About Us
Who We Are
In 1912, the founders of Chinatown in Chicago relocated Chinatown from Clark & Van Buren to today’s Wentworth Avenue, Archer Avenue, and Cermak Road triangle. Because of this foresight, Chicago’s Chinatown is now one of the few growing Chinatowns in North America.
However, with the continued development of South Loop, Chinatown faces threats of gentrification and displacement with rising rents and property taxes. During the pandemic, many legacy businesses closed and were replaced by international franchises, stripping Chinatown of its history and character, and taking away investment dollars from benefiting the community.
35%
live in poverty
54%
have less than a high school level education
62%
are residents of low English proficiency
>42%
of residents are 50 years or older
42%
of residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
20%
Have no internet access at home
These are the main challenges facing our community and CBCAC is committed to bettering the lives of residents through empowering them to advocate for themselves and for others.
Our Vision
At CBCAC, we believe that no matter your income, socioeconomic background, or immigration status, you should have a voice in the future of your community. We envision a Chinese American community that is empowered to fight for themselves but also for other marginalized communities, and for a thriving, equitable, and sustainable Chinatown.
We work with integrity
We strive to be objective: we share priorities and goals with clarity and avoid saying one thing and doing another.
Our work creates impact because . .
We hear all voices
We intentionally hold space to include diverse opinions and ensure opportunities to share and discuss openly.
We serve the collective interest
We decide together what a collective outcome that strives for equity and inclusivity.
We use data to
drive actions
We are adept at using existing reports and collecting new information to guide decisions and propel next steps.
We are accountable
We follow through with our commitments and share transparency to keep other informed and engaged at each step.
Our History
1998 Founding
We convened Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Chinese American Service League, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Chinese Christian Union Church, and Pui Tak Center to fight against aggressive marketing and ubiquitous presence of casino buses in the community. By bringing the case to the Mayor and meeting with the Alderman, CBCAC was able to reach agreement on regulated pick-up and marketing of the various casinos.
2011 Redistrict
Theresa Mah: Legislative advocacy led to the Voting Rights Act of Illinois 2011 (“Chinatown Bill”), triggering a redistricting process that created opportunity for our first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2016.
2013 Vision Plan
In April, CBCAC launched the Chinatown Vision Plan project. During the summer and fall, CBCAC collected input from over 1,000 community members on the Chinatown Vision Plan.
2016 Library and Field House
We successfully organized over 400 residents to attend a town hall meeting where elected officials pledged support for a library and field house and gathered over 1,000 letters in petition. We advocated for a new Chinatown Branch Library of Chicago Public Library, the first creative modern design for CPL, and also carried the function of a community center.
2022 City Redistricting
In 2022, CBCAC published a redistricting map of the city to include a majority Asian American ward, after gaining the support of the city council’s Latino Caucus and Black Caucus, we successfully redistricted to give Asian Americans voting power. The community subsequently elected the first Chinese American alderperson and first Asian American female alderperson, Nicole Lee.
2024 Chinatown designated by Illinois as Cultural District
In 2024, CBCAC led the application for Chinatown to become a State-Designated Cultural District and won! This designation will allow Chinatown to receive funding from the state in the future to ensure the community remains culturally vibrant, affordable to live in, and economically strong.
Invest in Our Community Today!
CBCAC’s work in civic engagement and advocacy builds upon the generations of Chinese immigrants who came before us and fought for our rights, we honor their legacy every step of the way to make this country a better place to live for all.