Political Career
With her Masters in Social Work in hand, she and Paul move to Southern California. Now with two kids, the young family moves to the Los Angeles suburb Monterey Park, the “Chinese Beverly Hills”.
Social Work- LA County
County of Los Angeles
Chen served a 27-year career for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. She pioneered the first APA Human Services Program, establishing outreach centers which HEW utilized as national prototypes.
Directorship of Services Planning and Resource Development
1974 Lily, in her capacity as director of the Services Planning and Resource Development Office also created a computerized resource information bank for Los Angeles county (CRIB).
Administrator of Children and Family Services
Her steady rise to the top of the LA County Department of Children and Family Service made many in Washington D.C. begin to take notice. Her enthusiasm in getting things done would lead to the first of several presidential appointments first by Gerald Ford as a member of the HEW Secretary’s Advisory Committee on the Rights and Responsibilities of Women.
President Jimmy Carter
In 1980 came one of Lily Chen’s most important contributions in helping immigrants across the country to stand on firmer footing in that year President Jimmy Carter appointed Lily as a member of the National Advisory Council on Adult Education where she lobbied for Federal Funding for English as Second Language Programs (ESL). Because of her efforts and proposals, anyone can now learn English in any adult School Across the nation.
Serving Monterey Park
Monterey Park City Council and Mayor
In 1983 Lily become the first Chinese American woman to win the mayorship of an American city. As Mayor of Monterey Park, California, Lily was the fore behind a great number of civic improvements and achievements in the city, incorporated in 1916.
The 1984 Olympics
1984 was the first year that China was able to participate in the Summer Olympics. The Olympics were a success. There was no need to fear booing when China came out; instead, the audience clapped and cheered. When the athletes won medals with feats of superhuman ability, Lily felt that the Chinese had proved they were just as good as the other athletes. When Li Ning received the gold medal, Lily hosted a big celebration dinner in Monterey Park. She and her family and friends were simply overjoyed.
All-America City Award
As mayor, in 1985 she also applied for and was selected by USA today as a recipient of the “All-America City Award”. The national paper selected Monterey Park as one of eight cities to win the titles for its “successful ethnic mix’. Lily also closed the landfill that polluted the air of Monterey Park and turned Davison Brickyard into ‘LA Monterey Park Corporate Center”.
The National Stage
Work with The Democratic Party
In addition to Lily’s consistent service to her beloved Monterey Park, throughout the 1980’s and into the 1990’s she served at the national level as well. These appointments include her participation as a member of the platform Committee of the Democratic National Committee. The 40-member Task Force on “peace and Security” elected Lily as Chairperson.
Work with Women
She was also part of the U.S Delegation to the World Conference on Women in Beijing as well as a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in Armed Service. She also served on a number of boards, coalitions and commissions, related to issues she has cared about throughout her career. Chinese-Americans women, immigration, refugees, trade and building strong bridges between the United States and China.
8 Los Angeles Women You Should Know
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Lily, in addition to the first female astronaut Sally Ride, was recognized as one of “8 Los Angeles women you should know”, of which she was the only Asian woman named. Lily also received the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award from President Obama in 2016