What does "being strong" mean to you? Being strong is my mama (“grandma” in Cantonese) working two jobs and raising 4 kids with minimal English, it’s my mom knowing she only wanted two kids and stopping after my sister and I despite familial protests to try for a son, it’s my best girl friends encouraging me to choose discomfort over resentment and honoring who I am.
How does your culture shape your perception of strength? This feels especially relevant today as we protest against anti-Asian violence. Strength is no longer keeping your head down and viewing success as the best revenge. It’s using our voice and our stories to fight, educate, and show up as allies to other POC communities. I’m so proud to see APIs across my friend and work networks evolving in this way, which gives me strength to do the same.
What advice would you give to the next generation of strong women? Strength is too often character mapped to men as a masculine trait. Feminism has looked like shoulder pads, pant suits, and talking loudly and I’ve also seen feminism look like reclaiming and owning your femininity and sexuality. But my advice is that it’s about who you are deep down. When you remove the clutter of societal, cultural, and generational expectations. Who are you underneath and are you allowing THAT to shine. Strength is loving and honoring yourself, because that will manifest out in every realm of your life.
Irena’s Intentional Act of Kindness
How did you use the $100? I donated $50 to Huang Zheng Fang (a widower after his wife was killed by a city truck in San Francisco) and SCIDpda (Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority). The Stop Asian Hate movement struck a chord in me. It's been an emotional and challenging time and I've sat crying feeling helpless toward those who have been directly impacted by racism and violence. Even worse, the violence against senior citizens in the Asian community has been especially distressing. I wanted my $100 to go toward a common goal of helping our Asian elders. Huang Zheng Feng could only afford one meal a day after his wife was killed by a City Truck in San Francisco which immediately made me think, this could be my family or this could be the family of people I know. I donated to his GoFundMe, resulting in over $30k raised to support his rent and food. In a similar vein, but more general, I donated $50 to SCIDpda because one of their weekly efforts is picking up and dropping off groceries to senior citizens in the Chinatown neighborhood. I love that they've taken the care to include Asian ingredients, to make the experience feel a little more familiar. I've yet to take off time on a Friday to be part of deliveries, though it's a goal I set this year, but until then I'm hopeful this donation will help in some small way.
What was the 'Intentional Act of Kindness' process like for you? It made me realize I'm not spending enough time spreading kindness outside my immediate circle. I show up for the ones I love and that feels easy and instinctive to me, but the fabric that ties humanity toward is our shared experience -- both the good and the bad. I'd love to spend time spreading kindness more widely and connecting with people beyond my close network.