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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF KENT DOUGLAS WONG
WHEREAS, Kent Douglas Wong was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Delbert Wong, the first Chinese American judge in the United States, and Dolores Wong, a psychiatric social worker and community leader who helped establish the Chinatown Public Library; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong grew up in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, graduated from Marshall High School, and went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, and the People’s College of Law, where his passion for social justice and advocacy for workers’ rights began to take shape; and
WHEREAS, while attending the University of California, Berkeley, Mr. Wong met his future wife, Jai Lee, who shared his love for politics, travel, and community building. They married and together raised two sons, Ryan (engaged to Larissa Pham) and Robin; and
WHEREAS, early in his professional career, Mr. Wong served as a staff attorney for the Service Employees International Union, where he advocated for the fair treatment of workers and equitable labor practices; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong was the founding president of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the founding president of the United Association for Labor Education, and a vice president of the California Federation of Teachers, through which he built coalitions to advance labor rights and education across communities; and
WHEREAS, as Director of the UCLA Labor Center for more than 30 years, Mr. Wong transformed the Center into a national and international leader in labor research, education, and advocacy, fostering a generation of organizers, educators, and policymakers dedicated to equity and justice; and
WHEREAS, under his leadership, the University of California established labor centers at all nine campuses, expanding labor education throughout the state. Mr. Wong also led efforts to create similar centers at three universities in Mexico and forged relationships with labor education programs in China, Vietnam, and the Philippines; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong oversaw the expansion and renovation of the UCLA Labor Center’s new headquarters near MacArthur Park, named in honor of his mentor, the Rev. James Lawson Jr., a leader of the nonviolent civil rights movement; and
WHEREAS, as an educator, Mr. Wong taught in UCLA’s Asian American Studies and Labor Studies programs, where he mentored generations of students and activists. He was a leading advocate for undocumented students’ rights on campus and nationally, and his mentorship helped empower the DREAMer movement; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong served on the Board of the New World Foundation and as a member of the Kellogg Foundation Solidarity Council on Racial Equity, continuing his lifelong commitment to community, justice, and solidarity; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong was the author and co-author of several books, including Dreams Deported: Immigrant Youth and Families Resist Deportation and Nonviolence and Social Movements: The Teachings of Rev. James Lawson Jr.. His final major public appearance was at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where he led a workshop for more than 1,400 attendees on nonviolent resistance; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong often reflected on his family’s legacy as fifth-generation Chinese Americans, recognizing the deep connection between his family’s history and the ongoing struggles of immigrants in America. “My great-great-grandfather came to California during the Gold Rush,” he once said. “But even after 170 years, people still question whether I belong. That’s the legacy of white supremacy, even though immigrants built modern-day America.”; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong inspired a generation of labor organizers and Asian American activists and leaders including his niece, Cook County Commissioner Josina Wing Morita; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wong is survived by his wife, Jai Lee; his sons, Ryan and Robin; his sister, Shelley Wong Pitts; and his brother, Marshall Wong. He was preceded in death by his brother, Duane “Pudgy” Wong; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, does hereby honor and celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Kent Douglas Wong, whose decades of leadership in labor, education, and social justice uplifted communities locally, nationally, and internationally; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Kent Douglas Wong as a symbol of our deepest respect, gratitude, and admiration.
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