As we reach the end of May, Grimaldi Yeung Law Group would like to reflect on Older Americans month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. To honor both these meaningful celebrations, we are proud to feature Po Ling Ng, a pillar of the Chinese American community and an advocate for older adults in New York City.  

“I don’t want my life to feel boring, that’s why I always keep busy.” – Po Ling Ng

Ms. Ng is the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) Assistant Executive Director of Social Services and the Director of Open Door Senior Center. She has worked with the CPC for 57 years, having started out as a social worker on January 27, 1969. It was her first job and since then, she’s seen the organization grow rapidly.   

Open Door was established on August 14, 1972, securing funding from the New York State Office for the Aging. It was on this day that Ms. Ng started her role as Director, a role she has held since then. Open Door’s mission is to “offer much needed services to the elder community in areas of social services, door-to-door meal plans, educational and recreational programs, as well as special planning projects.”   

Ms. Ng states that she is always learning by doing: “If I learn, I can help people more.”  

Even now, she takes classes in her spare time when she’s not working, although she says she sometimes doesn’t always finish them. Ms. Ng attributes her desire to keep learning to her father, a former Republic of China/Kuomintang officer, who always encouraged his children to value education. Ms. Ng says “I teach my children, you should know two ways, give and take. Not only money, but also knowledge.” It is this exchange of knowledge that has made her a valuable member of the community. 

Ms. Ng was born in Guangzhou Province but her family had to flee due to the Sino-Japanese War, which was a precursor to World War II. In 1945, after the war, her family went back to Guangzhou, living in a large home with a garden and pond. But in 1949, Ms. Ng’s family would have to leave again due to the Chinese Civil War. They settled in Macao briefly before heading to Hong Kong in 1950. Ms. Ng’s family’s fortune changed drastically and they often didn’t have enough to eat. Yet they kept persevering, making the most of what they had.  

As a young woman in Hong Kong, Ms. Ng discovered her interest in social work. When her teacher asked the students about their dreams, Ms. Ng knew that she wanted to teach children. To her, children are the future. She believed receiving a good education would benefit all, especially the family and community. Ms. Ng recounts a time when her teacher questioned why she wanted to be a teacher and social worker and warned her she would be poor throughout her whole life. Ms. Ng responded, “Everyone has different dreams and goals, not [just] material goals.” Due to her diligence and a connection her father had, she was able to receive a scholarship to attend Chu Hai College.  

For Ms. Ng, she wanted to be happy within her heart and never gave up on her desire to help others. This earned her recognition from the principal at the Hong Kong school she later taught at and demonstrated her support of all students.  

Ms. Ng vividly remembers the day she came to the United States from China on Thanksgiving Day in 1967. She had gotten married, and her husband’s brother and mother were already there. Ms Ng’s life in America was very different from China, especially life in a busy, large, and multicultural city like New York. At first, there was a sense of culture shock and not speaking English made it harder for her to feel a sense of belonging. Eventually, she felt more at home and after having her third child, Ms. Ng decided she was ready to work and use her skills again. She started by looking in the newspaper for a job, where she discovered CPC was looking for a social worker. She was encouraged by a Chinese social worker who told her that the Chinatown community needed people like her. Ms. Ng realized there was an opportunity for her to utilize her experience in education and social work, along her familiarity with the Chinese American community.  

In her work at Open Door, Ms. Ng emphasizes the importance of intergenerational support and activities. It has become the cornerstone of her programing. She says “[There should be] no gap, you know? The elderly should help the young people; the young people should help the older people. Open Door and the CPC’s programs should pay attention to all generations.” Under her direction, CPC and Open Door’s events have welcomed grandparents, their children, and their grandchildren to participate in programs together. The goal is to have them learn from each other (such as by teaching Chinese and English, tai chi, and calligraphy).  

We at Grimaldi Yeung Law Group appreciate the work of Po Ling Ng with Open Door and all the Asian Americans in New York City who make our city so vibrant and culturally rich. We see this diversity in neighborhoods found across the city, from Chinatown to Little Sri Lanka, to Little India, and beyond. Asian Americans in New York have carved their own space within this great melting pot.  

We are proud to be part of this community and honored to serve our Asian American clients.