International Leadership Foundation Hosts Annual Luncheon: Congresswoman Judy Chu Inspires Asian American Youth to Engage in Civic Affairs
Alhambra, CA. September 14, 2024 (LAPost) – The Los Angeles chapter of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) held its 2024 inauguration luncheon on September 14 at Almansor Court in Alhambra. U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, the first Chinese-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, was a special guest speaker at the event. In her speech, she encouraged Asian American youth to actively participate in civic affairs and to speak out for their communities.
(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
During her speech, Judy Chu shared her personal journey in politics. From an ordinary citizen to the first Chinese-American woman in U.S. history to be elected to Congress, her story inspired many young people in the audience. She emphasized that the Asian American community should be more active in public affairs, fight for equality and rights, and pave the way for future Asian leaders.
Judy Chu recounted that her initial motivation to enter politics stemmed from opposing an anti-immigrant policy in her hometown of Monterey Park. She formed a coalition of people from various ethnic backgrounds in the community and successfully overturned the unjust proposal. Following that victory, she entered local government, serving three terms as mayor, later advancing to the state legislature, and finally being elected to Congress in 2009. She also recalled an important moment after her election when President Obama personally called to congratulate her on her historic win.
“When a congressional seat opened in our community, I decided to run in an extremely difficult primary. In July 2009, I won. I will never forget the day after the election, when President Obama called me from the White House to congratulate me on becoming the first Chinese-American woman ever elected to Congress!” Even 15 years later, she still shared her excitement with the young audience.
As chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Judy Chu has long been a voice for the Asian community. She stated, “Now, as chair of CAPAC, it has never been more important to represent Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the halls of Congress. We are the fastest-growing racial and ethnic group in the U.S., and as many of you know, the Asian American community has faced a surge in anti-Asian hate along with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Speaking about addressing hate crimes during the pandemic, she said, “My colleagues in CAPAC and I successfully passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act and the legislation to establish a commission to study the creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. Both bills were signed into law by President Biden. We will continue our work to improve community safety and address the root causes of anti-Asian hate by educating all Americans about Asian Pacific American history and contributions. These successes in Congress would not have been possible without the tireless advocacy of community members like you.”
Judy Chu urged the youth, “I encourage you to engage in the issues that matter most to you. Elected officials need to hear from young community leaders like you. By participating in this organization, you are preparing to take an active role in your community, which means that more AANHPI [Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander] voices will be included in decision-making. Of course, life’s journey will come with challenges, but never doubt your ability to change the status quo, especially when faced with difficulties.”
Judy Chu emphasized that Asian youth are the future leaders, calling on the younger generation to play a proactive role in building community connections and driving social change.
She used her own family as an example, describing the discrimination her grandfather faced under the Chinese Exclusion Act. She stated in her speech, “There was a time when my grandfather, like many others, was treated as a second-class citizen due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prevented him from becoming a naturalized citizen and forced him to carry identification documents. But just two generations later, his granddaughter is serving in Congress! This is the power of participation, and all of you are part of this change. You are our future leaders.”
Before concluding her speech, she said, “So, allow me to say, I am proud of the young people of Southern California like you. Whether you run a small business like today’s keynote speaker Alice Chen, who grew hers into a large enterprise, or you choose to pursue public service like I did, serve the country in the military, or become a corporate board member, you will find that people will respond positively to the qualities ILF has instilled in you. So continue to cultivate your leadership skills, build communities and networks of friends and mentors. This will open more doors for you than you can imagine. Looking at all your faces today, I feel the world is in your hands.”
The International Leadership Foundation’s event celebrated the accomplishments of the younger generation. Judy Chu concluded by encouraging everyone to continue developing leadership skills, seize opportunities, and shape their own future. (By Richard Ren / LAPost)
