Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation Key Staff
John W. Chin – Executive Director
John William Chin is the Executive Director of PCDC, where he oversees all projects and programs. He is a native of Chinatown, Philadelphia and attended Holy Redeemer School and Friends Select School. He serves on the Board of several nonprofit organizations including the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Friends Select School, and PHL Diversity. He is a board member of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and is a member of National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD). He is committed to the preservation and growth of Chinatown for new immigrants, as it was a gateway to success for his family. In his spare time, he enjoys crime procedurals, basketball and cooking for his family.
Rachel Mak – Deputy Director
Rachel is responsible for PCDC’s business operations, including staffing, resource allocation, financial and facilities management and program quality assurance. She oversees PCDC’s day-to-day operations and monitors operating procedures of various programs and projects, including the Chinatown Homeownership Initiative, Positive Youth Development Programs, Family Services, and Commercial Corridor activities. Rachel holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Drexel University and is certified as a Housing Counselor and Housing Program Manager by the NeighborWorks Training Institute. On the weekends, she enjoys quilting, gardening, and crocheting under her magnolia tree.
Wendy Lee – Housing Counselor
Wendy Lee has been with PCDC since 1990, with experience as the staff’s Community Liaison, Office Manager and Administrative Assistant. Wendy is a Certified Homeownership Counselor, fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, and is the main staff member of PCDC’s Chinatown Homeownership Initiative. Wendy provides one-on-one and group bilingual housing counseling services, helping to educate clients and navigate them through the homeownership and/or rental process, from pre-purchase to post-purchase. She can often be found in the sales racks of the Macy’s clothing section.
Duoduo Zhang – Housing Counselor
Duoduo Zhang has been with PCDC since 2020. She is a Certified Homeownership Counselor, fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Duoduo leads the monthly pre-purchase homebuyer education workshops helping to educate clients and navigate them through the homeownership and/or rental process.. She is also responsible for managing PCDC’s Emergency Cash Assistance program, launched in 2020, to help low-income residents meet basic needs (food, rent, and medicine) with a one-time cash disbursement of $500. Duoduo also provides Eviction Diversion assistance to help renters and landlords navigate the city-led program to prevent eviction.
Ping-Ho Lee – Program Manager
Ping Lee manages all the day-to-day operations of PCDC’s programs, including the Chinatown Homeownership Initiative, Teen Club, Family Services, and Commercial Corridor activities. She also provides one-on-one public assistance services, helping clients secure basic needs and get on the path to financial self-sufficiency. She has earned certificates in Housing Counseling and Pre-Purchase Counseling. She has a BA in Computer Science from Drexel University. Outside of the office, she is a dedicated high school volleyball coach and a collegiate referee in the Philadelphia area.
Meimei Liu – Program Associate
Meimei Liu joined the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation as Program Associate. Speaking Mandarin and Cantonese, she provides services to Limited English Proficiency clients, collects client’s information, and answers preliminary questions related to PCDC’s Housing Program. She also assists with accounting and office administration work. Meimei graduated with an Accounting major in China and is interested in continuing her studies and practice in the United States.
Elaine Li – Program Associate
Elaine Li, fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin, provides services to Limited English proficient clients, collects client’s information, and answers preliminary questions related to PCDC’s Housing Program and Family Support Services. Elaine screens clients for eligibility regarding benefits access programs, and she provides referrals to other organizations and agencies to ensure all clients who come to PCDC receive help and support. She assists with accounting and office administration work. Elaine is a part-time staff member.
Yue Wu – Neighborhood Planning & Project Manager
In August 2018, Yue Wu joined PCDC to spearhead the implementation of key community development strategies outlined in the 2017 Chinatown Neighborhood Plan. Thus far, Yue has worked on a wide range of projects, including public space activation, community engagement, and equitable development advocacy. In partnership with Asian Arts Initiative and the Friends of Rail Park, Yue launched the Parks for Chinatown Initiative to engage the Chinatown community to activate their neighborhood public spaces. She is also an advocate for cultural heritage preservation. Yue holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation (Preservation Planning) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Rosaline Yang – Operations Manager & Youth Program Coordinator
Rosaline Yang is responsible for day to day office management, intern/volunteer management, property/facility management of N. 12th Family Homes (13 units) and Crane Center, and assists with general print and digital media design and outreach. She works with Xiongzhou Zhang on PCDC’s Teen Club youth program, which provides high school students with free bilingual SAT and college application workshops, as well as Sports/Recreational Activities. She graduated from Temple University with a B.S. in Tourism & Hospitality Management, and a concentration in Event Leadership and a minor in Public Health. She enjoys discovering new places to eat in her free time and exploring all that Philadelphia has to offer.
Esther Hio-Tong Castillo – Program Manager
Esther Hio-Tong Castillo, PhD, is the program manager for PCDC’s Chinese Immigrant Family Wellness Initiative (www.CIFWI.org). Esther is responsible for PCDC’s community-based equity work, including increasing COVID-19 vaccine accessibility, promoting mental health, racial healing, and fighting anti-Asian hate. Esther has a MA in Humanities and Social Thoughts from NYU and a PhD in Sociology from Temple University. She has two decades of experience in education as a teacher, counselor, community advocate and faculty in various educational settings, including youth programs, adult education and higher education. Esther’s self care routine includes spending time with her dog, eating Asian food with family and friends, writing and drawing.
Devon Stahl – Communications and Development Coordinator
Devon Stahl manages PCDC’s social media and the online and print promotion of programs, events, resources, and information serving the Chinatown community. Devon is responsible for editing and publishing PCDC’s bilingual monthly newsletter every 4th Friday of the month. In addition, she assists with grant writing and management to help to secure funding to support PCDC’s programs and projects. Devon earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Gender & Womens Studies and Chinese Studies from Connecticut College.