Quarterly Letter (Nov 2024)
From Welcome to Chinatown Executive Director, Vic Lee.
“Pui Yun, have a fish cake!” – My grandma, calling me by my Chinese name, always cooked a batch of fish cakes for Thanksgiving. Her fish cakes were lighty fried until golden on the outside, with bits of bright green scallion popping out. They were my absolute favorite—a seemingly unconventional dish nestled between the Thanksgiving classics of turkey, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole. In my household, this mix of flavors—Cantonese alongside American staples—was the norm. My non-traditional traditional table. It’s a story familiar to many children of immigrants, a reminder that our tables, like our communities, are richer when they reflect the diversity of our experiences.
This season reminds us of the power of gathering: to share, to learn, and to build together. That same spirit of connection and coalition-building defined everything we accomplished in 2024 Q3 at Welcome to Chinatown, as we prepared to open the Small Business Innovation Hub.
In July, we hosted the Chinatown Alternative Food Systems Roundtable, bringing together independent AAPI farmers, restaurateurs, non-profits, and government representatives (including from the USDA equity commission), to discuss the unique challenges facing our food supply chain. This gathering underscored the importance of advocating for inclusive procurement practices, while also building connections between local farmers and businesses in Chinatown that rely on culturally relevant produce.
September saw the success of our Gala, “Reimagining a Thriving Chinatown”, where we celebrated our small businesses and shared the impact of our work with over 150 supporters. My personal highlight: Awkwafina and Jenny Yang presenting four small businesses with a $5,000 Longevity Fund grant. Seeing so many people come together to uplift Chinatown’s entrepreneurs was a poignant reminder of the collective power we have to drive change and sustain cultural preservation.
Later that month, we convened the 2nd Annual Chinatown Solidarity Conference, welcoming representatives from 21 Chinatowns across North America. This conference wasn’t just a meeting of minds but a blueprint for action, empowering community leaders with tools and resources to preserve their neighborhoods while addressing shared challenges. Our findings will be released early in the new year.
All these moments of gathering happened against the backdrop of ongoing construction challenges at our Hub. Unfortunately, we faced significant delays after a subcontractor ghosted us during the last mile of the project, leaving us scrambling to finish the work. I will not name and shame the sub-contractor, but I am extremely disappointed in the lack of integrity and honor for their work. Our Hub will likely be 100% complete after this holiday season. It’s been tiring flipping the Hub from back and forth between a construction site while trying to minimize the disturbances to those we serve, but we recognize the importance of delivering on our mission despite the delays.
Our planned opening in September turned into a soft opening. Even in the face of setbacks, we anticipate hosting 17 programs with 900 people in Q4. We remain steadfast in our mission to open the Hub in its full capacity the week of January 27th. The Hub will offer coworking space, event rentals, five-day operations, and evening and weekend programming—a true home for innovation and community growth in Chinatown.
As we approach Thanksgiving, I invite you to reflect on the unique traditions that make your gatherings special. Share photos of your “non-traditional traditional table” with us on social media! We’d love to celebrate the beautiful ways our cultures and communities come together. I love this Chinatown Thanksgiving Guide our team put together – from New Kam Man turkeys and Banh by Lauren cakes, to local produce and family-owned butcher shops – it showcases the blended traditions we all have with our loved ones.
From all of us at Welcome to Chinatown, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful Thanksgiving. Thank you for being a part of our community and for your unwavering support as we continue to gather, share, and build a stronger Chinatown for generations to come.
Warmly,
Vic Lee
Executive Director
Welcome to Chinatown
