Chinatown Oral History Project-Chinatown Land Trust

Karen Law and Winnie Fong from the Chinatown Land Trust

Malia Mahelona-Janilkarn, Caleb Leong, and Michelle Chiu, Teen Council members at the Los Angeles Public Library-Chinatown branch,  interview  Karen Law and Winnie Fong, community activists from the LA Chinatown Land Trust.

Established in June 2021, the LA Chinatown Land Trust aims to safeguard and manage affordable housing within the LA Chinatown community, offering a sustainable solution to combat displacement and gentrification in an increasingly unaffordable landscape for low-income, long-term, immigrant, and senior residents. 

About the Teen Council

Since July 2022, these dedicated members of the Teen Council have spearheaded a grocery delivery program at the Chinatown Library, witnessing  firsthand the harsh realities faced by the seniors they serve. These elders, living below the poverty line, confront the disruptive impacts of gentrification in Chinatown, jeopardizing their ability to remain in their homes. Driven by empathy, the teens have embraced the responsibility of documenting and sharing the personal narratives of these seniors, and advocating for the rights of the immigrant community

 

Producer: Betsy Foldes Meiman

Assistant Producer: Melissa Peruch