Adaptation, Community, and Identity
Elevating the Stories and Presence of Asian Immigrant Entrepreneurs
across the Region
In response to the unprecedented challenges of both COVID-19 and the social barriers that existed prior to the pandemic, MAPC is initiating a regional storytelling project that focuses on stories of resilient Asian immigrant entrepreneurs. The goal is to provide a platform for immigrant entrepreneurs of Asian descent to share their experiences as small business owners both before and during COVID-19. While aspects of the project and the policy recommendations will be regional in nature, it is important that stories are told in the context of local issues. The first phase of this project started in June 2020 and focused on Quincy. You can download a full copy of the report here. (Chinese) (Vietnamese)
We are actively exploring partnerships and locations for our second phase to start in Summer 2021. If you are interested in discussing in working with us or want more information, please contact Economic Development Planner II, Jennifer Emiko Kaplan.
Data Analysis
To understand immigrant entrepreneur communities in Greater Boston, MAPC analyzed population demographics and business data to identify the locations of immigrant communities which are also host to concentrated areas of immigrant-owned businesses. As part of the analysis, we identified “Immigrant Entrepreneur Communities” as well as, in particular, “Asian Immigrant Entrepreneur Communities.”
Data Analysis
To understand immigrant entrepreneur communities in Greater Boston, MAPC analyzed demographic data from the U.S. Census. While Census data cannot give us a complete picture of all the vibrant and diverse immigrant communities in Massachusetts, we started by identifying areas where the largest proportion of residents report owning their own business, being born outside the US and/or speaking a language other than English at home, and identify themselves as Asian. We identified regions with the highest proportion of residents with these and other indicators of being Asian immigrant entrepreneurs.
The region combining Quincy and Milton had the highest proportion of Asian immigrant entrepreneurs per capita. About a quarter of Quincy’s population and about one in twenty residents of Milton speak an Asian language at home. In both Quincy and Milton, the most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese followed by Vietnamese.
The seven regions with the next-highest estimated proportion of Asian immigrant entrepreneurs are the following:
- Malden and Medford
- Newton and Brookline
- Waltham, Lexington, Burlington, Bedford, and Lincoln
- Randolph, Norwood, Dedham, Canton, and Holbrook
- Quincy and Milton
- Wayland, Weston, Wellesley, Needham, Dover, Westwood, and Sherborn
- Lowell
We also identified regions with high rates of immigrant entrepreneurs of any race or ethnicity per capita. Six of the eight regions with the highest proportion of Asian immigrant entrepreneurs also fell into the eight regions with the highest proportion of immigrant entrepreneurs of any race or ethnicity. The region combining Framingham, Marlborough, and Natick had the highest estimated proportion of immigrant entrepreneurs. Other regions with high shares of immigrant entrepreneurs are the following:
- Somerville and Everett
- Revere, Chelsea, and Winthrop
- Malden and Medford
- Newton and Brookline
- Waltham, Lexington, Burlington, Bedford, and Lincoln
- Randolph, Norwood, Dedham, Canton, and Holbrook
- Quincy and Milton
PUMAs by percent population Asian Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Norfolk County (Northeast) Quincy and Milton: 1.3% +/- 0.3% are Asian entrepreneurs who are either foreign born or speak a language other than English at home.
- In Quincy, more than 25% (25.7 +/- 1.2%) of the population speaks an Asian language at home (ACS 2014-2018). The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Vietnamese.
- In Milton, only 5.4% of the population speaks an Asian language at home. The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Vietnamese (data from 2010).
Norfolk (Northeast) & Middlesex (Southeast) Counties (West of Boston): 0.48 +/- 0.15% of residents are Asian entrepreneurs who are either foreign born or speak a language other than English at home.
