Meet Wendy Chang of Dwight Stuart Youth Fund in Hollywood Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Chang.

Wendy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
SOCIAL JUSTICE & CHANGE describes just about everything I do and inspire to uplift in life. Social Justice is founded on one principle: each of us has the full rights of any of us to pursue our purpose. Whenever conditions occur that limits this, we must challenge it. Whenever any of our communities are faced with lack of opportunity, lack of resources, or lack of justice — we must challenge it.

As an immigrant from Taiwan at the age of five, I have experienced inequities, feeling of “otherness” and explicit reminders of conditional acceptance. Now decades later, these experiences and feelings not only remain but have adapted to societal normalcy that is dismaying at best and horrifying and depressing at worst. Don’t get me wrong, I live an amazing life. My family and friends for having blessed me with an interesting, charmed and passionate existence. However, the feeling of vulnerability is great inside the outside world of conditional acceptance and the “model minority” myth. Imposter syndrome at its finest.

For as long as I can remember, I was a perfectionist – or trying to be “perfect.” The thing about that is it paralyzes, keeps you quiet, and you’re walking around thinking you’re not enough – ever. I hustled perfectionism. Better to play small and stay in my perfect world. While I will always have this part of me, it’s slowly dissolving once I realized that I’m not alone and my experience is human. With the many community organizations that I have been a part of, I have learned that I don’t have to be perfect, I just need to show up.

When I was a student at University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC), I remember walking behind a lesbian couple holding hands and saying loving a supportive things to each other. Back then, people really did not come out in high school. I remember thinking how wrong it is for society to condemn people for loving. My years in college began a life dedicated to social justice. UCSC is also where I met my husband, David and we have two children – Grant and Grace.

As the director of a private family foundation, I have the privilege of working with many dedicated leaders building a better Los Angeles for youth, families, and community. I am at awe of all the hard work, dedication and ingenuity of the many staff and volunteers behind each and every endeavor. As part of my “just show up” creed, I am personally involved in numerous nonprofit boards (more often than not as Chair), advisory boards, giving circles, projects, and events. With each interaction, creation, and heavy lift – I get to step into my true self and experience authentic community building. It is a pure form of love and goodwill for all. Leadership or simply stepping up is the source for change – the act is the THING!

A transformative moment such as the one we’re in is a terrible thing to waste. A fundamental social, political shift – driven by a more profound need to pursue each life purpose. As a global society, we must give up idea of lack, of loss, and that there is not enough for everyone. When we are our true selves all things that come to us are exactly what we need. As long as we let go of things that do not belong, there will be room for those that do belong – to create something new. When we’re with others in a healthy relationship, connecting to others as your authentic self, wonderful things occur — life works when you let it!

We are inspired to inspire. We created to create. Change begins when we practice ordinary courage.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Going it alone is revered in our culture but we need support. Often times our greatest fear is asking for help. Especially as our national conversations are centered on fear and blame, rather than coming together to heal we’re angry and scared. Many a times I fabricated certainty and saw openness as a weakness. Sharing my emotions was a liability. After 9/11, I had a board meeting which I was chair at the time and told everyone I loved them, I was there for them, and cried throughout. As it turned out, it was the best thing I could have done. Not only was it such a beautiful and meaningful moment for all, I felt love through truth and courage. From that point on, I embraced my emotions and understand the power of being authentic and open.

Please tell us about Dwight Stuart Youth Fund.
I’m the Director of the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, a private family foundation that supports educational enrichment programs for children and youth of Los Angeles. In addition, my many community contributions really inform and color by existence. I am a board member and nominating committee chair of Lambda Legal (national legal civil rights organization for LGBTQ people and those living with HIV); co-chair of the Arts Education Collective Funders Council; co-chair of OUT Fund and Circle of Change (giving circles); current champions chair and former executive board member and chair of the Investment Committee and Audit Committee of the Liberty Hill Foundation (national social justice leader right here in LA); chair of the Los Angeles Partnership for Early Childhood Investment; board member of Play Equity Fund; current member and past chair of Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy; co-founder of the Trustee Initiative: Effectiveness through Diversity; advisory board chair of East West Players; advisory board member of Foundation Boys; advisory board member of Global Eye Entrepreneurs; honorary council member of Koreatown Youth and Community Center; co-founder and past president of the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership; past president of Leadership Long Beach; past president and founding board treasurer of the National Charity League, Inc., Westside Chapter; past membership vice president and training chair of Junior League of Long Beach; past president of Asian Heritage Council; as well as past chair of Financial Literacy of Women’s Leadership Circle.

I’ve been extremely honored to be a recipient of the Founders Award from Liberty Hill Foundation, Visionary Award from East West Players, Jim Ackerman Alumnus of the Year Award from Leadership Long Beach, Distinguished Leadership Award from California Association of Leadership Programs, Distinguished Leadership Award from Community Leadership Association; Community Pride Award from Children’s Nature Institute, Business Associate of the Year from American Women’s Business Association, Philanthropist Award from Southeast Asian Community Alliance, Philanthropy Award from Hand4Hope, Conversity Award from Asian Pacific American Dispute Resolution Center, Ultreya Award from LA Urban Foundation and Champion if Change from Center for the Pacific Asian Family.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
As a measure of life in love, I’m the wealthiest person alive. I would be thanking hundreds of people that have played an instrumental role in my life. Community building takes everyone willing to make things happen. But everything starts with my parents. They are truly the brave ones – who immigrated our family to America with nothing but hope for better opportunities. They have poured everything they have in their children, grandchildren and generations to come so they can be and achieve what was not so possible for them – socially and politically – in their lifetime. Lives full of dedication to family. I honor the greatness in them.

Image Credit:
Grant Lee (son), various selfies and event pics from nonprofit events

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