Author: Ali Smith

On May 3rd, we gathered at the American Society of Landscape Architects National Headquarters for a conversation on Chinatowns, past, present, and future. Convened by Jenn Low, longtime partner of the 1882 Foundation, this conversation aimed to explore the multitude of ways that Chinatowns can be shaped and fostered by community organizing, public arts, and reclamation. Ernie Wong, founding principal of site design group, introduced his work in Chicago's Chinatown advocating for public art, green spaces, and anti-gentrification. Yin Kong of Think!Chinatown gave an overview…

On Sunday, April 16th, the 1882 Foundation and friends gathered at the I Street Conference Center to convene a panel discussion on the experiences of Chinese adoptees. Panelists included MeMe Collier, Lina Freeman, Ren Freeman, and Mia Owens, 1882 Foundation program associate. In the panel discussion, the four adoptees explored notions of family, community, language and culture, and identity and intersectionality. Mia and MeMe discussed the dually-layered experience of being a Chinese adoptee in the South, having adopted siblings, and how being an adoptee has…