fbpx
Share

Innovation Dialog with Teresa Keng

Guest: Teresa Keng

SUMMARY
Teresa Keng is an innovative and experienced leader specializing in the areas of small business,
entrepreneurship, public policy, housing, real estate, and customer/constituent relations. She is agile,
able to manage and prioritize complicated responsibilities, while successfully responding to challenging
and novel situations. She is a proven operator, managing cross-functional teams and building win-win
relationships with staff, customers, and stakeholders. Teresa is committed to excellence, team-work and
leading by example.
AREAS OF STRENGTH
Leadership, Government and Community Relations, Project & Time Management, Sales and Marketing,
Small Business/Entrepreneurship
EXPERIENCE
Commercial And Residential Realtor and Loan Agent, Legacy Realty and Loans 2000-2019
● Assisted Client with finding their dream homes in the East Bay and South Bay Area with the best
terms and a smooth move-in process
● Represented commercial tenants with locating office spaces, lease agreement and tenant
improvements negotiation, and oversaw tenant improvements.
● Provided consultations with potential tenants on locations and logistics based on their specific
needs
Advisor at the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco Bay Area /2020-Present
● Event planning & support for Chamber of Commerce Member Development
● Assist with fundraising and distribution of 50,000 masks for health clinics in East & South Bay
Fremont Unified School District Liaison Committee Member, City of Fremont /2020-Present
● Work with representatives of School Board members and Superintendent to advocate for student
wellness and long term strategy
● Advocated for safe return to in-classroom learning for both special needs and mainstream students
● Advocated for student mental health support programs
● Advocated for “Safe Routes to Schools”- City worked to install signage and accommodations to
make the routes safer for students
City Council Member, City of Fremont – Fremont, CA | 2018 – Present
● Oversee a $200 Million + budget serving over 250,000 residents in Alameda County’s second
largest city
● Elected in 2018 for a 2-year term and re-elected in 2020 for a full 4-year term
● Raised Fremont’s minimum wage to $15/ hour, two years ahead of the State schedule.
● Supported events and fundraisers for Fremont Education Foundation, SAVE, and other non-profits
Teresa Keng
34250 Whitehead Lane, Fremont, CA 94555 | 510-468-0336 | teresainthecity@yahoo.com
● Established the Fremont Housing Navigation Center to help homeless residents with temporary
housing as well as resources to establish permanent housing
● On March 27th, 2020, ratified Executive Orders to establish emergency eviction moratoriums on
residential and small business evictions
● Set up Fremont Cares Rent Relief Program for rental assistance
● Set up Small Business Relief Grant Program to assist small business ownersT
● Coordinated and donated masks to essential workers and underserved communities
Small Business Owner, Milk and Honey Cafe – Fremont, CA | 2015 – Present
● Oversee General Operations of Restaurant, designed and implemented menu items
● Coordinate marketing campaigns and special events
● Negotiated lease contract and lead design/construction of remodeling over the course of 8 months
● Worked with local schools and nonprofits on fundraising events, raised over $5,000 for local
communities
● Worked with Fremont Unified Student Store to provide more than 6,000 free lunches for Fremont
students from March through June 2020
● Hosted shoe donations and toy drives for underserved students
● Held clothing drives for California fire victims
● Hosted fundraisers for SAVE aiding domestic violence victims
EDUCATION
San Jose State University, CA — Ed.D. Leadership Program Candidate | Doctoral Program in
Educational Leadership | 2021-Present
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, San Francisco, CA — Master of Science (M.S.),
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Herbology | 1997-2000
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA — Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Business Managerial
Economics | 1993-1997

 

这一期硅谷看世界的主角是一位女性。
她很传奇,32年前学生时期来到美国,32年后的今天正在竞选加州众议员。
她很普通,因为在她的身上,我们能看到每个来美第一代移民经历的影子——
有过彷徨,有过挫折,有过迷茫,却最终慢慢找到自己并找到自己为之奋斗的方向,一步步坚实地走下去。
她就是黄洁宜(Teresa Keng),而她人生奋斗依靠的就是四个字——越挫越勇

初到美国
黄洁宜会来到美国,源自一个机缘巧合。1990年的暑假,居住旧金山的叔公叔婆回台湾探望并提议黄洁宜姐妹来美读书。黄洁宜和姐姐在来到旧金山以后,因叔公叔婆年事已高,黄洁宜得成长受到教会和社区很多朋友们的关心和帮助,寒暑假都居住于教会朋友处。她自己就是个学霸,在洛杉矶Wilson High School,圣荷西Independence High School和Newark Memorial High School以优异得高中成绩毕业,并考取了UCLA。从她的读书履历来看,她有搬过很多次家,生活环境变化比较大,但来自教会和周围社区的长辈们及朋友们的爱让她充满了安全感,也就是这时,她的心中种下了一颗要回馈社区及社会的种子。

