Threading Two Cultures: Gina’s Path to Purpose

When Gina arrived in Chicago as a young teenager, she did not yet know how deeply her journey would intertwine with CASL—or how the search for identity would shape her life. Below, she shares her story in her own words: a story about language, belonging, bicultural identity, and the community that helped her embrace every part of herself.

Gina’s journey reminds us what becomes possible when young people have a place to belong and mentors who believe in them. Her story—of finding her voice, embracing her identity, and discovering the power of community—is made possible by supporters like you. When you give to CASL, you help create the same welcoming spaces where future “Ginas” can explore who they are, grow with confidence, and step fully into their potential.

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When I started school, I was told that my Chinese name was too hard to pronounce. So my superintendent back then asked me to come up with a new English name. The night before school started, my mother and I literally flipped through a dictionary and landed on something short and easy to spell, which was “Gina.”

It was August 1st, 1998, when I first came to this country. I always remember that day—Chicago’s sky was super blue with white clouds, very sunny. I remember seeing the trees, the green, the grass. It was beautiful.

I grew up in China as a member of the majority group—the only group—and Chinatown was very homogenous as well. That created a disconnect when I came from China, then Chinatown, and went to school in Lincoln Park. There, I felt for the first time, very vividly, very alone.

It was there that I began really thinking more about being a hyphenated American—Chinese-American. What does that mean? I used English class, literature, and history class to explore that aspect of my identity.

My mother first knew about CASL when she came here as a new immigrant. She knew they had immigration services, naturalization services, English classes. She came as a participant in one of the English classes. When I started high school and she saw me struggling with my Chinese identity—wanting more connection to the Chinese and Chinese-American community—she said, “Let’s go to CASL and see what’s there.” She drove me over, dropped me off outside, and told me to go inside and find out how I could get involved.

I walked in and told the front desk, “I’m a freshman at Parker—Francis W. Parker School. I’m trying to figure out if there are opportunities. I can volunteer here; I can tutor; I can help. Are there things I can do?” They immediately sent me upstairs, where we spent an hour talking about the youth programming, teaching, classes, and how I could be involved as a tutor or instructor.

I walked out an hour and a half later thinking, “Wow, that was so cool. I want to come back tomorrow. And the day after.”

Through CASL—and through reconciling my identity as a Chinese-American—I realized I am fine walking down the middle, embracing the hyphen, navigating between two cultures, speaking both languages, and growing up in two worlds. That is my identity. And through CASL, I realized that was an asset to the community.

These experiences—growing up bicultural, navigating two worlds—can also benefit so many others.

Through CASL, I saw the impact I could have on others by using my language and cultural skills. CASL really launched my long-term thinking about impact and how I want impact to be a cornerstone of my life’s work.

— Gina Chen
Founder & Managing Attorney, One Ally

Gina’s journey is one of many made possible through CASL’s commitment to empowering immigrants, families, and individuals across Chicago. Her story reflects what becomes possible when people have access to community, culture, and opportunity.

You can help ensure more young people feel seen, supported, and celebrated just like Gina.

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