CURRENT POSITION Young Adult Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library, Chinatown Branch DEGREE MSLS, University of North Texas, 2011 FAST FACT Nguyen was captain of a run club and helped her community train for the Los Angeles Marathon. FOLLOW Instagram @ChinatownLAPL, @LAPublicLibrary Photo by Keith Kesler

Produce Provider

As anti-Asian–based racism increased during COVID-19, Lynn Nguyen and the Chinatown Teen Council (CTC), a program she created in 2019, participated in the library’s Teens Leading Change civic engagement project to study the impact of food insecurity in Chinatown—and, under Nguyen’s guidance, were able to take intentional, meaningful action.

When the last Asian grocery store in LA’s Chinatown closed because of developer gentrification, residents needed to travel long distances, sometimes taking several buses, to buy culturally relevant produce. After surveying community members and developing partnerships with Asian and Pacific Islander (API) organizations, Nguyen organized a grocery distribution program and a smartphone class to support low-income seniors who couldn’t leave their buildings because they feared potential harassment and COVID risks. In July 2022, members of the CTC hosted their first distribution event, packing 100 bags of produce and delivering them directly to the homes of Single Resident Occupants. As of April, the council hosted seven grocery distribution events, delivering more than 700 bags of produce. The group, which started with just 20 participants, now consists of more than 240 teens—who, through their participation, learned how they can directly address issues in their community.

Nguyen received a $10,000 IDEAS grant to create workshops that teach about the implications of gentrification, food insecurity, and equity. Each will involve a walking tour around historic Chinatown landmarks and conclude at the library for reflection. When she sees API people at the library, Nguyen is reminded of the struggles her own family endured as immigrants. “I want to be a familiar face,” she says, “one that my community knows they can come to for help.”