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5 Ways The Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC) Is Reshaping Los Angeles' Thai Town In 2025

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The Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC) continues to be the driving force behind the social, economic, and cultural revitalization of Los Angeles’ Thai Town, with 2025 marking a period of significant project milestones and renewed advocacy. Founded in 1994, the nonprofit non-governmental organization (NGO) has a core mission to advance the well-being of low and moderate-income Thai immigrants and other ethnic communities in the greater Los Angeles area. Its comprehensive community development strategy is currently focused on high-impact initiatives ranging from major economic projects to critical human rights work.

As of late 2025, the Thai CDC is leveraging its three decades of experience to tackle pressing issues like affordable housing shortages and economic inequality, ensuring the Thai community not only survives but thrives. The organization’s work is a powerful blend of urban planning, legal advocacy, and cultural preservation, all centered around empowering the community to achieve self-sufficiency and economic mobility. The following sections detail the key initiatives and the visionary leader at the helm of this critical work.

The Visionary Leader: Chanchanit (Chancee) Martorell Biography and Honors

The Thai Community Development Center was founded and is led by Chanchanit (Chancee) Martorell, a prominent activist, urban planner, and community development practitioner. Her leadership has been instrumental in establishing Thai Town and pioneering human rights advocacy, most notably in the fight against modern-day slavery.

  • Birthplace: Born in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Early Life: Immigrated to Los Angeles as a toddler, where she was raised.
  • Education: Holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and Public Law from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
  • Role: Founder and Executive Director of the Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC) since 1994.
  • Key Achievement: Led the successful campaign to designate the first Thai Town in the United States in 1999.
  • Selected Awards and Honors:
    • Recipient of the Royal Decoration of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn (Thailand's highest civilian honor).
    • Honored with the California 30th Congressional District Woman of the Year Award.
    • Received the Community Uplift and Advocacy Award from Assemblyman Rick Zbur in 2025.
    • Named an "Asian American Local Hero" by PBS SoCal.

1. The Thai Town Marketplace (TTMP): A Green Economic Hub

One of the most ambitious and current projects by the Thai CDC is the development of the Thai Town Marketplace (TTMP). This project is a new approach to urban revitalization, designed to be an innovative “green” community market and food hall located at the busy intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Western Avenue, adjacent to the Metro Red Line station.

The marketplace is a crucial component of the Thai CDC's Community Asset Building strategy. It aims to address food deserts and economic opportunity gaps within the community.

  • Project Goal: To create a sustainable, vibrant public market space.
  • Economic Impact: The TTMP is projected to create approximately 40 new entrepreneurship, management, and service jobs, primarily benefiting low-income Thai residents.
  • Current Status: As of 2025, the project remains a central focus, securing funding and moving toward opening as a key component of the Thai Town Community Plan Implementation Overlay (CPIO).

2. Groundbreaking Human Rights Advocacy: Commemorating the El Monte Case

The Thai CDC's legacy is deeply rooted in human rights advocacy, a commitment that remains highly visible in 2025. The organization played a pivotal role in the 1995 El Monte Thai Garment Slavery Case, one of the most significant modern-day slavery busts in U.S. history.

In November 2025, the Thai CDC marked the 30th anniversary of this landmark case by presenting "The Faces of Fabric: A Textile Exhibition." This exhibition served to honor the survivors, who were liberated and rehabilitated with comprehensive legal, housing, medical, and emotional support provided by the Thai CDC.

  • Advocacy Focus: The Thai CDC continues to lead efforts against human trafficking and labor exploitation, providing vital Self-Sufficiency Services to survivors and new immigrants.
  • Legal Support: The organization, through its legal team led by Directing Attorney Panida Rzonca, provides critical legal aid to those overcoming language and cultural barriers to successfully integrate into mainstream society.

3. Developing Affordable Housing and Community Assets

Addressing the affordable housing crisis in Los Angeles is a cornerstone of the Thai CDC’s Community Development strategy. The organization actively develops and manages projects to ensure that low and moderate-income seniors and families can remain in the Thai Town area.

A key example of this work is the Palm Village Senior Housing project. This initiative was undertaken in partnership with the Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation, demonstrating the Thai CDC’s collaborative approach to large-scale development.

  • Goal: To create decent and affordable housing units for the most vulnerable members of the Thai and broader ethnic communities.
  • Broader Strategy: Beyond development, the Thai CDC offers Family Services and assistance in locating temporary shelter and affordable housing, a constant need in the dense urban environment of Los Angeles.

The Thai Community Development Center’s work in 2025 highlights its role as a powerful, multi-faceted organization. By focusing on economic opportunity through the Thai Town Marketplace, cultural preservation through projects like the Kinnara lampposts and tree planting, and vital human rights advocacy, the Thai CDC is ensuring that Thai Town remains a culturally rich and economically viable home for its residents for decades to come.

5 Ways the Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC) is Reshaping Los Angeles' Thai Town in 2025
thai community development center
thai community development center

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