Chinatown Community Builders

Chinatown Community Builders (CCB) is CYI’s summer fellowship program that equips high school students to turn community-minded ideas into meaningful projects for Chinatown and the broader Asian and Pacific Island Islander community. Founded as CYI’s response to the lack of support for student innovators in NYC public schools, CCB empowers 10th and 11th graders to incubate community-oriented projects that address pressing needs in the neighborhood. Over eight weeks each summer, fellows build skills in collaborative leadership, mentorship, and cross-generational, cross-racial solidarity, then pitch their initiatives to CYI’s Board of Directors for a chance to receive seed funding, up to $3,000, and ongoing coaching. CCB is a pathway for the next pillar program and a bridge between youth vision and neighborhood growth, strengthening understanding across generations while shaping Chinatown’s future through bold young leaders.

CCB is currently looking for Program Director(s)!

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Communicate.Collaborate. Create.

Chinatown Community Builders (CCB) by Chinatown Youth Initiatives (CYI) is a new summer program empowering high school students to drive social change in New York City's Chinatown [and APIA communities] by developing community-oriented projects that address key issues and foster cross-generational, cross-racial solidarity.

CCB serves passionate 10th and 11th grade students with bold visions and a commitment to service for an 8-week fellowship program to develop a student-led initiative that will address the needs of Chinatown and Asian American communities.

Through project development and collaborative leadership and mentorship training, fellows will pitch their project ideas to CYI's Board of Directors for a chance to receive up to $3,000, ongoing coaching, and the opportunity to turn their impactful community-focused solutions into CYI's next pillar program.

Join us in fostering cross-generational solidarity while making a tangible difference in Chinatown's future through the next generation of youth leaders!

CCB's Curriculum for High School Fellows

Why Did We Create CCB?

CYI has seen that community-oriented projects are part of the movement for social change. As a youth-led organization, CYI has consistently been amazed by the initiatives started by youth. Given that NYC public schools don’t have the resources or expertise to assist students in developing their own project ideas, CYI is launching this new program to help high school students incubate project ideas to benefit the Chinatown community and bring these ideas to life.

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Director

The Program Director will design and lead a two-month summer program for 9 high school students with bold visions for Chinatown. The director will manage two facilitators to help with program execution, ensuring that all operational, logistical, and financial program tasks are completed.

Facilitators

Program Facilitators, typically college-aged students, will work with the Program Director to develop workshop activities, content, and ice breakers. They will facilitate workshops and manage participant group dynamics.

High School Students

High school fellows will come together and learn from entrepreneurs and community leaders before coming up with project ideas to help strengthen Chinatown’s and Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) community.

Product

What High School Students Gain

This was a great opportunity for high school students interested in being part of the movement for social change to develop community-oriented projects that aim to better serve New York City’s Chinatown and to allow for cross-cultural collaboration in other communities. All of CYI’s existing programming was brought to life by the generational efforts of young leaders invested in their communities and have always been centered around the importance of service to generate cross-generational, cross-racial solidarity.