Take root

Exclusive interview with California Walnut Mayor Su Wangxiulan on how to care for new immigrants

Interview/Lin Minwen

Interviewee profile
Su Wang Xiulan grew up in Taiwan and settled in California. Founded the Chinese Parents Association of Walnut School District in 1997. In 2006, she was elected as the first Chinese-American female city councilor in Walnut with the highest number of votes and was re-elected for two terms. In 2009, she became the first Chinese-American female mayor of the city and currently serves as the second mayor. In 2009, she was appointed as the first female president of the Southern California Chinese American Elected Officials Association.

During the parent-teacher conference, Mayor Su was deeply aware of the special challenges faced by immigrant families, so he held regular lectures on parent-child relationships and education plans. Over the years, she has also been enthusiastic about charity fundraising activities and caring for disadvantaged groups such as the disabled and the elderly.

As a Christian, Mayor Su uses the community as a service field. He has devoted himself to educational organizations and community services for many years and is deeply respected by local residents. She has received many honors and recognitions, including the San Gabriel Valley YWCA's 2011 Woman of Distinction Award and was selected as Woman of the Year by the California State Senator in 2003 and 2011.

As a first-generation immigrant who has lived in Walnut, CA, where 58% of the population is Asian, for more than 20 years, Mary Su has personally experienced the difficulty and necessity of integrating into the society and culture of the place of migration. Since joining the city council in 2006, she has served two terms as mayor. She has devoted immeasurable efforts and time to the new immigrant community.

transplanted to a foreign land

But before joining politics, Xiulan was a mother. When her children entered school, Xiulan often served as a volunteer at the school. One day, she saw that the communication between an Asian parent and the school reception staff was not smooth, so Xiulan took the initiative to ask. It turned out that this Chinese mother who had just immigrated here asked the school to provide a classroom interpreter for her daughter. However, her English expression skills were insufficient, and the reception staff found it difficult to understand, and their attitude was not so friendly. Not only did Xiulan immediately help her communicate with the school, she also found that her son was in the same class as the girl and could act as her translator.

Xiulan couldn't help but recall that when she and her husband came to the United States to study, even though they had a basic knowledge of the language, they still found it difficult to listen, speak, read and write in an environment where English was the only language. Coupled with my limited understanding of local culture, I always feel that Americans are as cold as local lettuce salads and not as hospitable and enthusiastic as Chinese people. After leaving her hometown and transplanting to another country, Xiulan and most of the international students inevitably experienced a period of loneliness and loss.

Later, I met the retired elder Mr. Green in the school's learning center. He especially likes to help international students, serving as a free tutor, helping to revise reports, and even taking international students to watch performances. His enthusiasm left a deep impression on Xiulan, and she couldn't help but ask herself: Why did Mr. Green do this? What made Xiulan even more puzzled was that he couldn't be found on Sunday. Later I learned that the old man was a devout Christian and must have been worshiping God in church that day.

In addition, Xiulan also established a deep friendship with her neighbor and his wife. Their care inspired and comforted Xiulan, who was just getting married, and she treated the children of the Su family as her own grandchildren. At the invitation of the couple, Xiulan walked into the church and felt like she had found good soil suitable for growth, and she took root from there.

▲As a first-generation immigrant, Su Wang Xiulan (stander, third from right) has invested immeasurable efforts and time in the new immigrant community. The picture shows the activities to support the elderly held in 2011.

Under the gorgeous facade

Thanks to the support of Christians, Xiulan's family has adapted to the immigrant environment; and because she has received help, she is also very willing to help others. Since accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord of life, God’s love has become the driving force behind Xiulan’s care for the immigrant community.

She observed how much inconvenience and grievance the new immigrants suffered due to language and cultural barriers when they first arrived. They are unfamiliar with the education system and lack communication with schools and school districts. If there are no local people to speak for them and fight for the rights they deserve, the new immigrants have nowhere to appeal and no way to solve the problems they encounter.

Because of this realization, Wang Xiulan Su founded the Chinese Parents Association of Walnut School District in 1997 to build a bridge between immigrant families and the school district. Not only does it help Chinese parents and children understand schools and courses, and make good use of resources, but it also raises funds for school districts when the government cuts education funding. Xiulan also actively introduced Chinese culture and Chinese courses to the school district, and even promoted the partnership between Walnut School District and Shanghai Baoshan School District as a sister school district.

▲Su Wang Xiulan (second row, fifth from left) founded the Chinese Parents Association of Walnut School District in 1997. She suggested that the church should properly guide and teach teenagers in new immigrant families to help these children grow into sound individuals.

Because she has been getting along with parents and students for a long time, Xiulan can see some of the unique needs of new immigrants. More and more Chinese families in the greater Los Angeles area of California have absent members. Some families are "beautiful on the inside", with the wife living in the United States with their children, and the father staying in Asia for his career. There are also "child-headed" families, where the teenage brothers and sisters take care of the younger siblings while the parents stay in their place of origin.

Such arrangements have a high-sounding premise: for the education of children. Parents believe that the learning environment in the United States is good, and their children can receive a better education here, have better development opportunities, and have a greater chance of success in the future.

