When Daniel Chang was 16 he was just like any other kid studying, hanging out with his friends, participating in sports, and perhaps watching a bit of television. But, pretty soon Daniel´s interests turned to something else - the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York. Now four years later, Daniel is responsible for the coordination of all teams, numbering 125 in this year’s races on August 12 and 13 at Meadows Lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

On the days of the Dragon Boat races, everyone involved will be looking to Daniel for instruction in the midst of an anticipated crowd of 50,000 during the two-day Festival, with the races as its centerpiece. It might sound like a big task for some, but according to Henry Wan, Chairman of the Festival committee, Daniel can handle it. “When Daniel started working for me as a dock hand, when he was 16, he quickly showed strong leadership skills and look at him now.” In addition to dock duties, Daniel spends a lot of time making telephone calls to returning and potential corporate and community team sponsors for sponsorships that range from $3500 to $120,000. It does, in fact, appear that Daniel manages his responsibilities quite well, while taking college business courses in Long Island. As a matter of fact, he loves it. “I started out working on the docks and I guess Henry likes my work. I really like being a part of this every year.”

Daniel is not the only success story of the Youth Leadership Training Program that Henry Wan started five years ago. The year-round program gives the young participants an opportunity to work on the Festival; meet and learn from professionals who sponsor and/or participate in the Dragon Boat races; and develop strong leadership skills. Jimmy King, now an analyst at Citigroup (a team sponsor), also started out as a dock hand and worked for Wan on the Festival. Now in his seventh year with the Festival, Jimmy returns as a volunteer and coordinates the dock activity during the races. “When they come through the gates, Daniel organizes them. When they get to the dock, it´s my job to get them safely in and out of their boats and get the next teams ready to race.”

Daniel and Jimmy, along with other young paid staff and volunteers, also demonstrate their strong supervisory skills during the weekend practices that began shortly after Memorial Day at Meadows Lake. Most every Saturday and Sunday, the two young men oversee the team members as they sign waivers, strap on life jackets, and take out the teakwood boats (sans dragon heads and tails) to practice for the big races.

Brendan and Brian Wuen, 19 and 15 respectively, enjoy the competitive nature of the races, as well as the opportunity to spend time with other teens with common interests. This year will be Brian´s first year competing and Brendan´s second. The latter knows from experience that it takes practice to prepare to participate in the Dragon Boat races, which is why he gets his father David to drive them to Queens from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn on the weekends to work with his and his brother´s teams. “A friend asked me to join a team because they needed people,” says Brendan. “I came out and got on the team. I did it and I liked it, so that´s why I came back this year.” At a recent practice, Brendan offered his younger brother the blue mouse pad that he knew from experience would give a little padding and some grip while paddling. Brian refused the pad and went back to his friends as they prepared to practice. His older brother smiled and shook his head as he wrang out the wet mouse pad. “He´ll learn.”

Everyone seems to learn a little something about the Dragon Boats and team participation from Daniel and Jimmy. Some of the teams consist of younger people, like the Wuen brothers, while other team members are older professionals who have raced many times. Regardless, Daniel and Jimmy wield an authoritative, yet pleasant presence and all show them the utmost respect, following their instructions accordingly. They never raise their voices, yet they get the job done and done well much to the pleasure of Wan. “You asked me what makes me happy,” he says with a smile. “They are passing along an institutionalized memory and tradition. The young people, what they are doing is what makes me happy.”