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Archive of "Chinatown" Category
Interview w MissionYear
My interview with Leroy Barber and Jeff Shinabarger for MissionYear. I recently conspired with the two to bring a Gift Card Party to Philadelphia highlighting some orgs doing good stuff in West Philly. Love what these guys are all about and what they’re doing. I’m hoping to bring MissionYear to Chinatown one day soon.
MOCA.NYC Grand Opening 9.22.09
The Museum of Chinese in America [MOCA] opens its new Maya Lin designed location at 215 Centre Street today with a series of events designed to highlight it mission to preserving and presenting the history and culture of the Chinese in America. Make the pilgrimage people!
Foxwoods Defeat. Good News For Chinatown.
Interesting things always happen in my absence. I should go away more.Last Friday, good news came to Chinatown and all those who have been opposing the plans for slots casinos in Center City as Foxwoods pulled their plans for pursuing the 8th and Market St site (Formerly the Strawbridge & Clothier building). Foxwoods is revisiting their original site plans in South Philly and will likely be confronted by angry protests there as well. However, this time protests are a city wide effort and the Chinatown community will continue to add their voice to making Philadelphia casino free.
For now we can claim a major victory for Chinatown. I’d like to see Casinos entirely out of Philadelphia no matter how desperate we are to fix the doomsday budget outlook here.
Links
Looks Like it’s Back to South Philly for Foxwoods Casino, [Philly.com]
Beating the House, Helen Gym [Metro]
DiCicco: Foxwoods Ruling “Damages Philadelphia’s Fabric”
Mayor Nutter: Foxwoods Ruling “A Step Backwards”Twitter Updates from Casino Free Philly
My Posts on “Saying No to Casinos in Chinatown”
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [Part 8]Justice for Kwok Wai Ho
Opening arguments began yesterday in the trial of Marcquis Walker-Williams a teenager (19) charged with the murder of Kwok Wai Ho, a member of our church back in 2007. I posted about it here. He was taking his nightly stroll when he was attacked by Williams just steps away from his Northeast home. Williams said he wanted to “catch a body” to rob. He may likely have had no idea or intention of this horrific outcome but now he has to pay for his crime. We’re waiting to hear whether Williams will be tried for first or third degree murder. I’m not wishing the worst for him but that somehow good would come from this. I don’t know what that would look like. The love of Christ beckons us to see clearly what’s so wrong with the world, more specifically what’s so very wrong with us – with me! — and compels us to love people, even the ones that hurt us most deeply. This is not an easy path to consider. It comes at a cost to us personally especially if we’re the victims but I think it will cost us even more if we don’t choose to love.Stupid. Reckless. Juvenile. Those words were used to describe the actions of the guilty.
What if those were the words that would describe our effort to heal and love rather than harm?Seriously, what would justice really be here?
Would Williams being put away for most of his life heal the pain inflicted on Mr. Ho’s family and the communities he was an integral part of?
Most likely not.
Join me in praying for the Ho family and Philadelphia.Links:
Opening arguments begin in teen’s murder trial
Aint the Way it’s Supposed to Be — in Philly.Re-Imagining Chinatown: An Interactive Planning Process
More on Chinatowns!
This time in LA.
Urban planner, James Rojas has put together an exciting exhibit and concept that invites participants to be engaged in re-imagining Chinatown using art and be an intimate part of the whole urban planning process. The exhibit will be hosted by Fifth Floor, an art/design gallery located within L.A.’s Chinatown, which will transform into a pop-up urban planning store with shelves lining the wall that will host an array of small, colorful buildings. Visitors can take these buildings off the shelves and place them on the model located in the middle of the gallery to create their ideal urban form. The model will constantly change as the work builds upon the contributions of others. I love the idea and intentionality of Rojas to help people think and dream about their community. Dude, you had me at hello.Re-imagining Chinatown: An Interactive Planning Process
James Rojas
August 8 – September 5, 2009
Fifth Floor Gallery502 Chung King Court
Los Angeles, CA 90012
[h/t coolhunting.com]Vision for Philadelphia’s Chinatown
Do you know the history of your Chinatown?
Do you have a vision for your community?Philadelphia’s Chinatown is one of the few well established Chinese enclaves in the country that has become a vibrant and diverse neighborhood. It’s home to over 4000 residents. Since its first recorded Chinese owned business in 1870, Chinatown has overcome significant challenges that threaten its sustainability. This week there was a community forum hosted by Asian Arts Initiative to mobilize residents and organizations to take ownership of Chinatown North for future growth and development. It was remarkable for me to witness how residents, organizations and surrounding communities have partnered together to arrive at a vision for the future of Chinatown to extend past the Vine St expressway which acts as a physical boundary and challenge to Chinatown proper.