从家暴的阴影走出
很难想象,黄洁宜是从小看着父亲家暴母亲长大的。“家暴是会影响下一代的,影响很大。”这样的阴影伴随了她整个青春。在遇到性骚扰时,她不敢说话;当遇到不公正待遇时,她也不敢说话。直到后来她找到心理咨询师,才逐渐从曾经父亲家暴的阴影中走出,逐渐勇敢强大去接触更多的人,参与到回馈社会的活动中去,关心社区,并因此走向了政坛之路。

竭尽所能活下来

通常,励志的故事从一个阴影中走出,就开始通往光明。

黄洁宜的经历和故事却要更加曲折。

她和先生在最初一起经营了一家奶茶店,后来是餐厅。而此时疫情降临了,她的先生因为终日操劳罹患中风,两个孩子都有自闭症,当年一个9岁一个11岁(现在11岁13岁)都需要照顾。

在疫情严峻和家人患病的双重打击下,黄洁宜用自己柔弱的肩膀撑起了整个家。

疫情期间餐馆无堂食,她一边要照顾着先生,一边带着两个自闭症孩子开车送团购餐。

“生活所迫只能想办法,竭尽所能活下来。”

越挫越勇的她走向政坛

黄洁宜开始参选Fremont市议员是在2018年,那年的Fremont市议员从5个席位变成7席,新增加的席位有一个区正好落在了黄洁宜所在的区,而这个区已经有12年无人在市议会发声。

而在这个时候,先生的鼓励让黄洁宜燃起了去参加竞选,为社区服务的热情。

第一次参选,她就意识到,作为女性去参选是会遇到一些男性遇不到的困难的。

比如曾有人就问她:“你的孩子们都有自闭症,那你出来竞选,谁来照顾孩子们呢?”

这种问题有击中黄洁宜。击中她的不是对孩子的愧疚,因为她和先生早已为如何照顾孩子安排妥当。击中她的,是她感受女性身上很强的标签属性在职场中行走的不便。

而她也下定决心,要越挫越勇靠自己去证明我可以。

家人的鼓励也成为了此时的她心理上最大的支持。尤其妈妈(下图左一)陪着她到各地竞选,也陪她上门拜票,用身体力行一点一滴支持着女儿。

连任2次市议员的黄洁宜,对于小商业者们,治安安全方面,经济,教育,就业,促进小型商业契机等等都非常关注,黄议员说“当一位为人民服务的公仆就是要聆听人民的诉求,好为大家争取更多的权益和权利!”

相比于“左”和“右”的观点,她说自己的观点更趋于“中间”。
比如在疫情期间很多小商业者因为无力承担房租会被赶出,黄洁宜认为针对解决这样问题的政策制定不能仅仅是去解决一方的问题,而是需要对涉入的行业都有了解再制定出合理的政策。因为很多房东自己也是小商业者,靠着房租为生,也不该让他们来承担所有。
黄洁宜同时提到政策制定者其实身上的责任很重大,因为一个新的政策会影响到各行各业。所以提前对各行业要了解更多才能更好为大家服务。
而提到治安,虽然现在不少人提到要减少警察经费,但黄洁宜说最近针对华人的种族仇恨犯罪增多,她是支持保证甚至增加警察经费这一块以维持治安的基本稳定。
尤其当她提起教育,她想着的是如何能更好给现在受教育的孩子们在未来提供依旧高薪的职业机会;如何给疫情过后的学校和学生以指引,从升学压力中走出。
对教育的敏感和重视让她希望自己能更好服务教育业,真正找到有利措施去改善学校现状,黄洁宜于2021年开始在圣荷西州立大学就读教育学博士。她总是在想着如何真正去做好事情,如何真正服务到社区。这种不忘初心,是最难得可贵的。
而当硅谷丁丁电视创始人Diana问起她:“这次竞选加州众议员的三个候选人都是华裔。现在有很多人想问,既然都是华裔,同次一起选必然会被分流华裔的选票。为什么不能大家一起商量一下轮流选举,这样至少能把华裔的票集中在一起呢?”问题犀利,黄洁宜回答得温和而有力——“这样才能让民众选出最合乎他们需求的候选人”。
越挫越勇的黄洁宜正在奔向她的美国梦。
而我们每个在美的华人,都在奔向自己的美国梦。
Image
我们很多人都有过类似她这样的经历,遇到过各种各样的困难,而最终在磨难后发现自我并实现自我价值。
愿每一个正在努力的我们都得偿所愿。

LEAVE YOUR COMMENT

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *