Problem/Purpose Revision

Manilatown Heritage Foundation

Problem Statement: Due to inefficient funds and a lack of staff, Manilatown Heritage Foundation (MHF) has difficulty creating promotional items, such as flyers, newsletters, and web media for events and for educating the community about the organization.

Purpose:  The purpose of this study is to develop promotional items for MHF that will effectively target its community, while clearly communicating what that item is promoting (whether it be an event or a newsletter about the organizations updates).

Users: Staff, volunteers, students, activists, children, elderly, educators, artists, those who go to art exhibits/events, tourists, funders, and organizers.

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: Researches needed for this study would include research on the organization and what materials will be needed for output. For fliers and newsletters; paper will be needed for production and distribution.

Chinatown Beacon Center

Problem Statement: Chinatown Beacon Center needs brochures, signage, and ID badges for their organization.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to create brochures, signage, and ID badges that will properly and distinctively represent the organization.

Users: Staff, volunteers, funders, children, parents, surrounding community, and people who participate in events at the Center.

Environment:  A student/children friendly organization; a place where students/children can go to learn in a safe and culturally aware environment. Located at 80 Fresno Street, the Community Center is where most of the activity happens for the community, whereas on 36 Waverly Place, the main office is where all the administrative work goes on.

Resources: Research on the organization. Knowledge of materials is needed for knowing what kind of media to be printed on for distribution, publication, or use.

Freedom Archives

Problem Statement: Freedom Archives would like to create projects that introduce the importance of oral history to its community through its new oral history program.

Purpose:  The purpose of this study is to create media that will introduce and educate interns about the oral history program.

Users:  Staff, volunteers, archivists, community, historians, students, educators, youth, organizers, and activists.

Environment: Progressive organization that focuses on documenting, archiving, and having an open source of documentation on social justice movements locally to internationally. A place where educators, community members, and students can find audio and visual documents on social justice related materials.

Resources: Research on the organization and its needs. This will determine how the oral history program’s introduction media will be created.