GENTRIFICATION.
BOSTON’S CHINATOWN KNOWN FOR ITS RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, TRADITION.
>> I LIKE IT IS A CLOSE-KNIT IMMUNITY.
>> THE FABRIC IS MADE UP OF WORKING FAMILIES.
ANTHONY: AS NEW PEOPLE ARRIVE IN THE COST OF LIVING RISES CHINATOWN FINDS ITSELF AT A TIPPING POINT.
>> I LET -- A LOT IS CHANGING.
I CAN’T LIST THE CHANGES WE HAVE GONE THROUGH.
>> >> AND CHINESE FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE OUT OF NECESSITY, IMMIGRANTS, GROCERY STORES, HEALTH CENTERS THAT ACTUALLY SERVE THE CHINESE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
IF PEOPLE WHO NEED THOSE SERVICES CAN’T STAY, WE ARE LOSING THE CULTURAL CHARACTER SLOWLY.
ANTHONY: WHAT HAS NOT CHANGED, IT IS PACKED WITH PEOPLE.
THE LAST CENSUS CONFIRMING IT IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED NEIGHBORHOOD IN BOSTON.
WHILE THAT IS OVERWHELMING TO OUTSIDERS, THIS WOMAN SEES IT DIFFERENTLY.
>> THE LENS AND CULTURAL TAKE IS DIFFERENT.
OUR COMMUNITY LOVES DENSITY FOR THE MOST PART.
ANTHONY: MANY PEOPLE LIVING HERE ARRIVED FROM PLACES LIKE HONG KONG, SHANGHAI OR BEIJING.
>> HONG KONG HAS 8 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
THAT IS THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.
AND SHANGHAI AND BEIJING DON’T EVEN COMPARE.
DENSITY COMING FROM THOSE CITIES TO HEAR, THEY SAY BOSTON IS SO PROVINCIAL, BOB -- THE BUILDINGS ARE SO SHORT.
ANTHONY: SHE IS THE EDITOR OF THIS NEWSPAPER, FOUND IN 1792.
>> THE FIRST HALF IS IN ENGLISH, SECOND HALF IN CHINESE.
THERE IS A STORY SIDE BY SIDE.
ANTHONY: THE BIWEEKLY NEWSPAPER IS FREE AND HAS A CIRCULATION OF 24,000.
IT DOUBLES IN ON -- ONLINE READERS.
THE PAPER COVERS THE CHANGES CHINATOWN HAS SEEN.
>> THE STREETSCAPE HAS GOTTEN MORE WELCOMING FOR FAMILIES BUT IT IS ALSO MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE.
ANTHONY: THE COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO SOAR, NEW CHINESE IMMIGRANTS FIND THE LANGUAGE AND NATURE OF CHINATOWN WELCOMING.
MANY GET THEIR INTRODUCTION AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
>> WE WANT TO BUILD PATHWAYS FOR IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN BOSTON AND BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE COUNTRY.
ANTHONY: THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF THE CENTER, OR THE BCNC.
>> THERE ARE THREE BUCKETS OF SERVICES, CHILD PROGRAMS, EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE INITIATIVES HELPING THE YOUNG PEOPLE IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE
AND WE WORK WITH ADULTS NEW TO THE COUNTRY TO LEARN ENGLISH AND PUT THEM ON TRACK FOR A BETTER CAREER.
ANTHONY: IN 2017 THIS OPENED THE ART CENTER.
>> IT IS A WAY TO GIVE PEOPLE IN CHINATOWN AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIVE HERE A WAY TO INTERACT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS.
ANTHONY: THE FEATURED EXHIBIT IS TITLED LEAVINGS, BELONGINGS, 150 COMMUNITY MEMBERS CREATING A BUNDLE AND SHARED THEIR FAMILY’S IMMIGRATION STORY.
THE DUAL LANGUAGE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IS A DRAW FOR MANY PARENTS.
>> WE HAVE TWO MAINE TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM.
ANTHON STUDENTS COME FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHER PARTS OF GREATER BOSTON.
>> SOMETIMES THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT CARE ABOUT WHAT CHINATOWN IS.
IT IS A GOOD DIVERSE MIX.
ANTHONY: HE HOPES PEOPLE WILL USE THE CENTER’S SERVICES, BUT -- >> WE WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE THE SKILLS TO THRIVE IN THE WORLD BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WILL
ALWAYS BE HERE VERY WE WANT PEOPLE TO DRAW STRENGTH FROM BEING A PART OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
ANTHONY: HE SAID THE CENTER’S LARGEST PROGRAMS ARE FAMILY SERVICES.
IT IS DAUNTING TO ENROLL YOUR KIDS IN SCHOOL ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE A DISABILITY OR SPECIAL NEEDS.
NOW IMAGINE SPEAKING VERY LITTLE TO NO ENGLISH AND GOING THROUGH THAT SYSTEM.
THEY WORK WITH PARENTS TO SMOOTH THAT PROCESS