Manilatown Heritage Foundation
Introduction/Background Statement: Manilatown Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization, whose community center is located on the corner of Kearny and Jackson. This historical location is formally known for the momentous International Hotel’s eviction of 1977 and a community’s struggle for low income housing in San Francisco. Ten blocks centered on Kearny Street used to be a Filipino ethnic enclave called Manilatown. The I-Hotel was a building where many elderly Filipino’s called home and found a community.
On August 4, 1977 community members, activists, and the I-Hotel’s remaining tenants barricaded themselves inside the last piece of Manilatown. On the night of the eviction, community members formed a three person thick human barricade around the building. Although the community’s effort was strong, the police still fought their way through the barricade. The night ended with activists and elderly tenants getting escorted or even dragged out. Forbidden to reenter the I-hotel, many Manongs spent that night on the streets because they had no place to stay. Homeless, many had nothing more than the things they left the I-Hotel with. Because of the abrupt eviction of their homes, tenants were promised they could retrieve their belongings at a later date, though by the time they were able to go back inside, many of their things had been stolen and their homes ransacked.
Manilatown had slowly shrunk from ten blocks to one, with the I-Hotel as the last significant structure of the community. The eviction was due to urban redevelopment in that area and plans for a parking garage was to replace the I-Hotel. Shortly after, the Hotel would be demolished. It would more than ten years before any building would be resurrected on that site.
Community activists and tenants of the late Hotel founded The Manilatown Heritage Foundation. This organization in alliance with other community organizations helped build a new low-income housing and community center on the same site as the I-Hotel. The community center on the ground floor is home to MHF; there, members of the community can come together to commemorate the struggle and celebrate the community, as well as, culture.
Problem Statement: Manilatown Heritage Foundation (MHF) has difficulty creating promotional items, such as flyers, newsletters, and web media for events.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a system in which Manilatown will easily be able to create and distribute promotional materials.
Sub Problems:
Lack of efficient funds and staff.
Need for various types of promotional items.
Understanding the audience type of each promotional item.
Understanding the importance of each promotional item.
Research Questions/Hypothesis:
What are the primary promotional needs of the organization?
How are these promotional items distributed?
Is there a system in which the organization can use to format their promotional goods?
Would a style sheet or design manual positively aid in creating promotional goods?
Users: Volunteers, students, children, elderly, educators, artists, those who go to art exhibits/events, tourists, and organizers.
Beneficiaries: Community members, children, elderly, students, educators, artists, volunteers, and tourists.
Stakeholders: Staff, board members, funders, the city, and investors.
Panel of Experts:
Emil De Guzman: De Guzman is the Present of MHF and he would be significant to my research because what I would be creating would directly reflect the organization.
DiAnne Bueno: Bueno is MHF’s programs/social marketing coordinator. She would significant to my research because she knows the programs that Manilatown offers to the community and she also designs for the organization.
Joshua Singer: Singer is a Professor in the Design and Industry department at San Francisco State University. He would be significant to my research because I will need guidance how to correctly create a style sheets, design manual, or design methods for MHF.
Environment: MHF sits right outside of Chinatown on the corner of Kearny and Jackson in downtown San Francisco. This venue is the organization’s community center, where they hold events and the main office is in the SoMa on Mission Street. The community center is also diagonally across from Portsmouth Square were many elderly Chinese often spend time at. MHF’s community center sits atop what was once the International Hotel, the last standing piece of Manilatown (a Filipino ethnic enclave in the mid to late 1900’s); thus this building represents a memorial and living venue for those who fought to keep the I-Hotel, low income housing, and Filipino-American history.
Inside Manilatown, the interior walls are painted yellow (which is one of the organization’s prime identifying colors – yellow and purple). To the right of the community center (after you walk in the doors) there is the staff’s station and to the left is a loveseat, coffee table, and Manilatown’s own little library. As you walk further into the venue you’ll find the art exhibit area, where different mediums and themes of art are displayed quarterly. Then towards the back of the Center, you’ll find MHF’s archives and educational area. This is where you can view films, articles, and past events at Manilatown.
Manilatown’s staff is very friendly and welcoming. During events the audience is always comprised of a various age groups and backgrounds. Events at the center range from art exhibits, book readings, legal clinic, senior movies, poetry nights, panel discussions, music nights and various mingle events. Before, after, and in between events, you’ll always find people mingling at the center. MHF’s encourages volunteers for events and for various projects within the organization. The organization’s volunteer coordinator, Isaac Obenzinger, is a very friendly down-to-earth staff member who is very approachable. Anyone who is willing to spend some time with the organization is warmly welcomed.
Resources/References/Methodology: Research needed for this study would include information on the organization and what materials will be needed for output. Other sources about MHF will include information on its history, current status, and future developments. For design resources; style guides, design manuals, and design methods other non-profit organizations utilize will be studied (as well as, those not for non-profits). Methodology for this project will include visual audits from other non-profits, surveys, interviews, comparative analysis’ , and focus groups.
