(The Center Square) – Seattle is partnering with nonprofits and Amazon to launch an ambassador program dedicated to the Chinatown-International District amid growing concerns of anti-Asian violence.
Seattle is collaborating with the Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Amazon and the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area on the new “Chinatown-International District Ambassadors Program,” which will launch June 1.
The program will train ambassadors to watch over neighborhood blocks, deter disruptive behavior, and assist business owners with accessing city services in order to increase public safety and aid small businesses.
Wednesday’s announcement comes in the wake of a rise in public safety concerns for Seattle’s AAPI residents.
According to a 2024 TAAF survey, out of 1,000 AAPI adults residing in Seattle, 38% said they were a victim of an anti-Asian incident in the previous 12 months. Nearly 75% reported changes in their day-to-day behavior out of fear of being a target of anti-Asian hate.
Seattle and TAAF are putting up a combined $1 million over two years to bet on increased visibility and on-the-ground support boosting safety and foot traffic for small businesses.
“With dedicated ambassadors on the ground, we are investing in safety, belonging and visibility for one of our city’s most culturally significant communities,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement on Wednesday. “It’s about ensuring everyone in Chinatown, Japantown and Little Saigon — business owners, workers, residents, elders and visitors — feels seen, supported and safe.”
According to a press release, the new ambassadors program is modeled after other ambassador programs that the city states found success in, though the city did not specify what metrics defined success. These similar programs include the Downtown Seattle Association MID Ambassadors, Ballard Alliance Ambassadors and the city’s Downtown Activation Team.
Along with the Chinatown-International District Ambassadors Program, Harrell announced the “TAAF Cities” initiative.
Amazon is a founding partner of this initiative, which will explore solutions to promote economic opportunity and public safety in the district.
As part of TAAF Cities, Amazon has committed $250,000 to the nonprofit organization Friends of Little Sài Gòn to support economic development and public safety programs in the area. The company is utilizing an additional $250,000 to bring the Chinatown-International District’s night market back for at least three years.
