Lijun Chadima

Lijun Chadima is known for her passion for Cedar Rapids and her commitment to family and friends.  She loves the arts and promoting cross-cultural understanding.

Ms. Chadima arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1986, then moved away in 1989 due to her husband, David Chadima's, job assignment.  In 1999, after spending 10 years with her husband in Asia, Lijun and her husband along with their newborn baby daughter, Elizabeth, returned to Cedar Rapids – the city where her husband grew up and called home.  Since then, Lijun has served a number of non-profit boards as member, founding member or officer, including Cedar Rapids West Rotary Club, Rotary District 5970 Foundation Global Scholarship Committee, Rotary Paul Harris Society, Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce (Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance), Czech Village New Bohemia Main Street District, South Side Investment Board, NewBo City Market, SPT, Junior League of Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Montessori School, George Washington High School PTA, Advisory Board to Asian Pop-up Cinema -- a Chicago-based Asian Film Festival, and the Cedar Rapids Czech Bohemia Design Review Technical Advisory Committee.  Lijun is currently a Commissioner on the Cedar Rapids Czech Village New Bohemia Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District Commission.

As a co-owner of Thorland Company with her husband, Lijun has worked tirelessly to restore the historic Cherry Building after the flood of 2008 as the place "Where Creativity Works!"  Lijun has been the driving force of revitalization of the Bohemian Commercial Historic District, Czech Village/New Bohemia Cultural District and the Czech Village New Bohemia Main Street District since 1999.

Ms. Chadima received the Governor's Volunteer Award in 2008, the Women of Achievement in Service to Others and Community award from Waypoint Services in 2013.  Lijun was one of the honorees of 2014 Ovation: A Tribute to Iowa Women and Girls.