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Community Design Collaborative Honors Chinatown’s John W. Chin, Design Exhibition
June 3 @ 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
The Philadelphia design nonprofit Community Design Collaborative will honor John W. Chin, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, with the 2025 Leverage Award at its annual reception on June 3, 2025. This award recognizes local leaders who have strengthened neighborhoods through design and led transformative community development in the region.
The Leverage Award Reception, hosted by Philadelphia’s leading nonprofit design collaborative, celebrates design impact on the city while raising critical funds to support the organization’s ongoing work in more than 20 neighborhoods annually. The evening brings together Philadelphia advocates dedicated to our neighborhoods and our history.
“As we gather with our community collaborators this year, we honor a lifelong Philadelphian and a champion for affordable housing, healthy communities, and thriving neighborhoods—Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation’s John Chin,” said Tya Winn, Executive Director of the Community Design Collaborative. “Chin understands the importance of design in creating, building, and sustaining communities. For over 20 years, he has delivered vital family services and economic development initiatives for this 150-year-old neighborhood.”
Chin was selected for his commitment to Chinatown amid gentrification, development pressures, and evolving demographics. His work has supported second- and third-generation residents while preserving Chinatown’s cultural identity and community. Most recently, he played a pivotal role in facilitating the relocation of a proposed $1.3 billion 76ers sports facility from Center City, near Chinatown, to South Philadelphia. Adjacent to Chinatown is the Roundhouse, which Chin has also advocated on behalf of the community to be turned into affordable housing. He is a board member of the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity and a member of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development.
Also presented, The Linchpin Award honors the impactful work of individuals, firms, and organizations that support the community design process. Often overlooked, these individuals embody the backbone of the industry, tirelessly supporting design firms and client organizations as advisors, collaborators, and advocates, ensuring that community and neighborhood needs remain at the forefront. This year’s nominees are:
Owen Franklin, Vice President, Great Lakes Region and Pennsylvania State Director, Trust for Public Land
Matt Radar, President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Eli Storch, Chairman, Design Advocacy Group
Also on display, the 2025 Community Design Collaborative Partner Projects Exhibition: The center will open an exhibition showcasing the center’s work, including Philly Truce Foundation’s Safe City: Transitional Housing Study; Mt. Vernon Manor CDC: Mantua Urban Peace Garden; Cinespeak: Brick-and-Mortar Cinema, and projects with StreetBoxPHL’s right-of-way transformations around safety and traffic calming. These are a sample of the projects completed in 2024. In 2024, a total of 17 projects were completed by 76 volunteers contributing a value of $414,402 in total 3,263 volunteer hours.
For more information, visit https://leverage2025.funraise.org.
About the Community Design Collaborative
The Community Design Collaborative (CDC) unites expert designers, architects, engineers, and city planners who donate thousands of hours to help Philadelphia become a thriving urban landscape. The CDC’s mission stems from the belief that revitalized spaces, such as affordable housing for seniors or safe, accessible parks, can transform neighborhoods. By leveraging the talents of volunteer design professionals, the CDC has played a critical role in shaping Philadelphia’s communities.
About the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC)
Founded in 1966, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC) is a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to urban renewal and affordable housing development in Chinatown. PCDC is the only institution in Chinatown that addresses these critical needs while also advocating for Philadelphia’s 41,000 Chinese American residents. With bilingual services, PCDC helps over 3,000 clients annually overcome language and cultural barriers in accessing affordable housing, social services, economic revitalization programs, and neighborhood planning efforts.
About John W. Chin
John W. Chin is the Executive Director of PCDC and a lifelong resident of Philadelphia’s Chinatown. He attended Holy Redeemer School and Friends Select School and serves on multiple nonprofit boards, including the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Friends Select School, and PHL Diversity. He is also a board member of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and a member of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD). Chin is deeply committed to preserving and growing Chinatown as a gateway for new immigrants, just as it was for his own family. In his free time, he enjoys watching crime procedurals, playing basketball, and cooking for his family.
Contact:
Community Design Collaborative Leverage Award and Reception
Tuesday, June 3, 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Center for Design Philadelphia
1218 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel (215) 587-9290
info@cdesignc.org
www.cdesignc.org
https://leverage2025.funraise.org