[3] She grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens[4] and later lived in New York City in the East Village.
[3] Chiang was the director of the Chinatown-based Asian American arts organization, Basement Workshop, in New York City from 1975 to 1986.
[6] Later, Chiang was active at the Henry Street Settlement in the Lower East Side, Project Reach, a program working with youth in New York City's Chinatown, and Poets and Writers.
[5] She was also involved in student-led protests advocating for better Asian American Studies courses at New York colleges.
[5] Chiang's books of poetry include In The City of Contradictions, Miwa's Song, and 7 Continents, 9 Lives, published by Bowery Press.