Our expat community thrives on connection, and here at jingkids, we’re all about our readers, and what they need and want in order to maximize their time here in Beijing. Today, we will feature a prominent member of our expat community and get to know them a little bit better.
An active member of the American business community in Beijing for the past 27 years, Su Cheng Harris-Simpson is a lifelong social entrepreneur who is currently the President of the Women Empowerment Council (WEC) which she founded in 2019. An empty nester with her only daughter Caitlin studying in New York, Su Cheng currently lives in Beijing with her husband Brad and their dog Milo.
What’s On Your Mind?
As a lifetime advocate for women and girls, I often (only half-jokingly) say that I live, breathe, sleep and dream women empowerment. I’m always thinking about how to bring more awareness to gender equality and maximize the impact of our work at the Women Empowerment Council to move the needle further by bridging the gaps that can enable girls and women everywhere to release their full potential. Most recently I was at an UN Women event, where they presented an astonishing data point about how we are 300 years away from achieving gender equality. At the same time, we also must not forget about the progress that individuals and organizations have made, which is what we are trying to achieve by organizing our bi-annual Women Empowerment Awards 2023 this coming September. This would allow us to bring the community of advocates for girls and women together to celebrate our work collectively and motivate further progress in this field.
What Motivates You To Get Moving?
Gratitude. I list my many blessings and try to do at least one thing to pay that forward on a daily basis. In a world so turbulent and unpredictable where progress for issues like gender equality is so shaky at times, I try my best to ground myself in gratitude for the good things that exist in the world, and my ability to continuously work towards gender equality.
How do you stay sane in all the madness?
I love to walk at Ritan Park and listen to inspiring stories of everyday people doing good to bring people, communities, societies and countries together to make a greater positive impact! Advocacy work can sometimes be very lonely; thus, being aware of others who are also like-minded and doing their part every day to help others is a major source of motivation for me.
What’s your favorite thing about Beijing?
The diversity of people, places, and especially the variety of restaurants and different foods from around the world. The community here is so very vibrant, and I have especially enjoyed being able to meet people again in person after such a long time of isolated life during the pandemic!
To get in touch with the Women’s Empowerment Council (WEC), email info@womenempowermentcouncil.com or scan the appropriate QR code to connect with them!
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