Remarks - Southern Women in Public
Service Conference Monday, May 3, 2004
- Good afternoon. I am so glad to be here and thank you so much for
honoring me with a Pacesetter Award. I think that is such a wonderful term! I
am honored to be among the women leaders who have served this great nation with
vision, commitment, and dedication. I hope I continue to live up
to that as director of the Women's Bureau at the U. S. Department of
Labor.
- Before I go any farther, I must recognize some very special people
in the audience today. First, Delores Crockett, the Women's Bureau Regional
Administrator for Atlanta and several other southern states. Delores, thank you
for everything that you do for the Women's Bureau and Region IV.
- Next, I want to recognize Colonial Angela Manos, who oversees Forts
McPherson and Gilliam. Thank you for your commitment to our country and God
bless you for your service.
- Also, the Women's Bureau is pleased to have provided 10 scholarships
to military spouses from McPherson and Gilliam and I would like them to please
stand up and be recognized. We are so happy to have you here.
- As Director of the Women's Bureau I will continue to do all that I
can to empower women to be prepared for the 21st century workforce. Thanks to
my wonderful Women's Bureau staff who I have been working with for the last 3
years the Women's Bureau is a:
o Place for best ideas o Innovating
Programs o Technology driven programs o Online learning with mentors,
and o Partnerships
- I know that we will continue to strive for better jobs, better
earnings, and a better living for working women in America.
- My childhood experience taught me that gender equity starts at home.
As I was growing up in Korea, beef soup was a very popular and special dish
that every family enjoyed. More often than not, I noticed that I did not have
beef in my portion of the soup. Mine was full of vegetables - with no beef.
Beef was all in my father's and brother's soup. I did not have any hard
feelings toward my father or brothers. In fact, I enjoyed my beef soup without
the beef (HEALTHY, VEGETARIAN, LIVE LONGER), but I have been very
conscious about the missing beef and have been asking "Where is the Beef" ever
since. The Women's Bureau is driven by this message.
- The first is my parents, especially my mother, who died 20 years
ago. She would be so proud to know that I am the first Asian American Director
of the Women's Bureau. She would never have dreamed that her little girl born
in the horse year could have done so well. In fact, she waited two weeks before
announcing my birth, and by doing this, she could then say I was born in the
year of the goat - a more tame domestic animal that men would
prefer.
- The second is Mary F. Scranton, a 19th century Methodist missionary,
who made my mother's dream possible. My mother's only wish in life was for her
girls to get a college degree instead of a dowry. Ms. Scranton made the choice
to leave her comfortable home in the US. She traveled across the world to
establish the first institution of formal education for women in Korean in
1886. She started with one student; Ewha currently has 18,000 students, and is
one of the largest universities for women in the world. I wish I could tell her
how many thousands of lives she changed - including my own. Without her vision
and sacrifice, I would not be standing before you today.
- The third person I want to share the award with is my boss,
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. I am so thankful that the Secretary Chao and
President George W. Bush appointed me as the Director of the Women's Bureau -
the highest ranking Korean American in his Administration.
- I am also proud that Secretary Chao has appointed a record number of
women to political senior level positions - 9 out of 18!
- Secretary Chao also has such a remarkable story. As you may know she
came to America with her family at the age of 8, and she didn't speak a word of
English. 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.
- I am proud to serve a President who understands just how much women
can accomplish-and has had no hesitation in appointing them to the top post in
his administration. The list includes women like:
- o Elaine Chao
o Condoleezza Rice o Karen Hughes o Ann
Veneman o Gail Norton o Christine Todd Whitman
- These were NOT token Appointments.
- My experience in Illinois government, before coming to Washington,
was also very important. I had the privilege to work for two Governors,
Governors Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar. My work building an Asian American
coalition was recognized by Governor Jim Thompson, and he made me the first
Asian to be appointed to a cabinet position in Illinois History.
- Because of the revision of the 1965 immigration law and the end of
the Vietnam War in 1975, an increasing number of Asians were coming to the
United States. By 1980, over one half of the immigrants entering the United
States came from Asian countries. This made Asian Americans the most rapidly
growing minority group.
- This sudden influx of new Americans, from Asia, presented a unique
set of challenges - cultural difference, a language barrier, adjustment
problems, and discrimination. There were acts of violence, such as a Korean
church and Thai Temple being burned down by neighbors who did not want to
Asians in their community.
- To address the need for these new immigrants to be socially,
economically and politically empowered, a group of 7 Asian Americans
recommended to Governor James Thompson that he establish an Asian American
Advisory Council in Illinois. This was May 1982, and I served as its first
chair. I was the only women in that original group. In 1984, we created the
Asian American Coalition Dinner Event, which was attended by 1400 Asian
Americans. This was the first and the biggest. I am where I am
today because of this coalition that has lasted 21 years.
- · In February 1984, Governor Thompson announced my appointment
as the Special Assistant to the Governor for Asian American Affairs; the
position was the first of its kind in the nation.
- I was given this honor because of my work pulling together the very
diverse Asian American communities in Chicago at a time when the communities
were not very visible or known to the general public. I thought I was doing
this for Asian Americans, but I ended up benefiting tremendously from this
volunteer work.
- In 1991, Governor Jim Edgar appointed me the Director of the
Illinois Department of Labor. Through this position, I was able to address the
issues of all Illinois working men and women.
- I can't go home if I don't thank my husband for his support over the
years. K.C. is a wonderful man, but I usually do not listen to him. But I am
glad that I listened to him at least one time. In fact, right after we got
married he insisted that I go to Northwestern University for more education. I
wanted to have baby. Well, I did both, and delivered my baby between semesters!
I don't know what I learned because I was so sleepy, but I got my baby and a
diploma, which opened many doors for me.
- In closing, I would like to leave you with four guiding principles
that are dear to my heart and have always worked for me. I call them the four
P's--
o Positive ( the glass is always half full, not half empty) o
Proactive ( do what you like to do and the sky is the limit) o Persevere
(keep trying - be determined) o Prepared (opportunities will come along,
but you must be prepared in order to take advantage of them.)
- Life is all about choices and consequences. Remember that it is
important to make the right choices.
- Thank you and may God bless you and your family.
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