Program Structure
The Chinatown Urban Institute has a strong professional development component and aims to create a pipeline of advocacy planners who are committed to making San Francisco’s Chinatown and the City a great place to live, work, and play. It aims to generate strong leadership and instill community-based planning values in a new generation of young people.
San Francisco’s Chinatown is a neighborhood with over 150 years of place-based advocacy and community development. In response to the 1906 earthquake and exclusionary policies, the neighborhood has resisted displacement and thrived, persisting today as a vibrant immigrant community with its unique forms of community-based sustainability and resilience. This year’s Chinatown Urban Institute will focus on these neighborhood efforts, situating it first in historical context and case studies of advocacy and organizing around topics such as housing, economic development, transportation, public space, and sustainability.
Selected Fellows are expected to commit a minimum of 20 hours per week to participate enthusiastically in the sessions and interactive explorations of the Chinatown community. There are required course readings and short written reflection assignments. Fellows will also complete a group project where they will creatively apply their planning knowledge in a hands-on manner. Participants will receive a small stipend upon satisfactory completion of all course expectations.
The 2019 program will take place from Tuesday, June 18 - Thursday, August 1, 2019. Meetings and training will last for six hours and take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10am-3pm. Training and events, such as brown bag lunches with special guest speakers may occur on some days following the regular training sessions. Fellows are expected to commit about 20 hours per week for the trainings, readings, and assignments.
Program is free, and participants will receive a small stipend upon satisfactory completion of the program and all course expectations.
2019 Schedule
Week 1 | June 18, 20: Orientation to Chinatown and History
Week 2 | June 25, 27: Housing and Economic Development
Week 3 | July 2: Planning 101 and Observation Skills // No Class July 4
Week 4 | July 9, 11: Transportation Justice and Public Space
Week 5 | July 16, 18: Sustainability and Future Chinatown
Week 6 | July 23, 25: Project Development
Week 7 | July 30, August 1: Group Projects and Final Presentations
San Francisco’s Chinatown is a neighborhood with over 150 years of place-based advocacy and community development. In response to the 1906 earthquake and exclusionary policies, the neighborhood has resisted displacement and thrived, persisting today as a vibrant immigrant community with its unique forms of community-based sustainability and resilience. This year’s Chinatown Urban Institute will focus on these neighborhood efforts, situating it first in historical context and case studies of advocacy and organizing around topics such as housing, economic development, transportation, public space, and sustainability.
Selected Fellows are expected to commit a minimum of 20 hours per week to participate enthusiastically in the sessions and interactive explorations of the Chinatown community. There are required course readings and short written reflection assignments. Fellows will also complete a group project where they will creatively apply their planning knowledge in a hands-on manner. Participants will receive a small stipend upon satisfactory completion of all course expectations.
The 2019 program will take place from Tuesday, June 18 - Thursday, August 1, 2019. Meetings and training will last for six hours and take place on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10am-3pm. Training and events, such as brown bag lunches with special guest speakers may occur on some days following the regular training sessions. Fellows are expected to commit about 20 hours per week for the trainings, readings, and assignments.
Program is free, and participants will receive a small stipend upon satisfactory completion of the program and all course expectations.
2019 Schedule
Week 1 | June 18, 20: Orientation to Chinatown and History
Week 2 | June 25, 27: Housing and Economic Development
Week 3 | July 2: Planning 101 and Observation Skills // No Class July 4
Week 4 | July 9, 11: Transportation Justice and Public Space
Week 5 | July 16, 18: Sustainability and Future Chinatown
Week 6 | July 23, 25: Project Development
Week 7 | July 30, August 1: Group Projects and Final Presentations
