SAN FRANCISCO’S CHINATOWN has always been defined by both adversity and resilience. In the late nineteenth century, anti-Chinese violence drove thousands of workers from towns across the West—where they had built railroads, mined, and harvested fields—to seek refuge here, one of the few places where community could be rebuilt. Soon after, the Chinese Exclusion Act closed the door to opportunity and long-term stability. Then, in 1906, the great earthquake leveled Chinatown and destroyed City Hall’s immigration records, leaving countless families in legal limbo. Each of these shocks threatened the future of our community.
Yet Chinatown persevered. Residents rebuilt—brick by brick, market by market, day after day. From the ruins, new strategies of survival emerged: the “paper son” system that allowed immigrants to enter under assumed identities, and the coaching books of Grant Avenue that helped them navigate Angel Island interrogations. Born of necessity, these acts reflected persistence, ingenuity, and care for the next generation.
This history tells us something essential about Chinatown. It is a community that has responded to crisis not with defeat, but with persistence. Not with despair, but with creativity—and always to protect the next generation.
At Chinatown CDC’s 48th Annual Gala, we celebrate this spirit, which we call Courage to Welcome. This year's honorees are shining examples of this spirit. San Francisco Communities Against Displacement stands on the frontlines to ensure families remain in the neighborhoods they call home. V. Fei Tsen has shaped communities with wisdom and heart, proving that thoughtful urban planning can open doors to stability and opportunity. And Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments demonstrates how business can lead with purpose, creating homes that provide dignity and hope.
Thank you for your support!
Malcolm Yeung
Executive Director