Sheltering Love with an Umbrella
Their NGO Journey
Listen to the recent panel discussion hosted by Wendy, the Chair of RM ，on the journey of Chinese women in NGOs. Three women, active in various public service activities, share their personal growth and career experiences, and explore NGOs from multiple perspectives...
Host: Wendy
Guests: Jil, Chen Li
Editing: Jil, Siqi
Review & Show Notes: Vicky, Siqi
Intro/Outro Music: Tang Can (IG @can.tang)
Season 3 Producers: Siqi, Hehe
Small Title
Their NGO Journey 1
00:30 Guest introductions: sharing personal growth and career journeys
03:00 What is an NGO? What unique organizational traits does it have?
04:56 What sparked the guests’ interest in public service
05:40 How hearing the stereotype “Chinese communities don’t donate or volunteer” fueled Jil’s determination to engage in public service
06:00 If Chinese people don’t speak up for themselves, prejudice could become the dominant narrative
06:38 Chen Li’s starting point in public service: inspired by her work at the Canadian Embassy in China
09:12 Observations and experiences of the public service culture in the Seattle area
11:26 The most valuable public service is sometimes simply about showing up consistently over time
12:02 Facing setbacks during a volunteer project in India led to reflection on the true motivation for doing public service
13:36 Volunteering isn’t a “hero narrative” - it’s about seeing real needs and taking grounded, practical action
14:47 Shifting from a “Party A” to a “Party B” role: the guests’ evolving identities in public service
15:31 Little Masters Club
16:00 Organizing diverse public service activities to break through the “white-dominated” nonprofit space
20:06 Rainbow Missions a nonprofit serving children with disabilities
Their NGO Journey 2
00:08 CARES (Community Autism Resources and Education Services)
03:09 How to effectively spread awareness and amplify the impact of Chinese communities in the nonprofit sector
07:00 A strong team of outstanding women from different backgrounds
08:20 Is public service harder than entrepreneurship? The challenge of funding and resources
13:33 The practical challenges and viable strategies of remote public service
17:26 Heartwarming moments of children passing on the torch of public service during the pandemic
21:58 Redefining “success” and “happiness”: happiness comes from conscious, clear choices
24:30 Genuine public service is a process of equal interaction, mutual learning, and respect
27:00 How to find an NGO that’s right for you
31:00 How to distinguish real NGOs from fake ones and find trustworthy organizations to contribute to
33:10 How to start an NGO in Washington State
34:37 What government support policies exist for nonprofits in the Seattle area?
37:14 Government grants are highly competitive — how to improve your chances of success
40:35 Public service doesn’t have to be grand — start small, act within your means
42:55 The essence of charity is equality — learning and growing together
