Community Design Collaborative’s Leverage Awards Reception Honoring Philadelphia Design

Community Design Collaborative’s 2025 Leverage Award Presented to Chinatown’s John W. Chin at June 3 Community Design Collaborative Reception 

The annual awards, reception and a community-design exhibition brings together Philadelphia’s design community to celebrate and recognize collaborations across the community  

The Community Design Collaborative will honor John W. Chin, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, with the 2025 Leverage Award at its annual reception on June 3, 2025. This award recognizes local leaders who have strengthened neighborhoods through design and led transformative community development in the region. 

The Leverage Award Reception, hosted by the design collaborative, celebrates design impact on the city while raising critical funds to support the organization’s ongoing work in more than 20 neighborhoods annually. The evening brings together Philadelphia advocates dedicated to our neighborhoods and our history.

“As we gather with our community collaborators this year, we honor a lifelong Philadelphian and a champion for affordable housing, healthy communities, and thriving neighborhoods—Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation’s John Chin,” said Tya Winn, Executive Director of the Community Design Collaborative. “Chin understands the importance of design in creating, building, and sustaining communities. For over 20 years, he has delivered vital family services and economic development initiatives for this 150-year-old neighborhood.”

The Leverage Award Committee selected Chin for his steadfast commitment to Chinatown amid gentrification, development pressures, and evolving demographics. His work has supported second- and third-generation residents while preserving Chinatown’s cultural identity and community. He is a board member of the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity and a member of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development.

For the second year in a row, the center will also confer two community design awards: 

• The Anchor Award celebrates the impactful work of the Community Design Collaborative’s former clients as they move their community visions forward, recognizing the collective efforts, expertise, and resources pooled to generate impactful ventures. This award celebrates the collaborative synergy among organizations, firms, funders, and community stakeholders who unite to shepherd projects to fruition.
• The Linchpin Award honors the impactful work of individuals, firms, and organizations that support the community design process. This accolade honors the unsung champions within our ecosystem who surpass their roles to elevate community design. Often overlooked, these individuals embody the backbone of the industry, tirelessly supporting design firms and client organizations as advisors, collaborators, and advocates, ensuring that community and neighborhood needs remain at the forefront. This year’s nominees are: Owen Franklin, Vice President, Great Lakes Region and Pennsylvania State Director, Trust for Public Land; Matt Radar, President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; and Eli Storch, Chairman, Design Advocacy Group

Design Initiatives to be Highlighted:

The Leverage Award Reception will showcase several design projects led by the CDC in partnership with organizations across Philadelphia, including:

• Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design Competition: In collaboration with the John Stewardson Memorial Fellowship in Architecture and AIA Philadelphia, this competition highlights the role of ADUs in expanding affordable housing options. The initiative is part of Philadelphia’s broader effort to address its housing gap by exploring innovative solutions for the city’s “missing middle.” This project is funded by AARP.
• 2025 Community Design Collaborative Partner Projects Exhibition: The center will open an exhibition showcasing the center’s work, including Philly Truce Foundation’s Safe City: Transitional Housing Study; Mt. Vernon Manor CDC: Mantua Urban Peace Garden; Cinespeak: Brick-and-Mortar Cinema, and projects with StreetBoxPHL’s right-of-way transformations around safety and traffic calming. These are a sample of the projects completed in 2024. In 2024, a total of 17 projects were completed by 76 volunteers accounting for 3,263, contributing a value of $414,402 in 3,263 volunteer hours. 

For more information on sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets, visit https://leverage2025.funraise.org.

About the Community Design Collaborative

The Community Design Collaborative (CDC) unites expert designers, architects, engineers, and city planners who donate thousands of hours to help Philadelphia become a thriving urban landscape. The CDC’s mission stems from the belief that revitalized spaces, such as affordable housing for seniors or safe, accessible parks, can transform neighborhoods. By leveraging the talents of volunteer design professionals, the CDC has played a critical role in shaping Philadelphia’s communities.