By Nevada Chinese Association
On July 26, 2025, the Nevada Chinese Association, in collaboration with the Asian & Asian American Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), hosted a community film screening and discussion at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art on the UNLV campus. The event was free and open to the public, drawing nearly one hundred attendees—primarily members of the local Chinese community in Las Vegas. The atmosphere was warm and lively, with participants including scholars, community leaders, and residents concerned about the future of Chinatown and urban development.
The featured documentary, “Big Fight in Little Chinatown”, directed by Chinese Canadian filmmaker Karen Cho, takes viewers through Chinatowns in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Toronto, Vancouver, and Chicago. With rich historical insight and vivid present-day realities, the film reveals how these once-thriving cultural enclaves are being squeezed out by urban development, real estate speculation, and shifting policies—often to the brink of disappearance.
Following the screening, a panel discussion titled “Community Dialogue” took place. Moderated by Jenny Koo, President of the Nevada Chinese Association, the panel featured Elenis Wong, Asian American Studies scholar at UNLV; Dr. Christina Ong, community researcher and educator; and Minjia Yan, a longtime development professional involved in the current Las Vegas Chinatown Corridor Revitalization Project. Panelists examined the meaning of Chinatown from multiple angles—cultural identity, ethnic history, urban policy, and community planning—while reflecting on both the opportunities and risks facing Chinese communities today.
The dialogue extended into an open Q&A session, where many attendees spoke passionately and shared ideas. One participant noted that the future of Las Vegas’s Chinatown should go beyond being a food and shopping destination; it should also become a hub of Chinese cultural expression and heritage, preserving and celebrating the richness of Chinese civilization.
Of particular relevance is the fact that Las Vegas’s Chinatown Corridor Revitalization Project is still in its early stages. While the initiative presents a chance to boost tourism and integrate diverse Asian communities, cautionary lessons from other cities remind us that redevelopment without community input, cultural sensitivity, and thoughtful planning can lead to erasure rather than renewal.
In recent months, several Asian American communities—including Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Filipino groups—have voiced aspirations to establish a pan-Asian “Asia Town” concept. In response, many are asking: How can the Chinese community protect its historical roots? How can we offer development proposals that honor tradition while embracing innovation? This screening came at a critical moment, serving as a platform for collective reflection and public engagement.
Panelist Minjia Yan also announced that city agencies overseeing the Chinatown Corridor project are planning to hold a public town hall in August to solicit broader community input. She encouraged all interested residents to attend and speak up in shaping the future of the district.
Jenny Koo, president of the Nevada Chinese Association urges Chinese residents to actively participate in the redevelopment process, to claim their voices, and to offer constructive, forward-looking recommendations. Without such engagement, Las Vegas risks repeating the pattern seen in many North American cities—where Chinatowns, once vibrant, became hollowed out after redevelopment stripped them of their cultural soul.
Refreshments and snacks were provided during the afternoon event, creating a relaxed space for meaningful conversations and new connections. More than a screening, the gathering became a moment of collective awakening—a call to defend cultural heritage and reimagine the future of Chinatown together.
[Originally published in the Las Vegas News on July 27, 2025]
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