NEW DATE: April 17th Volunteers 10am at the Parkhouse on Hester Street

The Matchmaking Service That Pairs Visionary Designers With Covid Conundrums

FABnyc, AAFE and Think!Chinatown…

“South of this burgeoning court, Yin Kong is thrilled to see a vibrant new future for Chinatown’s Forsyth Plaza. Kong is the cofounder and director of Think!ChinatoThink!Chinatown, a non-profit that helps foster inter-generational cultural engagement in Chinatown. “This is my dream project,” Kong said. “AAFE and Chinatown have been thinking about this project for years.”

This spring, Neighborhoods Now partnered Think!Chinatown and AAFE—Asian Americans for Equality, a community development organization that advances equitable opportunities for Asian Americans—with designers to implement their plans for a monthly night market in Forsyth Plaza. The plaza sits empty once fruit vendors leave for the evening; the central neighborhood spot is then “just, like, crickets chirping,” Kong said.

The night market, scheduled to begin this summer, will bring people and light to the triangle plaza. It will feature outdoor screenings of locally produced short films and also accommodate vendors. The commercial dynamic of the market will function like an incubator for Chinatown businesses affected by the pandemic. “The idea,” Kong said, “is that [vendors] will develop a following, so that by the time they’re ready to graduate to a brick and mortar, they already have [business].” The actualization of this long-term dream will not only replace the chirping crickets of Forsyth Plaza with New Yorkers, but will also re-populate Chinatown’s storefronts.”

Although we actually like chirping crickets in parks!

Safe Walks NYC and Protect Chinatown provides free chaperone walks. Chinatown Block Watch patrols

“It was easy to book and easy to communicate via text. I had 3 chaperones. They were on time, friendly and engaging.” 

 Chinatown Block Watch  

Patrols in and around Chinatown Contact: Blockwatch@Cfmac.org 

Safe Walks

REQUEST A SAFEWALK  (see below) One hour advanced notice.

Volunteer sign-up

Protect Chinatown

Join NYC Parks Department Gardener Jonathan Young:

Houston Street

Basketball Court at Stanton

M’Finda Kalunga Garden

Rivington Playground

Delancey Street BRC, Memorial Gardens:

Hua Mei Bird Sanctuary:

“The Pit”

Handball Court and Basketball Court Grand Street

Hester Street Playground

Canal Oval Track Area

About SYEP

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is the nation’s largest youth employment program, connecting NYC youth between the ages of 14 and 24 with career exploration opportunities and paid work experience each summer.

Participants have the opportunity to explore their interests and career pathways, develop workplace skills and engage in learning experiences that help in developing their social, civic and leadership skills.

By participating in structured project and work-based opportunities, NYC youth are better prepared for careers of the future.

A visit with FABnyc‘s Dakota Devereux Scott and African/African American History and Second African Burial Ground project with the selected Artist Dennis RedMoon Darkeem working with M’Finda Garden longtime Juneteenth organizer/activist/leader here Deborah Jeffreys-Glass and Edward Glass longtime Garden advocate.

Stanton Street Community Supported Agriculture: Starting their season in M’Finda Garden -CSA website

Jim and Prince Doing the Work of the M’Finda Garden:

Relaxing in M’Finda Garden

And working South of Delancey the New Forsyth Conservancy Gardens:

Thanks to Lily from Audubon NY and her crew for coming out on a cold day to learn about the Audubon plot, the park and the bird life!

And thank you to Sandy – M’Finda Kalunga gardener – and Donna and Lily from the AudubonNY group for hanging around after to do some much needed clean up.

Some before and after photos: