Stories of Shared Resilience: Exploring the history of New York City’s Chinatown

A Six-Part Community Conversation Series
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What happens when we stop studying communities in isolation and start listening to one another?

This summer, The Riverside Church invites you to Stories of Shared Resilience, a six-Sunday public conversation series exploring the history of Chinatown, Manhattan through documentary film, panel discussions, and community storytelling.

Beginning each week with an episode from “History of NYC’s Chinatown,” the series moves beyond one neighborhood to explore the shared experiences that connect us all. Together, we will reflect on themes of migration, labor, resilience, culture, family, and belonging through the stories of diverse communities across New York City.

History is not only about understanding the past. It is about building deeper connections with one another today.

Week 3: August 16
Organic & Organizational Resilience

How communities organize, adapt, and sustain one another through change.

What drives seemingly ordinary people to devote their time and focus to serving their community? Or is the real question – why aren’t we all doing that?

Join us for the third session of Stories of Shared Resilience, a free, six-part cross-cultural storytelling series exploring the people and movements that have shaped America.

We’ll screen The History of NYC’s Chinatown: Episode 3 – The Shape of Belonging. As immigration in the United States surges after 1965, new arrivals expand Chinatown beyond its historic borders in search of community, prosperity and a new identity.

The screening will be followed by an engaging conversation with community organizers Argelia Ortiz, Yahshua WS, Jeannie Lee, and John-Paul Parmigiani.

Through film, storytelling, and conversation, we’ll explore resilience, solidarity, and the collective action that continues to shape our communities today.

Room 9T, Riverside Church
Sundays, July 26–September 6
Free and open to the public

Organized by Riverside member Joy Lau and the Education Ministries.

Explore the full schedule, upcoming conversations, and weekly updates for Stories of Shared Resilience
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