The Last Mayor of Chinatown

October 4, 2024

Lena Chen, Asian American Research Center graduate student affiliate, has won three awards for her film, "The Last Mayor of Chinatown," which tells the story of the rise, decline, and rediscovery of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown. Yuen Yee served as the last honorary mayor of Pittsburgh’s Chinatown. Told through images, documents, and artifacts, the film interweaves excerpts from Yee’s memoir with his daughter Shirley’s contemporary commentary to show his instrumental role in supporting newly arrived immigrants and establishing mutual aid initiatives.