The W.O.W. Project

The W.O.W. Project is an artistic and activist organization based in New York City’s Chinatown that works to protect and sustain the cultural and historic fabric of the neighborhood. Founded in 2016 by Mei Lum, it operates out of Wing on Wo & Co., the city’s oldest continuously-run family-owned store. WOW stands for “Wing on Wo” and symbolizes a deep commitment to Chinatown’s future through art, activism, and community building.

Through programming such as artist residencies, youth fellowships, storytelling workshops, and public installations, The WOW Project creates space for Chinatown’s community members—especially women and non-binary individuals—to engage with their cultural identity and history. The organization actively resists the forces of gentrification by empowering the next generation of Chinatown residents to become stewards of their neighborhood’s future.