One of the main priorities expressed in the planning is the desire to provide more affordable housing. 37% of the Chinatown neighborhood live below the poverty line and 15% of residents own their own homes. Right at the northwestern edge are a number of homeless agencies. My impression was that this was seen as a negative factor to the vision. Is there not a place for these agencies and the people they serve in the future of Chinatown? I would think we can make a difference and that perhaps Chinatown can have more compassion. I know culturally it’s a real pull your bootstraps up kind of community. Indeed greater partnership and communication with those agencies is desperately needed. I think that’s where the church needs to step in. Another major concern expressed at the forum and will continue to be an issue especially as the prospect of Foxwoods Casinos makes its way to the edge of this community is the need for more social services and education. Again another area where the church can play a major role.
It was amusing to identify that there are many of the same businesses in Chinatown (restaurants, cell phone sellers, salons). This is not a good thing for Chinatown or any commercial use planning. Diversity is key for retail. Additionally revenue generation must come from the community and stay within. There’s just so much potential and opportunity at this time. I want this Chinatown to make a difference and be outstanding amongst the kind of communities that we have in this city. It’s possible.
The Neighborhood Plan for Chinatown and Callowhill is available for download here through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
There’s some great insight in that document. I’m encouraged that Chinese Christian Church has had a hand in the planning process and look forward to how this living document will develop.The question for Chinese Christian Church & Center will continue to be, how can we best serve this community?
Mitzie Mackenzie (1920-2009)
The community of Chinese Christian Church + Center will deeply miss Mitzie.
We’ve spoken about being “transcultural” or “Third Culture” on this blog. Mitzie’s life truly was transcultural. As Dave Gibbons (NewSong) would put it, she had the mindset and the will to love, learn, and serve in any culture, even in the midst of pain and discomfort. As we mature in knowing Christ’s character, we discover that he has called us to love and serve cultures and people unlike our own — may it be racially, or socioeconomically.As a 20 year old white girl she stepped into Chinatown and gave over 60 years of her life to serve this community never being fluent in Chinese. She always said she was Chinese at heart.
Respect. Imitate. Live.
(more…)Remembering Ralph Winter & Mitzie Mackenzie
As I’m returning home from a long stint of speaking and ministry I received news of the passing of two great and influential people. Last week we lost the great American missiologist, Ralph Winter. A giant. He was identified by Time Magazine as one of America’s most influential evangelicals in 2005. His book, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is a formative read to reach the world’s “unreached” with the Gospel. I’ve held a Perspectives course for those interested in missions at my church and it was intense.I love this quote:
“You do not evaluate a risk by the probability of success but by the worthiness of the goal.” – Ralph Winter 1925 – 2009
Link: LA Times
The memorial service for Dr. Ralph D. Winter has been scheduled for Sunday, June 28, in the main sanctuary of Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, Calif.I also just received news that Mitzie Mackenzie passed away this morning. Many of you will not know who Mitzie is but she is a hero in our church community here in Chinatown, Philadelphia. She was an advocate for the voiceless in Chinatown and under her leadership, our church opened its doors to them in 1941. She was 20 when arrived in Chinatown, a lone white girl with a heart and vision to reach the poor immigrants of this community.
The memorial service for Mitzie Mackenzie will be held at The Vine of Chinese Christian Church+Center on Saturday, May 30 at 8am
What hearts. What legacies.
Saying No To Casinos in Chinatown Part 8
Some highlights from the No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition press conferenceIt is amazing how many Chinese churches/orgs have joined this coalition. They may not be at the forefront speaking but they can certainly get things done and mobilize Chinese in the Philadelphia and surrounding regions just as we have seen them do in their collection of over 24k petitions. This has really become a diverse citywide effort that I’m proud to be a part of.
The real star in this coalition is activist Helen Gym. She really adds the passion to this movement like no other. Her list of accomplishments and accolades are too long to mention. One statement that really stood out was when she urged officials to say no to shameful “unfair predatory gain in this time of greatest economic need.” I think that cuts to the heart of the issue. Hasn’t the city learned from the existing economic crisis with regard to unfair predatory practices?
