San Francisco

I represent San Francisco because, as a second-generation immigrant, I am dedicated to defending the ethnic enclaves whose history of perseverance is currently being erased by the tide of tech-driven gentrification.

I am focusing on the "linguistic eviction" of immigrant hubs like Chinatown and the Mission District, where historic solidarity is being replaced by corporate expansion and "trendy" news cycles. I want to immortalize the intertwined stories of these neighborhoods—from 1906's reconstruction to today’s AI-driven rent spikes—to protect their right to "citizenship" in the American memory. This project is a race against time to preserve the "hyphenated American" culture before its physical remnants are entirely usurped.

This project is vital because these enclaves are living testaments to the resilience that made modern America possible. If we allow their narratives to be buried under tech-sector dominance, we lose the very history that defines the city as a place for new beginnings.

—Kayla Chen

Kayla Chen

Chapter Leader

Kayla is a Senior from the Harker School in San Jose, California. Her passions include history and law, particularly their intersection with immigration. She has worked on several research projects in that area, including investigating the Mexican Revolution’s effect on resistance to immigration policy in the borderlands. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, journaling, and collecting trinkets.

To honor its history of immigration, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of GNI focuses on the region's ethnic enclaves, from Little Italy to Mission District, illuminating their humanistic contribution to American culture to defend their existence against gentrification.

Team Members

Levan Cheng

Charlene Li

Siri Chundru

Charlene Li is a junior at The Harker School with an interest in conveying stories from marginalized communities, and she has conducted research focused on recommending policies for under-resourced students in California. Her love for storytelling has led her to pursue journalism and creative writing, and she has been recognized nationally by the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In her free time, she enjoys writing, taking photos, and spending time with her younger siblings.

Sophie is a Junior from the Harker School in San Jose, California.

Levan is a Senior from Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California.