Capitol Spotlight: A legacy of public service continues for Yee family

For the Yee family, service to California is a family tradition dating back seven generations.

One of their ancestors was an herb doctor in the Gold Rush era who saved the governor’s wife. Another served on the state dental board and was a prominent philanthropist and community leader. Now, Dr. David Yee, a Roseville cancer surgeon, and his daughter Sarah Yee, a Harvard University freshman, are both serving on state commissions.

They credit Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs, a volunteer organization founded in 2001 that encourages civic engagement, with helping them get appointments from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In the last year, the group’s government appointments committee has secured seven appointments through reviewing, assisting and advocating for applicants.

APAPA members say this is an important way members of their community can get considered for posts on the state’s more than 400 boards and commissions.

“It’s great to see the pipeline being developed for future leaders who really want to serve,” said Mary Liu, the group’s national chief executive officer.

Bill Wong, a longtime political consultant who is not a member of APAPA but has interacted with the association, said the group’s advocacy for the state’s Asian-Pacific Islander (API) community is critical.

“It’s important for the organization to be pressing officials to make appointments,” he said. “California is a state with one of the largest API populations in the nation. With API hate and all the things the Asian American community is facing, representation is very important right now.”

Getting government appointments isn’t a natural process, Wong said. “It requires some effort and organization and people with close ties to government for it to be sustainable in the long term.”

Dr. David Yee was appointed by Newsom to serve on the state Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. While he was aware of the state’s many boards and commissions, he was unfamiliar with the process of how to obtain an appointment.  “APAPA helped guide me through the entire process and prepared me with practice interviews and prepared me for what each board and commission did that I was interested in,” he said.

Community service has always been a priority for his family. “No matter how busy we are, it’s so important to serve the community and mentor young people because they are the future of our state and our country,” he said.

His daughter Sarah Yee, who recently graduated from Granite Bay High School, was just appointed as alternate on the new California Youth Empowerment Commission.  While she won’t have voting power, she will be able to attend meetings and give her input. Yee was previously a leader for APAPA’s youth leadership academy, where she planned workshops and leadership development classes.

The younger Yee, who plans to pursue a career in medicine and health journalism, said she is excited to be a part of the brand new youth empowerment commission. “There’s so much opportunity to mobilize youth,” she said. “They can use their voice to create change about things they’re passionate about.”

The family’s story of service to California dates back to the 19^th century with Yee Fung Cheung, a member of a prominent Chinese family descended from a counselor to the Song Dynasty. In 1851, he opened an herbal medicine shop, the Chew Kee store, which still stands today as a museum in Fiddletown in Amador County.  He later opened herb stores throughout the region and became famous in 1862 when he used an herbal remedy to save Gov. Leland Stanford’s wife, who was dying from a pulmonary disorder.  He was honored by Gov. Stanford and the story was later told in the California Museum.

Dr. David Yee’s grandfather, dental surgeon Dr. Herbert Yee, was appointed by both governors Pat Brown and Ronald Reagan to the state Board of Dental Examiners. A few of his many achievements included serving as chairman of the board of Sacramento Valley Bank, serving as a regent of the University of the Pacific and as a leader of the Sacramento Pioneer Association and Sacramento Chinese Benevolent Association. A philanthropist, he supported many projects, including the California Museum and the California State Railroad Museum Foundation.

The Yee family appreciates being able to serve California, Dr. David Yee said. “Our family has always deeply believed in education and service to society,” he said.