ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Chinatown Pretty exists because of the people who inhabit and care about Chinatown.

To all the seniors who shared their inspirational stories and interesting outfits. To our readers and followers, whose shared admiration for seniors kept us at this ambitious project.

Cathy Lam from Chinatown Community Development Center, who reached out to us about collaborating. Roy Chan and Erika Gee at CCDC, who invited us to show our work at 41 Ross: first, a self-titled photo exhibition, followed by Eat Chinatown, a show about the neighborhood’s food institutions. Our relationship with CCDC was the catalyst for transforming Chinatown Pretty into an ongoing photo and storytelling project. Their deep-rooted connections with the community gave us an understanding of Chinatown that grounds this project.

To all our friends who shared their enthusiasm and expertise: Valerie Shagday, who designed our logo and art show collateral. Sarah Han, who supported our idea and edited the first iteration of this project, an article called “Chinatown Sartorialist” for The Bold Italic, an online magazine. Zaneta Jung for getting this project started at Chronicle Books and for her enthusiasm and early edits. To the historians who reviewed our manuscript and shared their knowledge, who act as keepers of the complicated and important history of Chinese in America: Mark Chiang, Jenny Cho, Catherine Clement, Harvey Dong, Huping Ling, Eugene Moy, and Susan Moy.

Our interpreters (many of whom volunteered their time) for building the bridge between us and the Cantonese- and Toisan-speaking pòh pohs and gùng gungs:

San Francisco Bay Area: Crystal Chan, Phoebe Chan, Rosa Chen, Tricia Choi, Virginia Dam, Meifeng Deng, Jerri Diep, Nora Feng, Judy Fong, Tim Ho, Cathy Lam, Christine Lau, Madelyn Lee, Diana Liu, Kevin and Mary Lo, Thomas Lo, Wilson Tsang, Alison Wong, Phoebe Wong, Kat Wong, Michelle Yeung, Anastasia Yip.

Los Angeles: Tiffany Chan, Judy Lee, Connie Vuong.

Chicago: Shengfun Li, Grace Chan McKibben, Eunice Tse.

New York: Yixin Cen, Yayun Chang, Vivian Kong, Shirley Lew, Michelle Lee, Kent Li, Ming Lok, Terilyn Ma, Jinting Ye, Mel and Richard Young, Iris Zhang.

Vancouver: June and Doris Chow, Andrew Lee, Dawn Lo, Wendy Lui, Jodie Mak, Wynn Siu, Forever Young.

Being an interpreter for this project requires a certain tenacity, a unique combination of persistence, humor, and curiosity that fosters openness when approaching seniors on the street. Getting rejected nine times out of ten wasn’t easy, so doh jeh many times over.

Making a book is scary, so many thanks to our agent, Danielle Svetcov, and editor at Chronicle Books, Mirabelle Korn. Their energy and feedback made this daunting project less so.

To the community organizers and service organizations that helped profile Chinatown residents in San Francisco and beyond. Their work helps keep Chinatown a place for seniors to live and thrive, and their connections allowed us to meet the many people featured in this book.

San Francisco Bay Area: Chinatown Community Development Center, 41 Ross; YWCA San Francisco and Marin.

Chicago: Si Chen at Chicago Public Library for giving us a home base on those rainy days. Sharyne Moy Tu for her local knowledge.

New York: Hamilton-Madison House for hosting us at the City Hall and Madison Street Senior Center.

Vancouver: Doris and June Chow of Youth Collaborative for Vancouver Chinatown, whose creative work and deep-rooted connections to Chinatown give us so much hope and energy. To these organizations and senior centers who helped us organize Senior Portrait Days: Yarrow Intergenerational Society for Justice, Herman Yan at Shon Yee Place, Chinatown Lions Manor, Villa Cathay Senior Home, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre.

From the authors:

Andria: Thank you to my family for all your support and consultation on all things Toisan and Cantonese; my pòh poh, who sewed all of her own clothes—I see and hear you in so many of the grandmas we meet; and my ng nai, who showed me a flair for fashion; Sean for your love and encouragement; Valerie for being the best wing-woman around Chinatown I could ask for.

Valerie: Cảm n to Monica Bui; my mother, Hoa Nguyen; my maternal grandmother and Anna Lee, my Vancouver grandma who showed me beauty in resilience. My dads Andrew Lee and Andrew Luu: the former for constantly reminding me how this project opened his eyes to the beauty he hadn’t noticed before, and the latter from whom I’ve inherited my love for stories. To my friends in San Francisco who are still creating and seeing the magic in this city. Thank you to Matching Half Cafe, where most of these words were written. To Andria for being a friend first and collaborator on many fronts. To anyone who’s ever had to start over.