ASIAN WOMEN’S CONNECTION awconnect.org
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Photo by Carlton SooHoo
By Anna Tsui
By Ana Y. Leon
A Lesson in Learning
Jean Russell
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alfway into our meeting, Jean Russell, the President of Asian Women’s Connection (AWC) utters the words that seem to sum up the organization: “We want it to be about us.” She is speaking of the need for working Asian women to connect and form social networks with others like themselves who can inspire one another to greater levels of professional and personal growth. Russell, like the other nine founding members of the AWC, is a highly accomplished visionary in her own right. She is the founder and president of BenefitsMart, a successful insurance brokerage firm, and is involved with countless other community organizations. The current eight members of the board are a well-rounded representation of the Asian community, ranging from Fehmida Chipty, an Indian Gastroenterologist, to Renee Inomata, a Japanese employment lawyer. Russell, who immigrated to the United States from Korea when she was 10 years old, says this network of strong, diverse leaders empowers Asian women in a way that goes beyond profession, by acknowledging the heart of who they are. As a whole, Asian women have particular physical, emotional and occupational needs that
eaving your birthplace, friends and relatives behind is not easy. For Phala Chea, a specialist for Community Outreach and Support of English Language Learners, leaving Cambodia—at 7 years old—was the only way to escape the Khmer Rouge regime. She and her family spent two years in refugee camps and later immigrated to Oregon. In 1987, they resettled in Lowell, Massachusetts. Phala immediately found growing up in America challenging. “Thankfully my parents prized education and made sacrifices for their children,” says Phala, providing the encouragement she needed to become a scholar, cultural advocate and community leader. Upon completing her Master’s in Education, she established her future with the school system. Phala taught 2nd grade English as a Second Language and then 7th grade English while pursuing her doctorate that concentrated on leadership in schooling. With her doctorate, she managed Lowell’s Parent Information Center (PIC) for 7 years. PIC enrolls students into Lowell’s public school system and provides educational resources and support to families. Though she misses teaching, her challenge is raising educators’ awareness and sensitivity to the cultural and educational ASIAN BOSTON
are not necessarily explored, due to a collective cultural suppression that deems these matters private and personal. For example, Russell believes that there are low numbers of Asian women in high-ranking managerial roles on account of a cultural sense of modesty. This translates to not seeking credit for accomplishments and asking for promotions. The demands on Asian women are intense. There may be pressure from all angles to place family, work and education above oneself. For this reason, Russell urges women to attend AWC events as a means of support to create opportunities, exchange resources and explore new interests. Members not only gain knowledge from events on topics such as financial planning, government affairs, public speaking, personal style and emotional health, but they also gain a sense of well-being from sharing their voice and knowledge with other Asian women. AWC hosts about four signature events each year, and a series of networking events where members and non-members meet to engage in professional topics during lunch, or after work hours. The organization has continuously grown in members and has hopes of reaching Asian women throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.
needs of students. The lack of cultural references in textbooks, in curriculums and the ending of bilingual education— eliminating teachers who served as role models to many immigrant students—is daunting. Thus, she wants to “strengthen the English Language Education Program and promote parent and community involvement in schools.” When she isn’t breaking down cultural and language barriers, Phala serves on the boards of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Cambodian Americans and other disadvantaged minority groups, and Lowell’s Southeast Water Festival, which shares the cultural heritage of Southeast Asians. From a seven-year-old with an uncertain future to a woman whose accomplishments seem endless, Phala’s commitment to educating students, teachers and the community is nothing short of remarkable. Still, she remains humble, but regards her parents as the true heroes. Her final lesson, “We aren’t born with the same privileges, same family support and same economic status; those who have less than others need to work harder, be persistent and more resilient in order to achieve.”
Photo by Carlton SooHoo
Phala Chea
Connecting Cultures