Hello!! Thanks a ton for checking out this fundraiser. This is Isabel writing! I'd love to tell you more about Welcome to Chinatown and why I joined their Associate Board this year.

Welcome to Chinatown works to ensure Manhattan’s Chinatown remains a thriving cultural and economic center for generations to come. Founded in 2020, the organization was created to address decades of disinvestment and the growing challenges facing the neighborhood. We support local small businesses and entrepreneurs while strengthening the connections that make Chinatown a vibrant community. Through business coaching, access to capital, cultural programming, and policy advocacy, we help entrepreneurs succeed while building long-term economic resilience in Chinatown.

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Chinatown was the first neighborhood I stepped foot in when I adventured to New York in November 2014. As a 2nd year college student who just accepted a PR internship in Brooklyn, I got on the cheapest bus from Boston to NYC to begin my apartment hunt. I thought I was headed to Port Authority near Times Square, but to my luck (or misread of the ticket) we ended up on Allen St and East Broadway. The sounds of local Chinese grocery stores, restaurants, and small businesses in the heart of Chinatown made my heart sing. The anxieties of moving to a new city eased—I knew then that I had arrived to a place I could make home.

My first Chinatown meal was at a small, now-shuttered snack shop on Allen St. I got a bowl of ramen, spam, and eggs for $5 and ate it joyously as I eavesdropped on Cantonese-speaking aunties and uncles. I WeChatted my parents about said eavesdropping and expressed how nice it was to find an affordable food spot that was a thriving third space for locals.

11 years later, I continue to find new moments of comfort in Chinatown. Whether I'm meeting family friends who have lived here for decades, enjoying the best Teochew dishes at Bo Ky, showing first-timers how to eat chicken feet at my favorite dim sum spots, or picking up my next read from Yu and Me Books, I'm never short of joy and cultural connection here.

As a Chinese American, I'm grateful to have this anchor and am humbled by the neighborhood's rich history. The 2020s have presented Chinatown and other ethnic enclaves in New York City a new wave of gentrification and economic challenges. Welcome to Chinatown's work resonates with me deeply as I now look to meaningfully serve this community and help upkeep its resiliency and vibrancy.

Your donation will help with this mission. Any amount however small or large is welcome! To learn more about Welcome to Chinatown's work, check out the website or please feel free to reach out to me for any questions and ideas. I'd also love to hear your personal Chinatown stories. Many, many thanks for reading and taking the time to support.

With love,
Isabel

Isabel Li | Welcome to Chinatown Fundraiser

Driving Manhattan's Chinatown towards a future where tradition meets innovation, Welcome to Chinatown's mission is to bolster its local businesses and entrepreneurs and to forge connections across our community.