Like many members of the Apex family, Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou is the child of immigrant parents who came to America in search of new opportunities. Her family’s story mirrors that of many immigrants: new parents struggling to raise a young family and pursue their dreams—all while trying to assimilate to a new country. Growing up, Niou also endured her share of bullying and racism at the hands of young peers. She has since used those experiences to fuel her work in government. As one of two Asian Americans (and the only Asian American woman) in the New York State Assembly, her passion continues to inspire young people to take action in their local communities.
Niou has long been a friend of Apex. At our 2018 Inspiration Awards Gala, she presented Executive Director Michael Lee with a New York State Assembly Citation, commending Apex for creating opportunities for 150,000 Asian American students. Niou has been a galvanizing force in our community, championing youth education and mentorship and working to solve housing concerns, senior service issues, transportation problems and more. This year, her $50,000 contribution to Apex will change the lives of our mentees by providing them with dedicated mentors for the entire academic year—an experience that will expand their horizons and help them reach their potential.
Niou’s interest in politics was sparked by a desire to demystify the inner workings of government. It began with a college internship in the Washington State Legislature, where she realized that politics is not as inaccessible as it looks from the outside. “The people who are running the show just want folks to think that [politics and government] is some complicated machine that they can’t access. We have to break that narrative,” she urged.¹
After her internship ended, Niou moved to New York to earn her Masters in Public Administration from CUNY Baruch College, was chosen for the National Urban Fellowship and served as Assemblymember Ron Kim’s Chief of Staff. When a New York State Assembly seat became available, she felt a responsibility to run. “I knew that if I didn’t run, it might be years and years before I saw an Asian Pacific American at the table. So I ran.”²
The concept that government processes are complicated and convoluted is one that rings familiar to many Asian Americans. In a culture where keeping one’s head down and quietly working hard are valued above most other qualities, it can be daunting to dip a toe into a profession so fraught with scandal and public confrontation—even more so for those who do not count English as a first language. Here, discovering one’s voice is two-fold: finding the capability to literally speak the language, and then building on that skill to speak out on behalf of one’s community.
Since securing her seat in the New York State Assembly, Niou has become a champion for the Asian American community, using her voice to bring to light many of the injustices and issues that plague the community today. Last year when Fox News’ Jesse Watters posted a controversial video of interviews he conducted in Manhattan Chinatown, Niou stood front and center at protests outside of the News Corp building alongside students, locals and allies who refused to let racism permeate their city.
Niou has paved the way for other Asian Americans to lead in government. Her spirit, attitude and vision have inspired other Asian American youth to activate the community. Her staff is comprised of a passionate and hardworking mix of students, interns and volunteers, all of whom were moved to join her “because Niou looked like them… and because she understood them.”2
Through hard work, access to the right resources and the unconditional support of the community, Niou’s success story is one that can be emulated by our young, ambitious leaders. Apex is proud to have mentors and mentees who, like Niou, have been empowered to consider the profession in the future.
Take Jonathan Yip, an Apex mentor who held a college internship at at the White House National Economic Council during the Obama administration, where he discovered that “effective, thoughtful government could make a real difference in people’s lives.” When he saw that Hillary Clinton was running for president in the 2016 election, Yip also felt a responsibility to take action. “My experience with Apex helped me put a face to the people we fought for every day,” Yip recalls. His time with Apex reassured him that Clinton was the candidate who had the potential to “build an America where our mentees could have a fair shot at living in a society that welcomed and celebrated their place.”
Finding our voice is vital to our success as a community, but amplifying that voice can only be done when the diverse representatives are elected. Like Niou, we have the power to take action to amplify the voice of our community and shape the future of our country. One voice may start as a whisper, but with many we become a roar. Thank you for helping Apex build leaders for a better tomorrow.
You can learn more about Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou’s platform at https://www.nioufornewyork.com/ and follow her work at:
Sources:
- What Gets Passed: Endurance, Politics, and a Journey Between Immigrant Generations. Dan Xin, Slant’d Issue 01: Beginnings. August 2017.
- Interview: Yuh-Line Niou. Slant’d: The Tilt. May 2018.