Mayor Pro Tem, City of Monterey Park
Mrs. Chu was born and raised in San Diego, California. By the time she was nine
years old, she knew she wanted to become a lawyer, because she had witnessed a great amount of gambling, corruption and prostitution. "I saw lots of people beaten up by corrupt, belligerent immigration and police officers. I resented that injustice, especially to minorities."
Education and Career versus Gender and Ethnicity
After graduating from law school in the top 10% of her class, while many of her classmates busily lined up job interviews, "I didn't get any job interviews. I had to get my own interviews and job opportunities. The university's placement office staff said to me, "Look at you: you are female and Asian. The doors are not even open for you, not to mention getting your foot in the door."
Despite his pride in his daughter's academic accomplishments, Chu's father cautioned against a legal career, because of his pragmatism. "He said I should be a nurse or secretary: certainly not a lawyer! The city [San Diego] was controlled by party politics, so a female, minority lawyer would be the last person to get a job!" said Chu.
Public Service
Being one of the founders of several banks is among many of her proudest accomplishments. Many Chinese Americans and other minorities faced discrimination when they tried to get a mortgage or business loan. According to Mrs. Chu, ?The Chinese didn?t even have the privilege of being denied a loan, because they were denied the application form!? This is the main reason she worked with local business leaders establishing East West Bank, the first Chinese American-controlled savings bank in America. "East West Bank was analogous to a traditional Chinese "hwei" or family association, which provided numerous social and financial support functions that many immigrants couldn?t get from mainstream American corporations or government agencies," said Mrs. Chu. After establishing East West Bank, Mrs. Chu went on to start the Trust Savings Bank where she was the first female founding chairperson and CEO of a savings bank in America.
Now having served as a Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem of Monterey Park, Chu offers a Confucian sounding view on the frustrating challenges of politics: ?When there is a need and a desire to help, there is mutual respect and love, from which you find a mutual language to solve difficult problems.?
Recognition >Mrs. Chu has been a very successful leader in the legal, business, financial and political arenas. However, when asked about her most memorable accomplishment, she recalls, "A few years ago, a woman asked me, 'Do you remember me" During the Watts riots in the 1960's, you and your husband helped me and my parents by taking us in to live in your house, when we were being targeted by the violent riots. We have always been so grateful for your kindness.' " Mrs. Chu and her husband helped several other Chinese-American families who were store owners caught up in the chaos of the rioting areas. This illustrates the essence of her career: helping people in need, through public service, utilizing her business, legal and political skills, establishing financial institutions which in turn helped countless people overcome difficult societal obstacles.
The Future "There were days when blacks voted for blacks, Hispanics voted for Hispanics and women voted for women. But today there are multiple candidates of the same background running against each other. This represents choice. We Chinese are late in joining the political system, but we are getting there. We need to focus on assimilation and working through the political process without losing sight of our heritage and who we are. Blacks and Hispanics maintain their language and culture while successfully working their way up the American political system." (Courtesy of Jason Jem.)