The Boston Team has recently opened the Chinatown Human Development Studio (the “Studio”) within the Chinatown Storefront Library, as a temporary center for HD-OD activities. The Studio is a welcoming, culturally appropriate community space that provides the latest information on physical and economic development in Chinatown. Studio staff will offer planning, local development information, and social service referrals directly to community members and other stakeholders. As the direct service point for the HD-OD project, residents and small business owners will gain skills, support, and knowledge to help them take advantage of development opportunities to improve their lives. Visitors will be able to drop in to the Studio to browse through maps or plans, get the answer to a specific question, or speak with a staff member to plan for their future or that of their family or business.

The Boston Team is seeking funding and support from local foundations, municipalities and the community to keep the Studio open into the future. As the Studio is currently housed in a temporary space that will be vacated at the end of December 2009, it will be critical to find a more permanent location, thereby creating a stable institutional asset to the Chinatown community and the city at large.