A Message to Chinatown & Beyond, from our Co-Founder Vic Lee

Hello friends, 

I spent last week reflecting. During moments when I could find clarity, my mind took me back to the Persian proverb, “This too shall pass.” In 2011, I felt a deep sense of loss for the first time after my grandfather passed away. I struggled to process my overwhelming sadness, lashing out at those around me because I felt alone. A few days later, I found myself unexpectedly moved to tears from a simple handwritten card that read, “This too shall pass.” The bad, and good, moments are ephemeral.

As I think about what the future holds in a deeply divisive society, our curiosity, compassion, and duty cannot be ephemeral if we want to drive the change we want to see. I want to see a Chinatown that's not only a gateway for opportunity but also a vibrant community where businesses and people thrive together. A place where our cultural heritage remains a source of strength, and innovation ensures our resilience for future generations. A continued source of inspiration and model for coalition building, empowering other communities to come together to drive meaningful change.

Is this lofty? Yes. Is this unattainable? Absolutely not.

If we focus on change at the local level, we will have the ability to inspire and influence those around us in tangible and visible ways. Yes, Donate to organizations that are mission and value aligned. Volunteer your time and skills to organizations that need capacity (but don’t be discouraged if they take a while to respond. The organizations that need capacity are slower to respond because they’re rolling up their sleeves). Shop with your values. Buy local and support minority owned businesses as much as possible. And most importantly, Be Curious. Ask questions to people you don’t often ask. Explore the “why” behind how something works or doesn’t work, and embrace the opportunity to learn from them. Only when we are curious, can we display authentic kindness and empathy. 

Welcome to Chinatown’s commitment in this long game is to fill our community’s cup because our collective needs cannot be met if our individual needs aren’t met. My Co-Founder, Jen’s, wise words to me at the start of our journey: “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. We are facing a reality where New York City’s storefront vacancy is 11.2%, nearly double from 6% in 2019. The cost of doing business is not only rising through the cost of goods, but everyday policies we don’t think about unless you’re John Wilson. Mastercard estimates businesses under scaffolding experience monthly revenue losses between $3,900 - $9,500. And all of this is on top of the nuances Chinatown small businesses face, including the lack of digital adoption. Our impact survey identified 47% of Chinatown businesses open 10+ years stated using technology was a top challenge, vs. 7% of businesses open <10 years. 

These problems at the macro level are daunting but I am optimistic that we can tackle this if we adopt a community first, grassroots approach. Our first value has, and always will be “We are Partners, not Saviors” in our work. Listening with empathy must be the first step of action, and we will be doubling down on our commitment to speak with our constituents through efforts like this open survey on what’s actually needed. 

Engaging directly with our community members has kept us rooted in their experiences and needs, allowing us to adapt and respond thoughtfully. This ongoing dialogue has been crucial in building resources like the Small Business Innovation Hub. In the most simple terms, we believe in the human spirit – whether it's personalized coaching and guiding businesses through transition, or creating long term stability through succession planning, our work is built to empower entrepreneurs.

Through every challenge, we are reminded that true resilience comes from standing together and lifting each other up. It’s this collective strength that inspires Welcome to Chinatown to keep building, adapting, and uplifting our community so it can thrive for generations to come. That doesn’t have to be ephemeral. 

With gratitude,
Vic