About This Exhibit
Born and raised in NYC, Abby Chen is a NYCPS student at the Clinton School who hopes to use her experiences in the school system to create a more culturally inclusive and responsive environment as an ASAP youth leader on the Anti-bullying and Harassment campaign team and through the Loc
This exhibit explores health care advocacy and gaps in accessible health care in Chinatown, situating this within a longer history of Chinese immigration and the formation of Chinatowns nationally and in New York City. This project also examines the role of groups, including I Wor Kuen, Basement Workshop, and the Young Lords, in bringing accessible health care to communities. It explores the role of their publications and media in bringing attention to these issues, as well as their community outreach initiatives, including health fairs. The Chinatown Health Fair, which first occurred in 1971 and still runs annually, focused on holistic health, bilingual health access, making residents aware of their rights, and healthcare advocacy. This exhibit highlights the role of youth and community organizing in response to gaps in health access and the effects of their enduring advocacy, including the establishment of the Charles B. Wang Health Clinic and the Gouverneur Hospital.