WELCOME TO CHINATOWN INC
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Mission Statement
Welcome to Chinatown is a non profit organization amplifying and addressing the critical needs of our community and its entrepreneurs. Together, we will keep Chinatown open for generations to come.
About This Cause
Welcome to Chinatown was founded by Chinese American women after witnessing the compounded disinvestment of Chinatown, and by extension the API community. Our mission uplifts API entrepreneurs through core values derived from our founders’ upbringings as daughters of immigrants chasing the American dream. At the forefront, Welcome to Chinatown (WtC) is a collective voice for API entrepreneurs to reclaim their own narrative through empathy, authentic storytelling, and data driven insights. We provide a robust offering of community and capacity building initiatives, grants, and resources aimed at supporting Manhattan Chinatown businesses in strengthening business resilience and innovation. Collectively, our efforts are aimed at keeping Chinatown open for generations to come. The individuals we seek to engage are AAPI, immigrant, and minority business owners who make up the diverse fabric of the Manhattan Chinatown community. They represent the vibrancy and resilience of the community and are each unique and valued contributors. Historically this community has been underserved through historical disasters, socioeconomic and language barriers, and an overall lack of government investment. This work is led by WtC’s two women co-founders, board members, and majority female staff who see this work forward on a day-to-day basis in addition to WtC’s robust network of 200+ volunteers. Each of our initiatives is developed in response to evolving local and national AAPI needs and in collaboration with the vibrant New York Chinatown community. Since WtC’s inception, it has raised over $4.5 million to support Chinatown through its targeted initiatives: the Longevity Fund (grant and research), MEET CHINATOWN (digitalization), Made in Chinatown (artist & small business merchandise program), and Sik Faan Fund (meal donation program). In 2021, 100% of our Longevity Fund recipients were BIPOC, and 47% were women owned businesses. In 2022, 83% of our Longevity Fund Lunar New Year Fair recipients were women owned businesses. WtC recently signed the lease on a 2,500 square foot space that will be the home to its Small Business Innovation Hub. This Hub will be a first of its kind space to empower small business owners, build bridges, and champion cultural vibrancy and sustainability. Centered around core principles of empowerment, mutual respect, and endurance, we seek to create an accelerator and incubator that supports AAPI entrepreneurs by offering guidance on accessing capital, matchmaking with potential investors, and developing business plans; on-site, pro-bono or low-cost centralized technical trainings; and a space for new and legacy entrepreneurs to support each other. Our core strength is that our work is rooted in listening and empathy. We don’t pretend to have all the solutions and know that the best solutions come from understanding our communities’ experiences and are ideated and delivered in partnership with our community. We pride ourselves on being able to remain nimble to the needs of our constituents and center our work on their voices and needs. All of our initiatives, partnerships, and research center around the voices of API business owners, community members, and residents within the Manhattan Chinatown neighborhood through the deep relationships we have cultivated with small business owners and community members.