ORLANDO, Fla. — Mimi Chan could not learn in school about her Asian heritage when she was growing up in Central Florida. She makes it her mission to ensure today’s students can.

What You Need To Know

  • A local Kung Fu instructor traveled to Tallahassee to fight for what she never had

  •  She convinced lawmakers to add Asian American and Pacific Islander education to the curriculum

  •  The measure was passed in the 2023 session of the Florida Legislative and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis

Chan’s father established the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple in Orlando, the first in the United States.

In 1980, he moved to Orlando to share the Chinese culture, and that of Lunar New Year, with the community.

"As young as 3, I remember going out and doing performances for Lunar New Year, and all of the firecrackers, and lion dancing,” Chan said. “It was always a fun time of year."

But the Asian American community in Central Florida was small at the time.

"I really did not have a lot of friends who are also Asian American,” Chan said. “I was very much often the only Asian American in my class.”

Today, Chan not only teaches Kung Fu at the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple and informs her students about Asian heritage, but she is state director of "Make Us Visible Florida."

The mission statement of the organization is to teach Asian American and Pacific Islander history in public schools.

"Asian Americans have played such an essential role in the foundation and building of the country that I feel like it's something that's been missing from our curriculum," Chan said. "Personally, being educated in Florida, it's something I didn't get to learn about."

During the 2023 legislative session, Chan fought for legislation to get Asian American and Pacific Islander history taught in Florida’s schools. The measure passed and was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

Chan, who also was the model and martial arts video reference for Disney's animated feature Mulan, had a mix of emotions when she heard the news.

"I have to say I was surprised, shocked, relieved, but also excited," she said.