The founders of the organization were American-born Chinese youth returning to the community, immigrant workers and retired residents living in New England who longed for a connection to their home country.
[2] The organization was first located in an abandoned garment factory loft in Boston, MA where many social activities were held such as apple picking, group dinners, and ping pong.
[1] The CPA strives to create more working opportunities and better, more affordable living environments for Chinese immigrants residing in the greater Boston area.
[4] The CPA organizes a variety of activities for its members including community services such as assistance with tax forms and immigration documents.
The goal of this wide range of activities is for Chinese immigrants to feel as though they are equal members of American society while still maintaining the ethnic identity of their heritage.
[7] The Chinese Progressive Association does grassroots level research and work to protect the health of low-wage workers and communities of color.
Due to this, CPA creates publications and data reports, called community-based participatory research,[9][10] to educate people of the little-known stories of the low-income and working-class immigrant Chinese community in San Francisco.
[15] Along with affordable housing, the CPA has been active in providing job opportunities for Chinese immigrants in the Boston area through their Workers Center, founded in 1987.
One would increase the unemployment rate and the other would require that translators were hired at the Department of Employment Training for non-English speakers[17] In 2014, the CPA led an effort to provide Chinatown and South End residents with job opportunities in new stores in the area.
The CPA, specifically, partnered with the new Whole Foods Market in the South End, and worked with the company in order to create opportunities for Chinatown residents.
Lydia Lowe, the director of the Chinese Progressive Association stated that the reason behind the success of this partnership was the clear monitoring and reporting that went on during the collaboration.