Community Organizing and Health Access in New York City's Chinatown in the 1970s

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. 

01 Formation of Chinatowns and Chinese Immigration to the United States 02 Health Issues and the Diverse Lower East Side 03 The Black Panthers, I Wor Kuen, and the Young Lords: Community Activists 04 I Wor Kuen and the Young Lords' Health Advocacy 05 The Chinatown Health Fair 06 The Fight for Gouverneur Hospital 07 Conclusion: Legacies of Health Advocacy 08 Works Cited Enter the Exhibit