A group of young lions establish themselves in Chinatown, with Alvin Eng serving as their guide.

Engel has been with the Cubs since their inception in the 1970s. That’s when his friend’s family formed a lion dance troupe that welcomed everyone, regardless of their nationality. Eng said organizations with theater troupes at the time often assigned small roles to people who were not born in China.

This allows the children to perform at the annual Lunar New Year parade and other events.

“It’s good to pass on my knowledge to the younger generation,” Eng said.

To keep Chinese culture alive for these young lions, Alvin Eng is named this week’s New Yorker.