Cherish Chinatown Challenge

From November 13 through December 18, Tufts’ Cherish Chinatown is organizing a challenge for the entire Tufts university community to join. The goal? Support small businesses in Boston’s Chinatown, the vibrant and diverse home of our Health Sciences Campus. Like all Chinatowns across the US, Boston’s Chinatown was negatively impacted by the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-Asian sentiment. Many Asian-owned restaurants were forced to close their doors permanently. As neighbors and friends of Chinatown, we at Tufts want to continue to show up for our neighborhood. To this end, we are hosting the 4th Annual Cherish Chinatown Challenge, a fun and delicious month-long event.

_{How It Works}

· Tufts University students, faculty, and staff members order from a locally owned Chinatown restaurant or bakery from November 13- December 18. Dine-in or place an order for take-out/delivery.

· For every purchase you make at a small business in Chinatown during the challenge, you will be eligible for a raffle entry.

· To enter the raffle, complete this short form each time you make a purchase. There is no limit to how many times you may enter, as long as you are logging new purchases.

_{Raffle Prizes}

· Weekly winners: Each Monday of the challenge, we will announce 3 raffle winners. Winners will each receive a $25 gift card to a Chinatown restaurant. Winners will be notified via email to claim their prize.

· Grand prize winner: To sweeten the challenge, all participants will automatically be entered into a raffle to receive a grand prize of a $250 gift card to Shojo. Winners will be notified via email to claim their prize.

· Photo submission winner: To encourage creativity with photo submissions, all photos submitted during the challenge will be entered into a raffle to win a gift card to a Chinatown restaurant. 

_{Learn more} 

· Need inspiration on where to go? Check out Chinatown Main Street or The Chinatown Project.

· Looking for even more ways to help? Post about your visit on social media and tag @TuftsCommunity. Invite friends and colleagues to enjoy the challenge with you! On your way to a restaurant, be sure to check out the Endurance Streets 堅韌的街道: Resilience and Response in Boston’s Chinese Community exhibition on Harrison Street.

· Questions? Email communityrelations@tufts.edu.

Cherish Chinatown is a Tufts University initiative that was started in spring 2021 by dental and medical students with support from the office of Government and Community Relations and Tisch College. The aim is to (1) educate Tufts students and employees about the history and cultural importance of Boston’s Chinatown and to (2) organize community engagement opportunities that support Chinatown residents, small businesses, and non-profit organizations in conjunction with Chinatown leaders.

Leadership Committee 2024

Volunteer Leaders:

Katrina Benjamin (School of Dental Medicine), Mel Calica (School of Medicine), Brittany Chloe Tope-Ojo (Nutrition Science and Policy), Khushi Dave (School of Dental Medicine), Mariah Donnell (MPH Program), Isabelle Dost (School of Dental Medicine), Amanda Du (School of Medicine), Emily Hammond (PA Program), Issac Harmon (Staff, School of Medicine), Jaclyn Hazlewood (PA Program), Chaelin Hong (School of Dental Medicine), Grace Jung (School of Medicine), Yiman Li (Nutrition Science and Policy), Maria Majid (School of Medicine), Jillian Mercado (MBS Program), Lindsay Nordstrom (Staff, School of Medicine), Jamyla Palomar (Dental Medicine), Christopher Park (School of Medicine), Rana Sultan (Dental Medicine), Katherine Sung (School of Medicine), Victor Wu (School of Medicine), Wanqing Xu (Nutrition Science and Policy), Yutiancheng Yang (MBS Program), Karen Yang (MPH Program), Luanting Zhuo (Nutrition Science and Policy).

Staff Advisors: 

• Aaron Braddock, Administrative Coordinator, Government and Community Relations

• Kate Eastwood, Administrative Coordinator, Community Service Learning, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tisch College of Civic Life

• Jennifer Greer-Morrissey, Civic Life Manager, Health Sciences, Tisch College of Civic Life

• Nancy Marks, Tisch/TUSDM Community Service Program Coordinator, School of Dental Medicine

• Liza Perry, Deputy Director, Government & Community Relations