# Experiential Learning | Welcome to Chinatown

##  Welcome to Chinatown

How Board Fellows Helped Welcome to Chinatown Strengthen Its Board

![Stern Golub Capital Board Fellows- WtC](/sites/default/files/styles/small_230px_wide/public/2026-09/sharpened.png.webp?itok=kQ1CAzZz)

### **Preserving Chinatown**

Founded by Vic Lee and Jennifer Tam, Welcome to Chinatown began in 2020 as a grassroots effort to support the historic neighborhood, where stores and restaurants were reeling from a steep drop in customers during the lockdown. Since its inception, Welcome to Chinatown has grown into a nonprofit with a $1.6 million annual budget dedicated to sustaining the neighborhood’s small businesses and preserving its cultural identity.

### **Partnering with NYU Stern**

In 2024, Welcome to Chinatown partnered with NYU Stern through the Golub Capital Board Fellows program. “We needed help getting our startup board going,” Lee said. “It felt like we didn’t know the best methods of engagement.”

The fellows spent the first semester in board meetings, attending some of the nonprofit’s events, and interviewing board members. During their interviews, the fellows learned that the nonprofit also had an associate board operating largely as a volunteer group for the staff. “We recommended that associate board members collaborate more with the full board, instead of only reporting to staff,” said Emma Glynn, ’25, board fellow. “That way it would be an educational experience for the associate board members and could be an opportunity for them to potentially become board members themselves someday.”

Leveraging what they’ve learned through their coursework and conversations with the board and leadership, the fellows developed a 119-page onboarding manual to guide the board. In May 2025, they presented their findings, outlining governance principles, the nonprofit’s structure and strategies for effective fundraising.

![WtC board retreat](/sites/default/files/styles/medium_375px_wide/public/2026-09/img_6963_1_0.jpg.webp?itok=_L6c6nfZ)

“They were a founding board, so they were young and needed more guidance to move to the next stage,” said Doreen Wang, ’25, one of the board fellows. “They also needed clarity on roles and responsibilities because there were gaps between the board and the staff -- and even within the board itself. We also saw an opportunity to foster better communication, so in our deliverable we included recommendations on how to conduct an effective board meeting. The fellows’ work was so impressive, said Lee, that the nonprofit hired them to lead board and associate board retreats the month after their final presentation. During those sessions, the MBA students ran workshops on topics such as balancing strategy and operations and refining fundraising pitches. Lee said the collaboration helped WTC strengthen its foundation as it prepares for its next period of growth.

### Project Impact

Welcome to Chinatown partnered with Stern again during the 2025- 2026 year for its new strategy track. “The fellows will help us develop more comprehensive key performance indicators to demonstrate the impact of Welcome to Chinatown's work,” Lee said. This initiative is part of a broader effort across Chinatowns in North America to take a more data-driven approach to understanding and measuring community impact, while advancing revitalization efforts and honoring history. This broader movement has been highlighted by the Vancouver Sun in its coverage of Chinatown revitalization initiatives.

Read more here: [Chinatown Summit in Vancouver looks at ways to revitalize historic Chinatown neighborhoods](https://vancouversun.com/news/chinatown-summit-vancouver-looks-at-revitalizing-historic-neighbourhoods)