White Street, Reimagined: A Think!Chinatown Community Exhibition Project
Project Description:
This project examines and illustrates a community-based design proposal for Think!Chinatown, an intergenerational non-profit organization, to launch a long-term community exhibition project titled White Street, Reimagined, in protest of New York City's Borough-Based Jails (BBJ) Program. This proposal delves into the larger historical, social, and cultural context of the BBJ Program and Chinatown as a neighborhood in order to understand the participatory design principles, goals, community engagement approaches, and challenges of the envisioned White Street, Reimagined Project.
Objective: Research
Methods:
Extensive research:
New York City's incarcerated community, criminal justice system, and current state of jail facilities (Rikers Island).
The BBJ Program, specifically key stakeholders, its design principles, and guidelines.
The history of New York City's Chinatown as a neighborhood and existing non-profit organizations that preserve and showcase Chinatown's arts and culture.
Adopted design principles from Design Justice Network and introduced community engagement strategies commonly found in cultural institutions.
Creative implementation: I synthesized the research findings into a detailed, actionable plan, which illustrates goals, approaches, and outcomes that involve community members, their skills and creativity.
