@welcome.to.chinatown

JUST DROPPED: Somebody in Chinatown Loves Me, our limited-edition #MadeinChinatown APAHM shirt 🍊 This design is a homage to the many ways our family and friends express their love. An act of service is a powerful love language in Asian culture. A bowl of cut fruit or the phrase “come and eat!” is one way we say, “I love you, and I care about you.” Proceeds will go towards the Longevity Fund, our grant relief fund supporting Chinatown businesses. Shop the shirt on madeinchinatownny.com or via link in bio! Get yours now — it’s limited edition for the month of May. ✨ Design by @harry_trinh Photos by @cal_hsiao

FROM 1982 TO 2022: NO NEW JAILS. This year, @nubcnyc has been leading the charge in urging @nycmayor to stop the construction of what would be the world’s tallest jail in Chinatown. But this fight isn’t new to Chinatown — 30 years ago, over 12,000 members of our community rallied against Mayor Ed Koch’s proposal to expand the Tombs jail complex. Above, read more on Chinatown’s history of advocating for investments in people, not jails. The fences are now up, but construction/demolition has not begun. Continue to be loud and keep contacting the mayor's office (link in bio). Videos by @mwc_

Somebody in Chinatown loves me. 🍊 Coming soon on #MadeinChinatown on 5.11.22. Design by @harry_trinh Photo by @cal_hsiao

Meet Peter Zhi Chao Li of 47 Division St Trading (@47_division_st_trading_inc) ✨ Introducing the first portrait in a miniseries of Chinatown-based stories from @ingrained.ny in collaboration with @welcome.to.chinatown. @ingrained.ny is a video portraiture series dedicated to amplifying 41 diverse, distinct and intersectional stories of NY’s Asian diaspora, told by a collective of all-Asian filmmakers. Ingrained's work is a reckoning with and reclamation of who we are as Asians in this city, born as a response to the recent wave of anti-Asian violence and sentiment. ——— How to best support/connect with Peter (From his son, Jeff Li): "He can be reached at [email protected] and at @47_division_st_trading_inc. He would love if folks stopped by to purchase an item or simply to give him a greeting. He’s also a huge advocate for shopping local and small. Large companies and corporations do not pay their fair share of taxes, nor do they invest back into the local economy. They are designed to extract as much value and money from a community while giving back as little as possible in order to give their shareholders and executives the difference. Small and local businesses are invested in the success of the local community; after all the owners and employees are often from those very same communities. Think big and have a bigger heart, but shop and buy small. And to the youth: do not lose touch with your culture and heritage. It is easy to partake in American culture and forsake your Asian side. Every culture has its good and bad; be the best of both worlds.” ——— Stay tuned as we share more stories from our community.

We’re thrilled to partner with @posterhousenyc for First Friday! Join us on May 6 for a full day of programming: 🎨 12 pm, Block Printing With Optimism: Learn how to block print in this hands-on workshop with @studioemilybyang (ticket proceeds will go to our initiatives) 🎨 3 pm, Made in Chinatown, Designing for Our Own Communities: Join our panel to learn how Asian American designers are designing for Chinatown businesses 🎨 7:30 pm: Blockchain & Chinatown: Thoughtfully Designing Technology: Learn about how we’re working to build a community-defined loyalty program for Chinatown 🎨 All day: #MadeinChinatown merch pop-up shop Reserve your free museum entry via link in bio. See you there!

This #APAHM, we are highlighting the fight for and celebration of our community. Amidst relentless obstacles — a rise in anti-Asian hate, the acceleration of gentrification, and the endangerment of the livelihoods of our small businesses — Chinatown has remained tenacious and unwavering. The future is forged now. While we reflect on the strength of our neighborhood, we continue to invest in efforts and resources that uplift and amplify the voices of those who have built our community and are driving it forward. Join us this month for our celebration. We’ll be exploring our neighborhood’s historical roots, its diversity, and the people who are surmounting challenges to redefine what it means to be Asian American in NYC. ❤️ Design by @harry_trinh

Thank you to everyone who attended the @blasianmarch Book Fair this past Saturday at @iss_nyc! This incredible event celebrated Black, Asian, and Black Asian authors to share each other's stories and provide better understanding. Blasian March and ISS went above and beyond by putting together incredible performances, panel conversations, Drag Queen Story Hour, pod mapping and many other activities to bring the community joy. We couldn't do this without the generous donations of our supporters that allowed us to purchase from @fongon1933, @spongiescafe, and @YuandMeBooks. These small businesses are the backbone of our community, and you can find many more of them on our Meet Chinatown directory! Thank you @blasianmarch for giving us the opportunity to bring the community joy and highlight these small businesses!

So excited to announce a special collaboration with @sublimajewelry to celebrate APAHM! 🐉 The new @welcome.to.chinatown x SUBLIMA Chinese Dragon Signet Ring is inspired by the iconic “Welcome to Chinatown” electric dragon sign on Canal St. The ring is a talisman that celebrates what Chinatown has meant for NYC historically — creating and safeguarding the community, and now — multigenerational efforts to preserve culture and ensure longevity. The design blends old- and new-school design motifs: Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize strength, prosperity and excellence — poignant in the wake of rising anti-Asian discrimination and violence — while the structured signet ring shape and geometric dragon scales create a modern aesthetic, representing Chinatown’s evolution and future. 100% of net proceeds from this ring in May will be donated to our initiatives. Thank you SUBLIMA for partnering with us! Link in bio to shop the Welcome to Chinatown x SUBLIMA Chinese Dragon Signet Ring (available in recycled brass or recycled sterling silver). SUBLIMA Jewelry is a sustainable jewelry brand handmade in NYC by Chinese American founder and designer @kellyjbit. Since 2020, SUBLIMA has donated more than $60,000 to nonprofits supporting NYC’s Chinatowns, racial justice, and food security. Photography: @momentsinclarity⁠ Models: @tinylittlealex⁠ @carlosalaras Additional photography: @safraz.bacchus Photography assistance: @campana.jeffrey

