COMMUNITY ANGEL AWARD
HANMIN LIU 劉漢文 & JENNIFER MEI 梅珍珠 OF WILDFLOWERS INSTITUTE

HEADQUARTERED IN SAN FRANCISCO WITH DEEP ROOTS IN CHINATOWN, WILDFLOWERS INSTITUTE is a nonprofit organization devoted to fostering the sustainability of grassroots communities.

In 1997, Hanmin Liu and Jennifer Mei co-founded the Wildflowers, following two decades of training international leaders in philanthropy, education, healthcare, and government. They discovered that leaders were eager to learn not only how to improve themselves but also how to create lasting social impact. Through organizing hundreds of cross-cultural exchanges, Hanmin and Jennifer developed a unique methodology to bridge cultural understanding. Their innovative approach, honed over more than 30 years of grassroots work and research in diverse communities worldwide, emphasizes the continual identification of trusted community leaders—those beyond appointed or elected officials and nongovernmental organizations.

Wildflowers' impact is profound and inspiring, evident in the 19 multiyear focus group sites it has established in Indigenous, ethnic, and racial communities across the United States, China, and Mexico. Wildflowers identifies how communities independently address their challenges at these sites and finds ways to support these efforts. The institute has selected over 100 local leaders from these communities to become Wildflowers fellows, recognizing them as reliable guides to the inner workings of their communities. Additionally, Wildflowers employs a patented process using blocks and figurines to help residents and leaders build and compare models of their community, mapping out its organization and hidden strengths from its own perspective.

With more than 25 years of experience in Chinatown, Hanmin and Jennifer appreciate the community's emphasis on intergenerational family collaboration. They understand the critical importance of affordable housing, cultural preservation, social spaces, and land use for the neighborhood's sustainable future.

"We are honored to support Chinatown CDC. It is the quintessential entity for bringing a myriad of organizations, families, and groups together as guardians of the people and for preserving and cultivating the community," said Hanmin. "I know of no other national, regional, or local organization with the history and leadership that Chinatown CDC has."

Hanmin and Jennifer's dedication to empowering communities is not just commendable but also crucial in today's world. Their work exemplifies the spirit of the Community Angel Award, inspiring us all to work towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.