[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Pages 14628-14629]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO BERNARDA ``BERNIE'' WONG

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments to 
acknowledge Bernarda ``Bernie'' Wong, founder and president of the 
Chinese American Service League, CASL--and Esther Wong, cofounder and 
executive director of CASL. Earlier this year, Bernie and Esther 
announced they would be retiring on December 31, 2016.
  Nearly 40 years ago, along with eight Chinese American friends, 
Bernie and Esther gathered over potluck dinners to discuss the needs of 
the Chinese community in Chicago. These discussions led to the creation 
of the Chinese American Service League, commonly referred to as CASL. 
CASL began with the goal of teaching English as a second language to 
Chinese immigrants. But today, because of Bernie's leadership, CASL has 
become one of the largest Asian American social service organizations 
in the country, providing social support services from early childhood 
development through elder care.
  Born and raised in Hong Kong, Bernie moved to the United States in 
1962 at the age of 18. Like many immigrants, Bernie came to the United 
States to further her education. She was awarded a full scholarship to 
attend Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA, and graduated in 1962 
with a degree in social work. Before moving to Chicago, Bernie received 
her master's degree in social work from Washington University in St. 
Louis. Social work was in her blood. Her mother used tell her, ``Share 
and give. Even if you don't have much, you share it . . .'' And that is 
exactly what Bernie did, but it didn't come easy. When Bernie first 
came to Chicago, she faced push back from community leaders. They 
didn't want an outsider coming in and shining a light on

[[Page 14629]]

their problems. Some considered it shameful. But that didn't stop 
Bernie. She went to the United Way and explained what she was trying to 
do. In 1979, they awarded her a special grant. She used it to start 
CASL.
  Today Bernie's vision for Chinese immigrants in Chicago has grown 
from an annual budget of $32,000 to $13 million and a handful of 
employees to 450, serving more than 17,000 of the community's most 
vulnerable. She once said, ``It's my job to know what the people in 
this community need. Then we can make a program available that will 
help them.'' That guiding principle has led Bernie and Esther to launch 
and oversee each of CASL's programs giving immigrants the tools to 
succeed in America, such as senior and child care services, family 
counseling, financial education, and employment training.
  Bernie has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 
Champion of Change Award given by President Obama for her extraordinary 
leadership in the community. Her other awards include United Way of 
Chicago's Executive of the Year Award; Crain's Chicago ``100 Most 
Influential Women of Chicago;'' and the Chicago Historical Society's 
Jane Addams Making History Award. Bernie also chaired the Chicago 
mayor's advisory council on Asian affairs and was the first Asian 
appointed to the boards of United Way of Chicago and the Chicago Public 
Library. And just last month, her years of service were recognized with 
her very own street: Bernarda ``Bernie'' Wong Way, right outside the 
Chinese American Service League. What an honor.
  Since CASL's beginning, Esther Wong has been a faithful founding 
member. For more than two decades, she has served as chair of the 
program committee. Esther has been integral in CASL's success. So much 
so that, in 2002, Esther was recruited to assume the newly created 
executive director position. In this role, Esther has been responsible 
for expanding CASL's programs to include housing and financial 
education. She has also overseen several significant infrastructure 
improvements that have allowed CASL to provide critical safety net 
programs to the Chicagoland community. As a recipient of the mayor's 
Commission on Women's Affairs' Woman of the Year Award and the Asian 
American Coalition of Chicago's Community Services Award, Esther served 
on countless boards in the Asian American and immigrant community. She 
continues to serve on the boards of the National Coalition for Asian 
Pacific American Community Development, the Coalition for Limited 
English Speaking Elderly, and the Chicago Jobs Council.
  I will close with this. A few years ago, the Chicago Tribune 
interviewed Bernie. They asked how she would like to be remembered if 
she ever retired. She recalled a time when a janitor was sitting down 
eating lunch in the cafeteria. In China, you don't sit with your boss, 
so he was trying to leave. Bernie said, ``No, sit down.'' He told her, 
``I've never seen a boss who wanted to include you.'' That is Bernie 
Wong's legacy. She simply wants people to know she cares and to make 
people feel included. After a career spanning nearly four decades at 
CASL, providing comprehensive and inclusive programs for immigrants and 
helping generations born in America realize their dreams, one thing is 
clear: Bernie and Esther care.
  I want to congratulate Bernie and Esther on two wonderful careers and 
thank them for their service to our community. I wish them and their 
husbands, Albert and David, all the best in the next chapter of their 
lives.

                          ____________________