Foreign media: fighting for the rights and interests of new immigrants: the "San Francisco heart" of retired Chinese female teachers in the United States

On February 9th, local time, 20 12 "Heart of the City" hero award ceremony was held in San Francisco, USA. Retired teacher Chen Meiling (middle) became one of the four winners. China News Agency issued Chen Gang photo

China News Service, San Francisco, February 9 th: The "Heart of San Francisco" of American retired Chinese female teachers.

China News Service reporter Liu Dan

On the eve of Valentine's Day, Chen Meiling, a retired teacher in San Francisco, USA, received a red heart-shaped sculpture. She was selected as the "Heart of San Francisco" city hero in 20 12, in recognition of her unremitting efforts to fight for the rights and interests of new immigrants and low-income people and bilingual services since she immigrated to the United States for more than 40 years.

Starting from Valentine's Day seven years ago, San Francisco began to collect large-scale "heart" sculpture works of art, and put them in several conspicuous positions in the city for public viewing, and publicly auctioned them to raise money for the San Francisco General Hospital. While carrying out this activity, the "Urban Heroes" award also commended outstanding people who have served the community wholeheartedly in different industries for a long time.

On the afternoon of February 9th, local time, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee presented awards to four urban heroes, including Chen Meiling. Ed Li praised them for perfectly embodying the value and beauty of the city.

In an interview with a reporter from China News Service, Chen Meiling said that she was deeply humbled by the award. She recalled to reporters her mental journey of giving up her position as an industrial designer and serving new immigrants for decades.

Chen Meiling's mother is an overseas Chinese in Vietnam and her father is French. She studied in an international school in Hong Kong and received English training. After her biological father died of illness, her mother met her stepfather, who was also an overseas Chinese in Vietnam, but had become an American citizen. When the whole family immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong, their stepfather died, and the immigration officer made it difficult for the whole family to get a green card. Chen Meiling, who can speak English, knows how to fight for and defend his rights and interests with language for the first time.

"At that time, in the United States, the bilingual services provided by the government were very limited, and language became a major obstacle to the survival and development of new immigrants." Chen Meiling said, "I want to help other new immigrants like me, only from the language."

After receiving a degree in industrial design from the University of California, Berkeley, Chen Meiling worked as a teacher in Berkeley for another year. She has taught English for nearly 40 years since then.

She chose China, a city where China people gather, as an English teacher. While teaching basic English at China Education Center, the first immigration school in San Francisco, I went to City University of San Francisco to help new immigrants become naturalized and learn English at night.

"I have been in the Chinese Education Center for 35 years and in the City University for 37 years. My students range from children to old ladies. " Chen Meiling has also set up the "Asian Visit to the Valley Alliance" in the valley area where most new immigrants live, providing language help to the residents there and helping them to obtain various services from the municipal government, immigration bureau and police station.

Chen Meiling is quite famous in the community, and everyone calls her "Miss Chen". She not only teaches, but also is keen on community service. She was appointed twice as a member of the San Francisco Immigration Rights Committee and served as a liaison for three police stations and communities.

Chen Meiling encouraged Chinese people to care about politics and participate in the discussion of state affairs. Last year, she tried her best to run for the city Council, which led many new immigrants in the community to vote, although it was a glorious defeat.

Chen Meiling, the first person who took the stage to receive the award, ended his acceptance speech with the China idiom "Drinking water from the source". "I immigrated to the United States to get opportunities for education and work. Many people have helped me, and I am willing to give back to the society and let more people get the same opportunities. " Fighting for the Rights and Interests of New Immigrants "The Heart of San Francisco" —— China Europe News Source: (Studying in liuxue86.com)