrations, and sharing for a dynamic learning experience. Learn storytelling fundamentals, from traditional tales to AI-generated narratives. Discover how AI can enhance your writing process and create captivating stories. Dive into movie-making techniques and unleash your storytelling prowess through personalized videos. Bring your creativity and laptop, and craft your own AI-assisted family stories. Share and connect with fellow participants, exchanging family anecdotes and insights. No prior experience necessary, just bring your creativity and curiosity, plus an internet-ready laptop with a word processor.

About The Speaker: Ron Chan

Ron Chan is a passionate storyteller, educator, and recognized leader in Chinese American genealogy. As Founder and Executive Director of the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group (BACGG), Ron inspires people to discover their family roots, preserve their heritage, and ensure the stories of those who came before them are never lost. A seasoned lecturer and published genealogy author, he brings genealogy, history, technology, and storytelling together to make family history engaging and accessible. Ron is also co-founder of the Chinese American GI Project, preserving the stories of Chinese American veterans. In 2026, Ron received the prestigious National Genealogical Society Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern Lifetime Achievement Award.

Feedback From Attendee’s

“ Enjoy your personal aspects to communicate and use AI. Your personal efforts to create family stories and use your parents and grandparents history was very touching, emotional and very informational. Motivates me to do the same“.

“Used to great hook to start. The pictures were colorful. Narration was interesting. I was able to follow along. Not too much to read.”

“Learned a lot (and I am pretty geeky!) I have presented professionally, probably 7200 times before and I could tell you, you have the perfect combination to engage your audience, knowledge, and passion for your topics. Great presentation skills (audience engagement) of your topic – Family!“

“Very good. The storytelling tips and slideshow ideas were terrific.”

“Ron explained very well. Had great examples. Spoke clearly and at a good speed.“.

“I thought it was helpful – you presented very nicely. “

“I think it was very good and gave me hope to do stories about my own family. “

“Good thought to use ChatGPT as a writing coach.  Only you know your stories the best.”

Organized by Henry Tom

Interested in recovering your Chinese ancestry?

For many overseas Chinese, the ultimate connection to China is their family heritage and Chinese genealogy.  Overseas Chinese, whose parents, and/or ancestors have emigrated from China, often find it difficult to make connections to their roots because their families shared little or had no detailed discussions about their past family history in China. The journey of Chinese genealogy, starting with archival research and culminating with a visit to one’s ancestral village in China, can provide the knowledge and understanding of how the experiences of their parents and ancestors influenced one’s own identity. 

Village genealogy books (zupus or jiapus) with clan and lineages that can span thousands of years are essential to recovering one’s Chinese heritage and family lineages – the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) destroyed almost all genealogy books in China except for those genealogy books in Guangdong province – only surviving due to the tenacity of the Cantonese people in Guangdong province to save them.  The Cantonese are quite unique and truly blessed to have this precious Chinese source that helps to preserve their heritage.

1) most lineage information in China was only recorded within the village;

2) the village book contains the names of their father and ancestors and their family lineage, which documents and verifies the ancestry and relationships of the people from that village;

3) and the books with your family lineages can be linked with clan lineages that were compiled before the village lineage.   

This April 2026 China Trip with tours and visits to ancestral villages provides a truly unique and rare experience – beginning with your own family research, attending Chinese genealogy workshops to understand the basic fundamentals and learn how to perform Chinese genealogy research – without having to be Chinese literate, with collaborative research in China and coming full circle with a visit to your ancestral village, from where parents and ancestors first started this epic journey. It is an opportunity not to be missed. Please consider going home to “qiáo xiāng” [ 僑鄉/侨乡] the hometown of overseas Chinese.

See also the Chinese Genealogy Workshop in San Francisco Chinatown, February 16 – 18, 2026, where there will be a session on preparing for your trip.

For questions, pricing & more details, please contact Henry Tom +1 480 980 8715 “Tomclan@Gmail.com”

CLICK HERE FOR Documents for the 2026 February Chinese Genealogy Workshop and the April China Trip

To get an idea of what you will see, do and accomplish on going to China to find your roots, see Ron Chan’s, “Chan China Roots Journal, 2018”, to get an idea how this trip can change your genealogy life. Download here.

Organized by Henry Tom

CHINESE GENEALOGY WORKSHOP, FEBRUARY 16 – 18, 2026, WITH OPTIONAL TOURS BEFORE AND AFTER

SAN FRANCISCO, VICTORY MEMORIAL HALL, CHINATOWN (Registration Fee)

This workshop has associated field trips on the weekend before and on the day after. 

This is a 3-day workshop – Presentations, RoundTable interactions with presenters & experts, and Hands-On Tutorials – special RoundTable Discussion on Preparing for the April 2026 China Trip.

This is a “how to” workshop that educates you on what you need to know to start performing Chinese genealogical research and/or visiting your ancestral village in China. The intent of the workshop is to educate people – so they can start researching and compiling their Chinese genealogy lineage – without having to be Chinese literate – let our expert researchers with years of experience in Chinese genealogy research assist you.  This workshop also helps people prepare for the forthcoming April 2026 China Trip. (See China Trip Post in Community Events For Details)

CLICK HERE FOR Documents for the 2026 February Chinese Genealogy Workshop and the April China Trip

CLICK HERE FOR More information on going to China to find and visit your village

Henry Tom Chinese Genealogy Workshop 2022 Group Photo