On April 6, our co-founders Victoria Lee and Jennifer Tam received the @nyknicks' Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award. This award pays tribute to local heroes who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. We are so honored to be in the company of so many inspiring New Yorkers all working to care for the city we love, and the people that call it home. Thank you @nyknicks 🧡💙

Spring break baby! Take a break (you deserve it!) and join us to kick off APAHM at @chop_suey_club’s Spring Break House Party on Sat 4/30. A portion of the ticket proceeds go towards our emergency relief fund for those affected by the 78 Mulberry St fire. ❤️ Entry includes: + Open bar + rotating snacks all night + Exciting DJ lineup + Exclusive flash tattoo by @longtimetattoo + Claw machine with prizes + Free pepper spray (in voucher form, redeemable at local pharmacy) + More! So excited to be partnering with our NYC friends @chop_suey_club, @flybyjing, @noonasicecream, @drinklunar, and @drinkmoshi for the celebration. See you there! Link in bio to purchase your ticket. 🤩

We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and concern for the community members affected by the fire. Because of your generous donations and the quick mobilization of our team, we have been able to distribute $34,000 in relief funds to cover basic necessities and lost wages for 78-80 Mulberry Street's residential and commercial tenants, respectively. Welcome to Chinatown also purchased and assembled care packages at the Lin Sing Association on Sunday. Care package included snacks, toiletries, and items from Abacus Bank, Yaya's and oo35mm. Please continue to share and amplify our fundraiser. Additional donations will go towards residential tenants with urgent needs and supporting our beloved small businesses, Ewa Trading & KK Discount. We've spoken with the Zhou family of @ewatradingnyc and the Li family of @kkdiscount, and learned that their shops will be temporarily closed until further notice due to the sustained water damage. In addition to sharing our fundraiser, you can support Ewa Trading by purchasing our Made in Chinatown x @ewatradingnyc shirt. If you are interested in offering in-kind donations and services to those impacted, fill out the Contact Us form on our website. We will provide updates as we continue to coordinate with Councilmember Marte's office, city agencies, and other community based organizations.

Ewa Trading (@ewatradingnyc) is one of several businesses affected by the Mulberry St fire last Friday. The shop is temporarily closed until further notice. To donate to our emergency relief fund, visit the link in our bio. Shop Ewa Trading merch on madeinchinatownny.com (proceeds go back to the business). In the meantime, as we coordinate resources, read below on why Chinatown businesses like Ewa Trading are essential to protect and preserve: Ewa Trading Company, owned by Zhou Rui Xian and his wife, is a Chinese medicine shop that sells health goods, Chinese herbal supplies, and tea. After Mr. Zhou came to the US in 1991 and started working at Ewa Trading in 1997, him and his wife took over the business when the owner (who the shop is named after!) retired. Customers from all backgrounds and ages come to Ewa Trading for Chinese medicine. Whether the customers are experts or newcomers, Ewa Trading helps them learn how best to treat their conditions with Chinese medicine, ensuring healthy and happy lives. Thinking of Ewa Trading and our community in this difficult time. ❤️ First photo by @out_of_fifty, merch photos by @cal_hsiao

KK Discount (@kkdiscount) is one of several businesses that was affected by the Mulberry St fire last Friday. The shop is temporarily closed until further notice. To donate to our emergency relief fund for those impacted, visit the link in our bio. In the meantime, as we coordinate resources, read below on why Chinatown businesses like KK Discount are essential to protect and preserve: KK Discount, known to many as the "mom-and-pop version of Target," was started in 1990 by Mr. and Mrs. Li. They immigrated to the US with only a few dollars in their pocket to pursue their own American Dream of starting a business. Over 30 years later, KK Discount has remained a beloved family-owned business and a vital component of Chinatown. The shop has seen loyal customers go through major life events like graduating college and starting families. These customers keep returning to pack their bags with goods that range from quality chef knives to the traditional Chinese dishware that many love. Thinking of KK Discount and our community in this difficult time. ❤️ Photo by @steven1052

Update 4/16: We have met with both businesses to learn more about their situations and will be actively working with them for resources. We have also connected with some tenants in the building to help them get connected to city resources for temporary housing. Shortly before 4AM today, firefighters responded to a devastating two-alarm fire on 78 Mulberry Street. The fire claimed the lives of two residents, displaced others in the building, and temporarily closed @kkdiscount and @ewatradingnyc until further notice. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those who passed and the survivors. In difficult times of need, our community must come together. Welcome to Chinatown was on site to assess the damages and speak with business owners. We are launching an emergency fire relief fund for everyone impacted and will coordinate with elected officials, city agencies, and fellow community based organizations to administer mutual aid. Donations to our fund will be used to go towards purchasing personal necessities, temporary housing, relocation costs for residential tenants, lost wages and damaged inventory for commercial tenants. To donate, visit the link in the bio or www.gofundme.com/f/78-mulberry-fire If you're an organization that would like to donate goods and services, please DM us or fill out the Contact Us page on our website.