It’s also a pleasure to see the active participation of Luella Trip, wife of Dr. Paul Tripp of Tenth Presbyterian Church. They moved into the Chinatown area a few years ago and since have solidly expressed their heart for the area and convictions to minister to the people of Center City. That’s a rare find. We need more people like them.
News Links
“Churches Join Anti-Casino Protest” – The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 19, 2009Next Up:
Philadelphia City Planning Commission Community Meeting on Preliminary Findings for the Market East Strategic Plan
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 7 pmJefferson University
Dorrance Hamilton Auditorium
1001 Locust Street
For more information contact Laura Spina 215.683.4638Saying No to Casinos in Chinatown Part 7
UPDATE: The battle against proposed casinos in the heart of Philadelphia ensues. It’s now a citywide effort and not just a Chinatown matter. The thing is that it was never just a Chinatown matter but now a coalition has been formed (The No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition) that includes major groups like The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and AAU amongst many others. The coalition’s first move is a press conference at the Bellevue Hotel (Broad & Walnut Sts) Headquarters for Gov. Rendell and PREIT (Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust), Wednesday, February 18, 11am.
Download the full press release
Link to AAUSpeakers include: Bishop Peggy Johnson, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church; Pastor Ellis Washington, president, Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity; Tom Earle, CEO, Liberty Resources; and coalition partners.
Below is the statement of Beliefs and Commitments of this new coalition.
No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition
Statement of Beliefs and CommitmentsWe, the undersigned organizations, enter into coalition with each other, united by the following beliefs and commitments.
By joining the Coalition, each of our organizations commits to mobilizing our constituency and bringing our own strengths and resources to the work of the Coalition.
OUR BELIEFS:
1) We oppose putting a casino in the heart of our city.
A Center City slots parlor aims to take money from the pocketbooks of Philadelphians who can least afford it (especially low-income, elderly, and people of color, riders of mass transit, center city workers, Chinatown workers and residents, and Gallery shoppers).2) We decry the unfair fast-tracking of the Gallery casino.
It is patently discriminatory for our public servants to work to protect some communities from this noxious industry and then to move at a feverish pace to impose it as quickly as possible in a place that will expose the maximum number of Philadelphians to it.3) We reject actions by our public officials that make them active partners with the casino industry – promoting gambling to our residents and transit riders and redesigning our central historical, business and residential corridor around a gambling anchor.
The slots business is a predatory industry that profits off addiction and impoverishes its clientele. We do not build a healthy economy or a balanced budget by increasing levels of poverty and addiction among our citizens.4) We reject the choice of any site for a casino that would threaten the health and welfare of any neighborhood.
No casino should be sited in any neighborhood that would change the nature and character of the neighborhood, or interfere with that neighborhood’s sustainable economic development.OUR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER:
- The Coalition will operate utilizing a fair and open process.
- The Coalition will share its knowledge and all relevant information with the community.
- The Coalition will speak with unity. At the same time, the multiple voices of our members make us stronger. Individual organizations and persons are encouraged to voice their own issues and perspectives within the broad unity expressed in this statement.
- The Coalition will collectively make strategic decisions, especially regarding lobbying, meetings with politicians and other decision makers, and significant public statements.
- Coalition members commit to speaking openly with each other about differences, mistakes, criticisms, and rumors. We enter into this Coalition with a spirit of unity, generosity, and good will.
SIGNATORIES (as of December 17, 2008)
Arch Street United Methodist Church, Outreach Committee
Asian Americans United
Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity
Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
Casino Free Philadelphia
Chinese Benevolent Association
Chinese Christian Church & Center
Chinese Christian Herald Crusade
Chinese Overseas Association
Family, INC
Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School
Germantown Clergy Initiative
Greater Germantown Business Association
Greater Philadelphiaa Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Learning Partners Charter School
Liberation Fellowship CDC
Media Mobilizing Project
New York Tai Look Association
ODUNDE, Inc.
On Leong Chinese Merchants Association
Palmer Foundation
Philadelphia Chinese Dragon Boat Association
Philadelphia Guang Dong Association
Shalom Center
Students Against the Gallery CasiNO!
Temple University Chinese Student Assoc.
Teo Chew Association of Philadelphia
Tsung Tsin Association
University of Pennsylvania Chinese Student AssociationIf your organization is interested in joining the many groups that have signed on to the coalition, please contact Helen Gym at 215.808.1400 or HGBF @ aol.com
Events
"HERO" An EPIC MOVEMENT EAST COAST Conference January 15-18, 2010, Philadelphia
Verge Missional Community Conference,
February 4-6, Austin, Texas
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