Remarks -- DOL Opportunity Conference
November 9, 2005

• Good morning, and welcome to a panel discussion on Local Success Stories. My name is Shinae Chun, and I am Director of the Women’s Bureau at the U.S. Department of Labor.

• As I look at my life, there are many people who are responsible for my success. First, my parents. I wish to honor my father for instilling love of learning, work ethic, and integrity in me. I had the good fortune to run two Cabinet agencies: DFI and Labor. Both are regulatory agencies, and integrity was a very important quality to bring to those agencies.

• My mother, who taught me about sharing and serving others, died 21 years ago. She would be so proud that her little girl born in the horse year has done so well. In fact, she waited two weeks before announcing my birth, and, by doing this, she could tell her friends that Shinae was born in the year of the goat – a more tame domestic animal that men would prefer.

• Second, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. In fact, thanks to President George W. Bush and Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao, I am the first Asian American Director of the Women’s Bureau in its 85 year history. It is a true transformation of a woman who never expected to work one day in her life to end up being responsible for shaping programs and policies for working women in America.

• You know, Secretary Chao has such a remarkable story. She came to America with her mother and two sisters at the age of 8, to join her father who came three years before. She didn’t speak a word of English, and her father taught her. She quickly learned the value of hard work and a good education, and this dedication has led her to be the first Asian American woman in history ever to be appointed to a Cabinet position.

• Secretary Chao is a great believer in pulling women and minorities along with her as she climbs the ladder of success. Thanks to her, 50% of all PASs (presidential appointees with Senate approval) at the Department of Labor are women! And the highest number of Asian Americans are working at the Department of Labor. There will be many more to come, thanks to her wonderful internship program for Asian Americans.

• Third, Governors Thompson and Edgar, and Illinois Asian American community leaders, for having faith in my work and giving me the opportunity to serve. I would not be where I am if it were not for them.

• With the passing of the 1965 revision of the immigration law, and the ending of the Vietnam War in 1975, many immigrants and refugees came from Asia and settled in Illinois. The influx of so many newly arrived immigrants presented a unique set of challenges – cultural difference, a language barrier, adjustment problems and discrimination. To address their needs, a group of us got together who desired to serve this community and help state government to be more responsive to the needs of Asian Americans. Our small group of 13 became a movement -- many more people joined, and the Asian American Coalition was born.

• In February 1984, Governor Thompson announced my appointment as the Special Assistant to the Governor for Asian American Affairs, the first of its kind in the nation. Mayor Harold Washington and Senators Charles Percy and Paul Simon followed his lead and also created Special Assistant positions within their offices to meet the needs of Asian Americans. Many other elected officials have done the same. I am so proud to call Illinois my home state – and the home state of the new World Champions, the Chicago White Sox!