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.

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, Junior Editor

Kenia Ortiz is a Junior at Hoover High School. 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. Outside school, Kenia spends her days listening to music, watching movies, and taking long walks. The Weeknd, Giveon, and The Internet band are her top artists. She’ll never tire of rewatching her favorite childhood movies, Madagascar and Cars. Her favorite meal is chicken alfredo and pink lemonade for any occasion. She despises slow walkers and loud talkers. She could come off as dull, but in all reality, she’s a tranquil and non-judgmental being who cherishes laughs and the petite things in life. She enjoys her independent time as an introvert although, pushes to be more out there by being additionally involved with the school. Kenia is part of Cardinals Interact, where they support their Cardinal family in every way possible. She plans to join clubs such as IMIN and Key Club. She adores the work of expressing her lens of the world through writing, especially with the opportunities her yearbook class brings. She aspires to graduate here at Hoover High, as it is traditional in her family, and at least four years in college, preferably SDSU, where she will strive for a career in the photography industry. Her biggest motivation is to be the first of her three siblings to attend and complete college for her mom, who she looks up to. Kenia desires improvement within herself, to acquire her full potential, and to find self-love for who she is. She truly believes the world could be better if we held love and basic respect for one another as a family. Today, she aims daily to own up to her beliefs, not only with care and love for her peers but understanding them as well.