What we’re about
Welcome to a FREE 3rd Sunday 1pm-2:30pm monthly Meetup! Generally 20 to 40 new participants register online at Zoom.com, click link for Zoom meeting ID below. The online networking event is similar to the in-person Meetup networking events described below. The online events at zoom.us are FREE.
For in-person Meetup.com/Chinatown/
Chinatown, Washington D.C. is a Great Place. We will bet you have eaten at some of it's tasty restaurants or strolled the streets getting to know the culture. And we want it to last for many years to come. It is a hub of culture where Chinese, Americans, Chinese-Americans and people from all over the world visit as part of their visit to Washington D.C. It represents what could be some of the best ideas for a truly international city. Please join us as we discuss ideas for the future of CHINATOWN, in the international capital of Washington D.C. We hope to meet you in person or online at zoom.com on the 3rd Sundays of each month and then to continue the discussions about the implementation of creative ideas some of them are described below.
ADMISSION: FREE online at zoom.com
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!
This Meetup group currently focus on envisioning the Highest Vision of Chinatown in Washington D.C. We hope to save a creative space for the important loving, kind, joyful, friendly and inspiring voices of people locally and globally. Often the truly helpful and inspiring voices of the people are not heard. A little about historic (before 2021) Chinatown DC: See Chinatown Cultural Development Plan Strategy by DC Office of Planning and DC community:
https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-cultural-development-strategy
Chinatown DC residents appreciate the critical leadership and support of the Honorable Vincent Gray, Harriet Tregoning, Patricia Zingsheim, Thor Nelson, Dory Peters and others in DC Office of Planning. We also appreciate the outstanding leadership of David Do, Director of MOAPIA (Mayor's Office of Asian Pacific Islanders Affairs) and his hardworking staff. Chinatown DC has entered a new phase in its evolution toward distinction! See the Chinatown Cultural Development Small Area Action Plan which was passed by the D.C. City Council with the outstanding leadership of former Mayor Vincent Gray. (www.planning.dc.gov) Chinatown, Washington DC is in Ward 2. https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-cultural-development-strategy
A little slice of history for background:
In 2008, the DC Office of Planning (OP), in partnership with the Mayor’s DC Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA), started undertaking a Cultural Development Strategy (CCDS) for DC’s Chinatown. The CCDS provides strategies to help reposition Chinatown as the region’s top destination for Chinese/Asian cultural businesses, programs, services, events and festivals. The CCDS was adopted as the Chinatown Small Area Plan by the DC Council in September of 2009. MOAPIA and OP (DC Office of Planning) have been working with various government agencies, community members and organizations to help implement the action items listed in the CCDS Small Area Plan.For inquiries about CCDS, please contact
DC Office of Planning 202 442 7600.
There are many extraordinary visionary planners in the DC Office of Planning under the leadership of DC Mayor Muriel Bower, Director of Planning, Mr. Andrew Trueblood, and staff in the Mayor's Asian Pacific Islanders.
See Historic Resolution 18-336, "Chinatown Cultural Development Small Area Action Plan Approval Resolution of 2009"
Register Category: Resolutions Source: Council of the District of Columbia Notice Files: Register Issue: 1/1/2010 Vol 57/1 Publish Date: 1/1/2010 12:30pm.
The Friendship Archway was built in 1986 in Chinatown, Wash. DC. Friendship Archway Awards were developed and co-sponsored by Allies Building Community Inc., Award International Inc. and other co-sponsors. The Friendship Archway Network is a communications network of many groups and organizations interested in a better future for Chinatown DC, US-China Peoples Friendship, better US-China relations and other human aspirational and inspirational topics. Please join us on 3rd Sundays to meet in person or online.
The 3rd Sunday (in-person) community events are happy opportunities for you to make new contacts of diverse backgrounds and enjoy networking conversations over lunch to bridge divides. If you are interested in following up with others interested in Chinatown DC, please let us know and continue to show up on 3rd Sundays so others can meet you at the monthly community event. We welcome you to let us know of your interest so we can work together on collaborative projects for a better future for all. Any questions, email: alliesdc2@gmail.com. See you on 3rd Sundays at noon or online at zoom.com at 1pm! Many thanks for your support!
BACKGROUND on DC's Chinatown. DC Office of Planning staff are extraordinary in their support and ongoing professional planning work for a better Chinatown. The following are quotations from DC Office of Planning websites:
Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy
https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-cult...
