Alice Fong Yu

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, every school day The Cardinal will feature a prominent and historical Asian American or Pacific Islander, living or dead, who has worked toward change, advancement, and/or world peace. Some of them are heroes, and some are unsung heroes, who deserve recognition, and have made a contribution to society.

Kenia Ortiz, Staff Writer

May 3, 2024

Alice Fong Yu was born on March 2, 1905, in the gold mining town of Washington, California. She is a hero who encountered copious amounts of discrimination from the day she was born for being Chinese American. Her biggest encounter was rejection from San Francisco State Teachers College for her aim of a teaching job despite the impression of her YWCA Girls Reserve fundraising.

But without letting the doubt hold her back, she thrust forward with her Christian beliefs and Chinese heritage as support to earn the title of the first Chinese American teacher in the San Francisco Unified School District. With the pro of being the only Chinese staff speaker, she was tasked with more than her teaching role yet paid unfairly with a regular salary. She later moved on to education in speech therapy with the motive of helping her son, Joal, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Alice went beyond teaching to make everyone feel included and accepted in bilingual education and different cultures as the activist she was. Chinatown organizations like the Square and Circle Club, Chinese Needlework Guild, the Lake Tahoe Christian Conference, and the YWCA were other outstanding affiliations of Alice.

Alice passed on December 19, 2000, with living accomplishments such as San Francisco’s Chinese immersion school called Alice Fong Yu Alternative School, reminding students and communities to never give up, especially on AAPI Heritage Month.

About the Contributor

Kenia Ortiz, Senior Editor

At first glance, Kenia could come off as dull, but in all reality a tranquil and loving senior at Hoover High who cherishes the petite things in life. As she wraps up her year as the class of 2025, she looks forward to attending Mesa or City Community College to study business and open a clothing boutique to share her adoration for fashion. Her main encouragement is to be the first of her siblings to attend college for her mom, who she looks up to for her sacrifices. Kenia desires to acquire her full potential and find self-love for who she is. From a young age, Kenia maintained a sensitive heart that values kindness. She truly believes the world could be better if we held respect and forgiveness for one another. She owns up to her beliefs, not only with love for her peers but keeping an open mind as it's everyone's first time living and she too makes mistakes. She was born at the spookiest yet coziest time of the year, October 6th. Like the season she was born in, the cold, crisp weather fall brings is her favorite. She enjoys her independent time as an introvert yet pushes to be more out there by carrying school spirit through ASB, yearbook, and the Cardinals Interact program. Kenia grew a love for teaching in fifth grade and decided to heal her inner child by volunteering to tutor students by taking a College Ed 100 class. She adores the work of expressing her lens of the world through writing, especially with the opportunities her yearbook class brings. Outside school, Kenia spends her days listening to music while reading, getting dolled up, and journaling or collaging her thoughts. What may catch you by surprise is her contrast from personality to her top artists Fetty Wap, Chris Travis, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and her odd addiction to gray leopard print and piercings.