[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO MS. BERNIE WONG, PRESIDENT OF THE CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE 
LEAGUE ON HER RECEIPT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARD AT 
                            THE WHITE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I consider Ms. Bernie Wong to be 
among the very best of Social Workers in the United States of America 
or any place else in the world today. Bernie is being cited by 
President Obama for her outstanding leadership and development of the 
Chinese American Service League in Chicago. The Champion of the 
``Change Award,'' recognizes a small select group of Americans who 
embody, innovate, educate and build. The Award ceremony is held at the 
White House to honor those who exemplify Cesar Chavez's core values 
including service to other, knowledge, innovation, acceptance of all 
people, and respect for life and the environment. Bernie Wong is being 
recognized for her tireless efforts on behalf of Chinese Chicagoans. 
Ms. Wong is one of ten individuals nationwide to receive this 
prestigious honor.
  Bernie Wong was the youngest of seven children and grew up poor, but 
never realized it. A product of a catholic school upbringing, Bernie 
learned early in life the meaning of generosity and compassion for 
others. Bernie's mother was always available to help others in need and 
would take Bernie and her siblings to visit the sick every week and 
provide food for people. Experiences in Bernie early years set the 
stage for her mission driven approach to serving others with dignity 
and respect. At eighteen, Bernie left Hong Kong for Sioux City, Iowa 
where she earned a four year scholarship to pursue a Bachelors' Degree 
in Sociology from Briar Cliff College. She went on to earn a Masters' 
Degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. 
Bernie truly understand what poor new immigrants face when confronted 
by completely different culture and language. This realization gave her 
the courage to gather a few friends and begin the task of building the 
Chinese American Service League from the ground up.
  Founded in 1978, with a desk and chairs, the Chinese American Service 
League is now the largest and most comprehensive social service agency 
in the Midwest dedicated to the needs of Asian Americans. Housed in the 
award winning Kam L. Liu Building, and supported by an annual budget of 
$12 million, CASL's program reach over 17,000 clients each year. CASL 
services everyone in need, but primarily focuses on serving Chinese 
American immigrants in the metropolitan Chicago area. CASL's clients 
are low-income and a significant portion served is newly arrived 
immigrants. These individuals often have little formal education and 
possess a few transferable skills. Since 90% of CASL's clients speak 
little to no English, they find themselves unable to access needed 
social services. CASL provides a critical safety-net by employing over 
400 multilingual professionals and support staff. CASL serves a vital 
niche in the community, often taking referrals from other social 
service agencies, neighborhood organizations, and government 
institutions in order to serve clients with specific language or other 
special needs. Bernie is a true she-roe and leader in her community. 
She is indeed a champion of change and I salute President Obama for 
recognizing it. She deserves every accolade that we can shower upon 
her.

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