Chapter 1

What’s behind a basketball court with the most iconic view of the San Francisco skyline? Many have seen it in films, but few know the impact this building has had on families, youths, and seniors across generations. Founded in 1874 as a mission home protecting Chinese females from sex trafficking, the organization on the corner of SF Chinatown has continued to evolve over its 150+ year history to meet the ever-changing needs of its community.

Now the focus is forward. Their most recent project aims to bring hands-on, project-based learning to a community with limited resources, where many were raised to value quiet mastery over trial-and-error. It’s a shift from “memorize and execute” to build, test, question, lead – an intentional break from prevalent, traditional standards. With real tools and mentors, they’re turning young problem-solvers into leaders who carry the story forward.

As the capstone of this KimonoWoven project, our expression of identities at the seams of cultures, we’re introducing @cameronhousesf : the hands – and voices – writing Chinatown’s future. Find “Where We Grow”, featuring Scott Lan, CEO of CH, below.

This is our call to action; culture doesn’t define itself – we do. It takes many voices and a lot of small actions. Show up and contribute – you’ll learn so much about who you are, and why it matters. Afterall, our cultural identity was shaped by everyone who came before us, and it is our duty to pay that forward.