Diversity Project at H Street Community Development Corporation

Diversity Project

Whatever our heritage may be, we all want the same things in
the end. We want to provide good homes and safe neighborhoods
for our families, and a good education for our children. And we want
to get along well with our neighbors.

This is the foundation of the H Street CDC’s Diversity Project, a long-term effort to promote understanding and harmony among the community residents and merchants.

Of approximately 150 H Street corridor businesses, about 25 are owned and operated by Asian-Americans, principally of Korean or Chinese heritage. Cultural differences and language barriers between Asian-American merchants and primarily African-American customers have led to misunderstandings.

The Diversity Project’s goals are to encourage dialogue, resolve misunderstandings, and help merchants adapt to American business practices and comply with the government regulations.

The Diversity Project involves candid discussions at meetings of African-American neighborhood residents, Asian-American merchants, ANC Commissioners, and other community leaders.

Representatives of the U.S. Community Relations Service, the Mayor’s Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, the Korean American Coalition, and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Asian Liaison Unit also participate. H Street CDC staff and consultant Francey Lim Youngberg make regular door-to-door visits to H Street merchants to identify and resolve problems. The project is funded by grants from the Fannie Mae Foundation and the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region.