StrategyDC Chinatown is a strong ethnic community in heart of Center City DC with a compelling history and culture; however, new development and a loss of Chinese American businesses and residents threaten its very existence. Capitalizing on its key location - near the Verizon Center, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and the National Mall - Chinatown has the potential to strengthen its position by becoming a premier destination for experiencing international Asian and Chinese American art and culture by tapping into the 16.2 plus million visitors to DC each year as well as America’s 5th largest Asian American regional community. Attracting this kind of unique investment requires a coordinated public investment strategy for both assisting with the cost of developing new cultural and authentic commercial offerings, as well as improving the experience of Chinatown’s public spaces and streets. Forming a Chinatown Cultural District can attract New Chinese American and Asian-themed businesses by providing development incentives and coordinated marketing. Enhancing Chinatown’s physical experience requires activating streets with Asian themed vendors and animating buildings with Chinese signage and storefront design. Finally, Chinatown is about people, and ensuring Chinatown is a great place to live and/or further understanding of different cultures to prevent violence and nuclear war. To attract and retain both new and old Asian and non-Asian residents, the strategy recommends creating needed neighborhood amenities such as improved parks, a Chinese language immersion charter school, and public safety improvements, etc. Realizing this vision begins with developing strong community organizations that can solve shared problems and manage varied cultural events and programs. The Strategy provides detained actions and steps to build strong capable organizations in Chinatown that can realize opportunities by building on its unique assets and its dynamic location.
Goals 1. Developing Chinatown as a Cultural Destination
2. Promote Chinatown DC as the place to experience Chinese/Asian culture in the Washington DC Region
3. Creating a Physical Chinatown Experience
4. Develop the buildings and public spaces of Chinatown as a live stage of Chinese American history and Asian culture
5. Promoting Chinatown Businesses
6. Create a diverse and successful Asian-themed business district
7. Living in Chinatown
8. Improve services and amenities in Chinatown to create a great Center City neighborhood
9. Working Together
10. Work together to make things happen by supporting leaders, organizations, and partnerships for Chinatown
StakeholdersThe following individuals and organizations were active participants in the Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy: • Community, cultural, religious, arts, and neighborhood organizations and institutions • Residents and ANC Commissioners • Chinatown business owners and merchants • Property owners, residential and commercial developers • Washington Convention Center, Verizon Center, Downtown BIDThe Planning Process and nonprofits including Allies Building Community Inc. (ABC) and Friendship Archway Network members. The planning process commenced in the summer of 2008, and included over 15 community and taskforce meetings during a 10 month period to learn stakeholders concerns and ideas for Chinatown. Over 100 individuals were involved, and guided the planning team in developing recommendations and actions for the Strategy. The DC Council approved the Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy as a Small Area Plan on December 15th 2009. See Content details: Chinatown Cultural Development Small Area Action Plan
https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-cultural-development-strategy
Draft: CHINATOWN PUBLIC REALM PLAN
https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-public-realm-plan
Chinatown Public Realm Plan
Chinatown’s streets and public spaces currently lack the economic and cultural dynamism often associated with Chinatowns - Chinese streetscape elements such as Chinese lantern streetlights are diminished and inconsistent, there is very little outdoor economic activity such as vending or sidewalk cafes, and it has poor perceptions personal safety and crime. The Chinatown Public Realm Plan is an effort of the Office of Planning to create a comprehensive set of detailed actions to enhance the Chinese character, safety, and pedestrian friendliness of Chinatown’s streetscape and public spaces. It is a key follow-up action of the Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy and a framework for coordinating implementation funding and action from District, federal, or private institutions. The Office of Planning initiated the project in May 2011 and completed it in May 2012. Project Outcomes • Increase business opportunities by expanding opportunities for outdoor seating, signage, and vending • Improve the look of Chinatown streets by added trees and landscaping, creating active pedestrian environment • Solve nuisance issues including trash, liter, and protesters • Reduce pedestrian crowding at 7th and H street by changing the way streets are designedRelated Content: Chinatown Public Realm Plan - Draft https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-publ...
For more info, join free here at www.meetup.com/Chinatown/ also show up on 3rd Sundays online free at zoom.com (click the zoom.com link to register or call 202 496 1555 for volunteer help. Thank you for your interest and support for the existence and a better future for people of the world committed to joy, friendship and prosperity for all!