- Wellesley: 8.4 +/- 1.0% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- Needham: 5.5 +/- 0.96% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- Wayland: 7.7 +/- 1.4% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- Westwood: 6.5 +/- 1.7% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- Weston: 5.7 +/- 1.8% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- Dover: 4.6 +/- 2.0% of residents speak an Asian language at home. The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Korean.
- Sherborn: 2.51% +/- 1.4% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- In each municipality, the most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Korean.
Norfolk County (Central)—Randolph, Norwood, Dedham, Canton & Holbrook: 0.46 +/- 0.16% of residents are Asian entrepreneurs who are either foreign born or speak a language other than English at home.
- Randolph: 9.5 +/- 1.7% of residents speak an Asian language at home. The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Vietnamese, followed by Chinese.
- Dedham: Less than 5% of residents speak an Asian language at home. The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Filipino.
- Holbrook: The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Vietnamese, followed by Filipino.
- Canton: The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Vietnamese.
- Norwood: The most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Filipino.
PUMAs by percent population Asian Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Middlesex County—Waltham City, Lexington, Burlington, Bedford, and Lincoln Towns: 0.75 +/- 0.21% of the population are Asian entrepreneurs who are either foreign born or speak a language other than English at home.
- In Lexington, 18% +/- 1.4% of the population speak an Asian language at home.
- In Bedford, 11 +/- 2.2% of the population speak an Asian language at home.
- In all cities and towns in the PUMA, the most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Korean (data from 2010).
- The lowest concentration of people speaking an Asian language at home exists in Lincoln, where 5.4 +/- 2.4% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
Middlesex (Southeast) & Norfolk (Northeast) Counties—Newton City & Brookline Town: 0.58 +/- 0.20% of residents are Asian entrepreneurs who are either foreign born or speak a language other than English at home.
- Brookline: 12% +/-1.2% of residents speak an Asian language at home (ACS 2014-2018).
- Newton: 10% +/- 0.75% of residents speak an Asian language at home (ACS 2014-2018)
- In both municipalities in the PUMA, the most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Korean (data from 2010).
Middlesex County (East)—Malden % Medford Cities: +/- 0.18% of residents are Asian entrepreneurs who are either foreign born or speak a language other than English at home.
- Malden: 19% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- Medford: 6.5 +/- 6.5% of residents speak an Asian language at home.
- In both municipalities, the most-represented Asian ethnicity is Chinese, followed by Vietnamese.
Middlesex County (South): Framingham, Marlborough, & Natick: 0.46 +/- 0.17 of residents are Asian entrepreneurs who are either foreign born or speak a language other than English at home.
Past Events
Film Premiere: Quincy, from a distance 电影首映
March 3, 2021 | 7:30PM 3月3日星期三晚7:30
The debut of three video-lets created by filmmaker Daphne Xu. This series documents the lived experiences and strength of three Asian Small Business Owners in Quincy – a Salon owner, a Lion dance instructor, and the CEO of a travel agency.
Materials
Panel Discussion: Analysis and Policy Recommendations 小组讨论
March 17, 2021 | 3:30PM 3月17日下午3:30
A panel discussion joined by Daphne Xu and our community partners, Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC), Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC), Chinatown Main Street, and Quincy Asian Resources, Inc (QARI) to discuss how we can increase support for Asian immigrant entrepreneurs amidst the ongoing crisis and the rise of Asian American hate crimes throughout our country.
Panelists
- Jeena Hah, Director of Community Programs and Design, Asian Community Development Corporation 亚美社区发展协会社区规划与设计主任
- Debbie Ho, Executive Director, Chinatown Main Street 华埠主街执行董事
- Daphne Xu (徐乙漾), Filmmaker and Director of “Quincy, from a Distance” 影制片人和“Quincy, from a Distance”（瞭望昆西）总监
- Philip Chong, Executive Director, Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. 昆西亚洲资源协会执行董事
- David Zou, Board of Directors, Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. 昆西亚洲资源协会董事会
- Ben Hires, CEO, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center 波士顿华埠社区中心首席执行官
Materials
