Chinatown Adventure (CHAD) Tour

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Chinatown Adventure (CHAD) tour on Thursday, June 20, 2013

Chinatown Adventure (CHAD) tour on Thursday, June 20, 2013

On Thursday, June 20th, 2013, Summer Urban Program: Chinatown Adventure (CHAD) participated in the Chinatown Walking Tour. Tour participants were CHAD’s senior staff and are from across the United States. Thank you for participating in the tour! We hope you enjoyed it!

Anna Huang (A-VOYCE Class of 2010), Maxwell Lok (A-VOYCE Class of 2012) and Sandy Liang (ACDC Youth Programs Coordinator) were tour guides for this tour.

Visit our Facebook album to see more pictures!

4-H American Spirit Experience Tour

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4-H American Spirit Experience tour on Monday, June 17, 2013

4-H American Spirit Experience tour on Monday, June 17, 2013

4-H American Spirit Experience youth from Wisconsin participated in the Chinatown Walking Tour on Monday, June 17, 2013. Despite the rain, the youth were very enthusiastic about the tour! The group had a family styled Chinese dinner at the China Pearl.  Thank you for visiting Chinatown! Hope you visit again soon!

Anna Huang, Maxwell Lok, Gerry Paradela, Allen Zou, Vivien Wu (ACDC Director of Programs), and Sandy Liang (ACDC Youth Programs Coordinator) were tour guides for this tour.

Visit our Facebook album to see more pictures!

Community Organizing

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A Village Called Versailles Reflection

Facilities such as landfills are often located near low-income areas or neighborhoods whose residents are marginalized.

Landfills are located near low-income areas, because low-income areas usually don’t have strong communities. Marginalized means silenced, meaning these communities won’t protest. Placing landfills in neighborhoods such as these are messed up because they are helpless. This situation reminds me of Chinatown’s Hudson Street, because nobody had a voice, so they couldn’t fight it. It’s sort of like exploiting the community, because they don’t know what’s going on.

This says that we have a corrupt society. Our society cares more about the rich. Putting landfills in a low-income area is only making the area look more poor. Society is corrupt because putting all the trash in high poverty areas, keeps the rich area clean. Our government is skewed because they don’t listen to most voices. They are biased in their help instead of helping everyone.

– Carlton Mei, Parcel 24 Youth

The Situation at 25 Harrison

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The situation that occurred at 25 Harrison was very gloomy, but it seems to be a universal problem. It is seen many times on television and movies, but it is also something most people want to keep on the level of fiction and stories. However, this is an unfortunate reality for many people. From the building at 25 Harrison to the many year undiscovered complexes in and around Boston and around the world, these tenants need to know their rights. People should not be dealing with this. Citizens of America are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those living in these conditions basically deprive people of all three rights. There needs to be action to change this.

Although this is partially the government’s fault with regulating safety concerns and living conditions, it is also the landlord’s fault for not checking the building regularly. It’s everyone’s fault except the tenant’s. There should be classes, or some way to educate people.

– Joey Banh, Parcel 24 Youth

Personal Ties with Chinatown

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Chinatown was a huge part of my life growing up. I grew up most of my childhood here and feel a bit of a connection to it. I would often walk around with my grandmother and sister when I was a child. I was raised by my grandmother in Tai Tung village. We would go to the parks and have little snacks from stores. One snack that we had were egg puffs. Surprisingly the egg puff stand is still around after so many years. I would be the happiest child when I placed one of these sweet tasting puffs in my mouth.

I enjoyed the restaurants so much except I don’t remember the exact places I went. A restaurant I enjoy today is Xinh Xinh. It has good food at good prices. It is part Vietnamese and Chinese. I definitely recommend Xinh Xinh or Pho Pasteur which is closeby to the McDonalds.

– Maxwell Lok, Parcel 24 Youth

“Model Minority”

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Many Asian American students face enormous pressure in school, much of it related to parental pressure, as well as stereotyping by others that they are the “model minority”.

Growing up, my parents were very strict on my older siblings. They always pressured them to do well and they actually did do well. However, after my brother dropped out of high school, everything changed. My parents realized that pressure only causes stress and makes us unhappy. They heard a story about a boy who used to always submit to his parents’ wishes and expectations. He turned out to be extremely successful, but ultimately suffered from depression and committed suicide.

A few months ago, my older sister and I sat down with our mother and discussed the topic of “success”. We tried to help her understand that “success” and “happiness” do not necessarily follow with wealth. Life isn’t about having all the money in the world. I believe that as long as we do something that makes us happy, we are already successful.

— Oanh Nguyen, Parcel 24 Youth

Cultivating Food Justice with Julian Agyeman talk at MAPC

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Foodways are manifestations and symbols of cultural histories and proclivities. As individuals participate in culturally defined ways of eating, they perform their own identities. Autotopographies allow new immigrants to retain their identities through food ways and food systems in a new country.

The Philippines is one of the least known countries in Asia, compared to China or Japan. My country also deals with poverty so we must make the most of the littlest things. We fix both of these problems with food. Filipinos make themselves known through their cultural food. Our foods are often made with colorful ingredients and spices. People often ask what it is then get addicted to its taste.

We are also creative with our foods. Rice, which is a large part of our diet, is the main ingredient of many entrees and desserts. There are many desserts of all colors made of rice. This is how food shows our culture.

— Gerry Paradela, Boston Latin School