Our program on September 3, 2020, featured Jamie Lee of SCIDpda. She is Director of Community Initiatives at the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority. Jamie oversees community focused projects at the SCIDpda. Jamie joined SCIDpda in 2014. With senior leadership, she supports external relations of the organization, and oversees funding and operations of community initiatives and Hing Hay Coworks.
SCIDpda is a leading force for the economic health of Seattle’s Chinatown International District, implementing strategies that range from support for individual businesses to marketing the entire neighborhood’s lively retail and cultural environment. SCIDpda is an effective and informed advocate for our neighborhood’s residents and businesses, promoting community improvements and public safety and protecting our community from negative impacts. SCIDpda focuses its development efforts in a way that honors the rich character and history of the Chinatown International District.
Jamie addressed the issues that have been faced in the International District in the pandemic.
The pandemic began to hit the International District early in 2020. Businesses began to slow down as early as January, well before the March 16 shutdown. The Asian source of the coronavirus had an early and negative impact on the neighborhood. The impacts were broad and ranged from a reduction in business traffic from nervous consumers to incidents that may well have been racist.
Vulcan became an early hero with a donation of $100,000 to help create a business assistance relief fund. A total of $800,000 has been raised in the wake of the Vulcan initial gift.
Efforts to assist the community have included business relief efforts, helping to improve food security, and creating Internet access for resident children for online learning.
If you would like to help, Jamie provided us with the following information:
I wanted to just follow up with information for our upcoming virtual fundraiser for SCIDpda. Fun part about the event this year is that you can purchase “Neighborhood Boxes” and get goodies from the CID delivered to your home.
A the link to donate is here – you can also find information about how to RSVP for our virtual event and about the Neighborhood Boxes on that page too.
Jamie has over ten years in the nonprofit sector focusing on community engagement and nonprofit management, including working with individuals experiencing homelessness and launching a transitional housing program for homeless women. She also worked at the University of Washington’s Carlson Leadership and Public Service Center, networking with over 300 nonprofit organizations in the Seattle area and connecting them with undergraduate and graduate students looking to integrate service into their studies. Jamie has been active in the CID since 2005, with Chinese Information Service Center and the International District Chinatown Library in their after school programs, the International District Housing Alliance (now InterIm CDA) on their fund development committee, and the board of the Washington Asian Pacific Islander (WAPI) Community Services.
She currently serves on the board of Sanctuary Art Center, Historic South Downtown, the Chinatown International District Business Improvement Area, and the CID Public Safety Council. Jamie has Masters in Social Work and Public Administration from the University of Washington.