Wong 2020
A bit about me...
I was born and raised...
in a small rural turned suburban town called Turlock, California to immigrant parents from southern China. I spent my youth playing volleyball and working at a farmer’s fruit stand in the summer. After completing my primary education in Turlock, I attended Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo and earned a nutrition degree before moving on to another transformative experience, serving in the U.S. Peace Corps for 2+ years. I lived and worked in Ethiopia as a Community Health Specialist in a coffee producing community. My work focused on food security, family planning, and gender equality. There I developed grit. I practiced humility and community building. I learned what it took to become a part of a community as an outsider, the importance of caring for our neighbors, and the value and experience each neighbor had to contribute. I was fortunate to meet my future husband, a Peace Corps colleague Bill Peterson, and we moved to St. Paul, Minnesota in January following our service. Though it was cold, we were captivated by the natural beauty and all of the lakes.
I enjoy gardening, traveling, volleyball, canoeing, biking, experimenting in the kitchen and being in good company with good food.
We chose Minnesota as home...
Bill’s father grew up in Ely, Minnesota where several family members live to this day. I also landed a job at the University of Minnesota Extension, addressing food insecurity for low-income communities in the Twin Cities metro area through community partnerships with the state, county, local, private, nonprofit, and community partners. Promoted, I now work with the program as a Regional Program Coordinator and foster a community of health while focusing on important factors that influence health such as transportation, housing, socioeconomics, access to parks, access to food, education, etc. Our program has worked in partnership here in North St. Paul as well.
Compelled by my value and commitment to public service...
I decided to go back to school while still working full-time. I recently completed a dual Masters in Public Policy and Public Health at the University of Minnesota. My education and experiences in and with communities near and far have prepared me to be an upstanding and effective City Council Representative for you here in NSP.
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