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U.S. House passes bill that would create the first Mass. post office named after an AAPI person

The bill, written by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, would name the South Station USPS office after long-time activist Caroline Chang.

Caroline Chang

By Emily Spatz

2 minutes to read

The U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Ayanna Pressley’s bill to name the U.S. Postal Service office near South Station after lifelong Asian American activist and community leader Caroline Chang. 

Pressley, a representative for the state’s seventh district, introduced a bill in May to rename the post office at 25 Dorchester Ave. The post office would be renamed the Caroline Chang Post Office, Pressley’s office said in a press release.

Of 617 postal facilities in the state, only one honors a woman and five honor persons of color. The building would be the first postal facility to honor a woman of color and the first federal building in the state to honor an AAPI person.

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Chang, who was born and raised in Chinatown, passed away in 2018. She dedicated her life to serving the community in Chinatown and advancing the rights of Asian Americans in the state.

In 1970, Chang was appointed as the manager of Chinatown’s Little City Hall, where she advocated on behalf of residents. She received her law degree from Suffolk Law School in 1970 and worked as regional manager for the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

“Who we honor matters, and today we’re one step closer to memorializing the incredible work that Caroline Chang has done as one of the greatest public servants that Boston, the Massachusetts 7th, and our Commonwealth have ever seen,” Pressley said in a speech on the House floor this week. “I was proud to introduce and pass this bill in the House to pay tribute to Caroline’s legacy with the first post office in Massachusetts to be named after an AAPI individual.”

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Throughout her life, Chang played a crucial role in several organizations that continue to serve Chinatown to this day, including the Asian Community Development Corporation, the Chinese History Society of New England, and the Asian American Civic Association.

“At a time when the contributions of Black, brown, AAPI, and other marginalized communities are facing increased threats and erasure, recognizing their contributions by securing their representation is a small but meaningful step forward,” Pressley said in her speech. “Caroline often said, -quote – There is always more work to do – end quote. And I wholeheartedly agree, but today, with this legislation, we recognize the work that she has done and honor her legacy, a legacy that will endure for generations to come.”

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