Women shaping opportunity for young people — past and present
Across American history, Asian American women have helped expand opportunities for young people by strengthening the institutions that shape civic life.
In 1964, Patsy Takemoto Mink was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first woman of color elected to the House and the first Asian American woman to serve in Congress. Her legislative work, including co-authoring Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, broadened access to education for millions of students. Her career reflected a clear understanding that lasting change requires policy, structure, and sustained commitment.
Grace Lee Boggs spent decades working alongside youth in Detroit, encouraging young people to see themselves as civic actors capable of shaping their communities. In San Francisco, educator Alice Fong Yu worked to expand opportunities for Chinese American students, becoming the first Chinese American teacher in the city’s public schools and helping build institutions that supported youth and families in Chinatown. These leaders did not simply speak about opportunity. They built structures that made participation possible.
Women continue to widen those pathways today. Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu has competed at the highest level of international sport while navigating multiple cultural identities in the public eye. Kaitlyn Chen of the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries represents a new generation of Asian American women competing in professional basketball, expanding visibility in spaces where representation has historically been limited.
Across generations, the throughline is consistent: when women lead, they expand access and redefine what is possible for young people watching.
Community Youth Center carries that responsibility forward through institutional leadership that supports youth every day. For more than 56 years, CYC has strengthened pathways for young people across San Francisco through education, workforce development, health services, and civic engagement. That work requires leadership grounded in accountability to families, neighborhoods, and partners across the city.
CYC’s executive leadership team reflects that commitment:
Sarah Ching-Ting Wan, Executive Director
Jenny Liu, Director of Finance & Administration
Joni Chu, Director of Operations
Wendy Lee, Director of Development & Communications
Tracy Visser-Boesch, Director of Human Resources and Administration
Daphne Wong-Ha, Senior Program Director
Together, this team is responsible for stewarding resources carefully, strengthening internal systems, and ensuring that programs remain responsive to the evolving needs of young people. Finance, operations, human resources, communications, and program oversight are not background functions. They are commitments to stability, transparency, and long-term partnership with the communities CYC serves.
Looking ahead, that commitment means continuing to adapt to new challenges, invest in strong infrastructure, and deepen collaboration across neighborhoods and sectors. It means preparing the organization not only for the present needs of young people, but for the opportunities and questions the next generation will bring.