John Chin is the executive director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, a nonprofit whose mission is to preserve, protect, and promote Chinatown, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine.

Before falling into the role leading PCDC in 2000, Chin was born and raised in Chinatown, years after his parents arrived to Philadelphia from Hong Kong during the 1960s.

Chin has been fighting for the neighborhood for more than 20 years, and has seen many threats to the Chinatown community.

Most recently, the Philadelphia 76ers have proposed building a huge arena right in Chinatown.

“Almost every seven years, something happens. So many projects,” said Chin.

He noted the Philadelphia Phillies wanting to build a baseball stadium at Broad and Spring Garden; the government wanting to build a federal detention center at 8th and Vine; the construction of the Convention Center; and more.

“We really had to fight just to get it how it is today, which is still dangerous and physically dividing Chinatown,” Chin added.

To this end, he is ecstatic about the Chinatown Stitch Project to alleviate the division and beautify the area, noting it has potential to “spur development north of Vine Street.”

Chin believes Chinatown is a community worth investing in, and this project helps magnify that.

Read more about John Chin’s influence in Chinatown in Philadelphia Magazine.

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