Xiulan hopes that believers and churches can see beyond the gorgeous facade of "successful careers," "luxury houses," and "kids going to prestigious schools" and truly see into the hurt hearts of many wives and children.

▲Su Wang Xiulan (fourth from right) encourages believers and churches to truly care for immigrant families and convey the love of Christ through warm moments of reunion. The picture shows the Mother's Day dinner held by Walnut City Government in 2012.

Treat new immigrants with kindness

Su Wang Xiulan saw that in families where the husband was absent, the wife either used shopping to satisfy her empty spiritual life, or vented her inexplicable depression on the children. She also saw that children who lacked the company of their parents when they were growing up would still be troubled by sudden insecurities even as adults or even in middle age. Xiulan knew that only God’s love was the source of grace and peace for these families. She provides practical assistance within her ability and encourages parents to bring their children into the church. In the past, the parent-teacher association often cooperated with the Feiyang Association and invited Pastor Li Shunchang to lead parent-child relationship lectures based on biblical concepts.

In addition, Shirley works with church groups to care for immigrant families. Brothers become uncles to their children, and sisters become someone to whom their wives confide. Car repairs, gardening, and even tax consulting are all things that individual believers and the church as a whole can do. Team service not only allows brothers and sisters with different talents and resources to provide various help, but also avoids the awkward situation of brothers and wives whose husbands often travel far away from each other alone.

New Years and festivals are the times when foreigners feel the most lonely. Believers can invite immigrant families to dinner during festivals. We hope to enjoy the enthusiasm and warmth of the traditional Chinese family while also conveying the love of Christ. The Chinese are flocking to "prestigious schools". In addition to providing information about different schools for new immigrants, believers can also convey Bible-based values and encourage parents to cultivate their children according to their strengths and talents.

Xiulan has served Chinese families in parent-teacher associations for many years, and has also been a children’s Sunday school teacher in the church for a long time. Xiulan said earnestly: Adolescence is the key to life. If the church can properly encourage and teach teenagers from new immigrant families, they can Enjoying the love and affirmation of a large family can help these children grow into healthy individuals. She even believes that churches can reduce many social problems by investing in youth ministry. She herself had cared for and mentored some Chinese children and pulled them back from the edge of gangs. Nothing made her feel happier than seeing them study hard and take the right path.

▲Su Wang Xiulan thanked God for allowing her to take up the position of mayor of Walnut City. She sees herself as an ambassador of Christ and enjoys the love from God to care for everyone. The picture shows the mayor taking the oath of office in 2010. Pastor Philip Chen of the International Great Commission Church administered the oath, and his son held a Bible in his hand as a witness.

Integrate into the mainstream

Su Wangxiulan, who serves on the Walnut City Council, is more concerned about immigrant families in the community and deeply feels the difficulties of taking root in a foreign place. The city government organizes various activities, such as badminton, table tennis, and English classes, in the hope that residents can make new friends, absorb new knowledge, and overcome language and cultural barriers as soon as possible and integrate into the mainstream.

Xiulan has encountered some cases where immigrants were not familiar with traffic laws and did not know that drivers must stop on the side of the road when the police flash their lights. In addition, they lacked English proficiency and were unable to communicate with the police, leading to huge misunderstandings. The city government is now hiring bilingual police officers and staff in the hope of providing better services. Xiulan repeatedly emphasized that "when entering the country, do as the locals do". New immigrants should learn local regulations and culture and strengthen their communication skills. If you limit yourself to the Chinese community, watching Chinese TV, listening to Chinese radio... you will not only miss out on the rich resources around you, but you may also lose the opportunity to expand your life, and you may even accidentally violate the regulations without knowing it.

Su Wang Xiulan believes that the church can draw on the professional knowledge of the congregation to hold various lectures to provide new immigrants with the information they need in daily life. She also reminded believers that the purpose of these lectures is to serve the community, not to attract business for their own businesses. Especially regarding the various procedures for applying for immigration, it is best to leave them to lawyers. The church must know its own boundaries.

Accept immigrants and take root

After Mayor Su Wang Xiulan entered the political arena, her popularity increased steadily. She constantly thanks God for giving her this position, sees herself as an ambassador of Christ, and enjoys the love that comes from God to care for everyone.

She recalled that in the early days of the Chinese Parents’ Association, Dr. Ron Hockwalt, the education director of the Walnut School District, was willing to listen to Xiulan’s suggestions. At that time, many principals and teachers objected, saying that the Chinese were running cliques. He objectively weighed the organization's possible contribution to the school district and its help to new immigrant families, and finally overcame all objections and gave full support. Later, Dr. Herrey traveled to China twice to seek a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, and then brought this experience and understanding to teachers and students in Walnut City.

As a Christian, Dr. Herrey has a broad mind and vision. He has two children of his own and has adopted four children from different ethnic groups. Not only do I hope to provide them with a loving growth environment, but I also hope to learn different cultures so that I can help children of different ethnic groups in the school district.

His fraternity made Xiulan believe that when churches and believers are willing to open their hearts and arms to accept the immigrant community, immigrant families can take root in the family of God. As they take root in the soil of God's love, the seeds of the gospel take root and grow in their hearts.

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