(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins today announced the awards for the Chinatown Cultural Opportunity Grant Program. The grants are meant to enhance and maintain the cultural vibrancy of the historic Chinatown neighborhood in all of its diversity.
“Today’s two awardees are pillars of the Chinatown community and reminders of the rich cultural diversity that has long defined our city and this neighborhood,” Mayor Gray said. “Both the Chinatown Community Cultural Center and the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue enrich the culture of Chinatown and of our entire city through their presence and their work. The awards you received today will allow you to further expand on your good work for the benefit of all District residents.”
Today’s awardees include:
• Chinatown Community Cultural Center, located at 616 H Street NW: a non-profit that seeks to promote and preserve Chinatown and its cultural identity while celebrating the rich Chinese culture, history, language, and heritage deeply embedded in this community. The center offers a variety of programs focused on Chinese cultural exploration and educating and empowering Asian immigrants living in Chinatown and the greater Washington area. Its $125,000 grant will be used for the purpose of funding critical services related to its mission of preserving and promoting Chinatown's cultural identity. The center will also expand, improve upon, and promote existing successful cultural programming and implement community cultural development projects critical to enhancing the identity of the Chinatown area as a distinct cultural destination.
• Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, located at 600 I Street NW: offers a creative mix of high-impact cultural, social and spiritual programs and has become a hub for District residents of all backgrounds. The synagogue will use its $125,000 grant to maintain high-caliber programming for its literary, concert, and dialogue series while ensuring that event attendees continue to experience quality performances at an affordable price. It will also use grant funds to preserve historic architectural components of the building that contribute to its unique cultural appeal.
“Organizations like today’s award recipients are critical to the lifestyles of this city’s residents,” said Deputy Mayor Hoskins. “The District is proud to be able to support such organizations’ ability to both preserve and increase service to their many cultural constituencies.”
“The Asian-American community and the District government are working together on the Chinatown Cultural Development Strategy with the goal to help reposition Chinatown as the top area for cultural, business and other programs,” said Soohyun Koo, Director of the Mayor’s Office on Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs. “I am very excited to see organizations like today’s grantees bringing this strategy to fruition, and look forward to more opportunities for collaboration between the Chinatown community and the District government.”
More information about the grant program can be found here: Chinatown Cultural Opportunity Grant.
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