The W.O.W. Project

The W.O.W. Project is a women, queer, and trans-led community initiative based in New York, NY that uses art and activism as primary tools to grow, protect, and preserve Chinatown's creative culture during a time of rapid urban change. Operating since 2016, the organization delivers a comprehensive range of programs and services designed to sustain community ownership and cultural continuity in Manhattan's Chinatown.

The organization's service offerings include artist residencies that provide creative professionals with dedicated space and resources, youth programs and internships that develop emerging leaders from the community, public artworks and events that activate neighborhood spaces, and mutual aid initiatives that support residents facing displacement pressures. Each program is strategically designed to center the voices and leadership of young women, non-binary, and trans individuals while building bridges across generational divides within Asian American communities.

By positioning arts and culture as points of connection, The W.O.W. Project creates communal practices that link Chinatown's historical significance with its future trajectory. The organization functions as both a cultural preservation entity and an activist force, using creative expression to seed conversations that grow into community solidarity and resistance against displacement. Founded by Mei Lum in response to Chinatown's rapidly changing landscape, The W.O.W. Project continues to serve New York, NY residents through thoughtfully designed programming that honors cultural heritage while empowering community members to shape their neighborhood's future.