Angela-HeadshotBy Patricia Kaowthumrong

Although she has a long list of achievements, Angela Cho says one of her most valuable achievements is getting to know her community and becoming aware of her surroundings.

“I’m not a big person by any means,” Cho says. “My real personal achievement is getting to know the community—to realize and recognize that I’m not the only person in the world, that I live with people from other countries and different generations. I think that’s a very valuable achievement for me.”

Cho served as the chief financial officer/personnel manager for the Asian Pacific Development Center for 14 years. Although she had to take a leave of absence due to issues with her health, Cho still remains very active in the community.

She is the board treasurer for the Aurora Symphony Orchestra, a board member for the Post-Polio Health International organization and the Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership, and site coordinator for the 9Health Fair.

“Angela has worked tirelessly in the Asian communities for more than 15 years,” says Suegie Park, Clinic Manager at the Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice, who nominated Cho for the Asian American Hero award. “Despite her own health challenges, she always places the needs of others over herself. She never seeks public acknowledgment or rewards, but quietly tends to the needs of others.”

Cho served as a board member of advisory boards such as the Asian Breast Health Community Advisory Board, Integrated Health Care Community Advisory Board and Asian Women’s Health Community Advisory Board, among others. She also is always willing to help translate Korean and educate individuals about the Korean culture.

“Throughout my life, I’ve been given a lot, sometimes so much that I have to share it with others,” Cho says.

Some of her personal achievements include writing 60 poems, translating several books that were published and learning how to paint with oil and pastel. Cho loves children and has a lot of respect for younger generations, which she calls “smart and savvy.”

Cho has lived in Colorado for 17 years and has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years. She worked as a high school math teacher in Virginia and Rhode Island before moving to the Rockies.

Truly humbled for the recognition, Cho says she can name a lot of people who are making sacrifices for their communities, and she would like to accept the Asian American Heroes award on behalf of all of those volunteers.

 

Twitt