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 following is a description of our in-person networking event. Our online networking via Zoom is similar except it is online and FREE of charge.
IN-PERSON description:
WHAT: Friendship Archway community networking event on 3rd Sundays 12:30PM to 2:30PM
You are invited to join Chinese Americans and members of the Friendship Archway Alliance to bridge cultural, digital and other divides and strengthen harmony and unity in Washington D.C.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!
Once a month connect with friends, old and new, at this community event in Washington D.C. near Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro! Meet Chinese, Asian, Pacific Islanders, multi-cultural and people of all backgrounds interested in cultural and educational exchanges and conversations for friendship to promote better understanding and harmony between the peoples of both China and U.S. Meet people of all backgrounds interested in China, Chinatown, Chinese Americans, Asians, Asian Americans, personal, economic, spiritual, community development and collaborating to build ONE FUTURE!
WHEN:
3rd Sunday of each month. (This program has been presented by volunteers each month since 1997. Initially it was called Conversations for Economic Development) Celebrate and help to implement the new DC Chinatown Cultural Development Action Plan.
Please join us for discussions on articulating a Friendship Archway Culture and share your ideas related to wide-ranging topics for cooperation including activities in Chinatown D.C., Beijing-D.C. relations, participation in collaborative efforts, skills-based volunteering, training, Chinese American new business opportunities etc. We welcome you to come, make new contacts and share your interests and aspirations with us for mutual support and to build community support together!
Please share this web address with your friends: http://www.meetup.com/ChineseAmericans/
FOR BACKGROUND Related to DC Chinatown efforts:
For further background of co-sponsors, see http://archway2.org
At this free monthly event, you will also meet participants from other members of the Friendship Archway Network, see http://www.meetup.com/chinatown/, http://www. meetup.com/socialentrepreneurs/, http://www.meetup.com/AsianAmericans/, http://www.meetup.com/ChineseAmericans/, Allies Building Community Inc. (A.B.C.) and The Friendship Archway Network.
Under the leadership of the Mayor and the Office of Asian and Pacific Islanders Affairs, this Chinatown Development (Small Area) plan and strategy has been adopted for a better future for Chinatown.
Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy
Strategy: DC 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 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 an idea, a pioneering Spirit. Chinatown is a focal point for harmony of East and West! To attract and retain both new and old Asian and non-Asian residents to this area, the strategy recommends creating needed neighborhood amenities such as improved parks, a Chinese language immersion charter school, and public safety improvements. Realizing this vision begins with developing strong community initiatives 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 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 ProcessThe 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.Related Content: Chinatown Cultural Development Small Area Action Plan
https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-cultural-development-strategy
Re: 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 by https://planning.dc.gov/page/chinatown-public-realm-plan
