Our Team

Margaret Yee is an energetic life force that has dedicated herself to serving the Asian community for over 55 years. Being a 4th generation descendant of the Chinese Central Pacific Railroad workers, she has worked tirelessly to bring to the forefront the Chinese workers contribution to the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. In addition to being a co-founder of CRWDA, she has brought the Asian community together to celebrate their culture and heritage through various events, as well as, to gain recognition for their achievements (both historical and present).

She has served on numerous boards and committees at the Federal, State, and community levels, including being the Governor’s advisor for Asian Affairs for the State of Utah 1989-1998

In addition to her extensive community involvement, Margaret Yee is a successful business woman, conducting business internationally, as well as co-owning the iconic Jade Café for 56 years at the same location, which was the longest operating Chinese Restaurant in State of Utah and being the Co- founder/partner of the first Gourmet Chinese Restaurant in the state of Utah and the first Chinese food wholesale Grocery in the state of Utah.

Karen Kwan is proud to follow in the footsteps of her brother, Judge Michael Kwan who was co-founder and first President of CRWDA.

Karen has always been passionate about serving her community and has served selflessly through various community and civic engagement organizations. She worked as program assistant at the Asian Association of Utah and Adviser at the Center for Ethnic Student Affairs at the University of Utah. She was co-founder and first executive director of OCA-Utah and served on the Governor’s Asian-American Council.

In 2016, she was elected to the Utah House of Representatives. Rep. Kwan is proud to be the first Chinese-American in the Utah Legislature but hopes she will be the first of many. In a special election in 2023, Kwan was appointed to be Utah State Senator for District 12. As a member of the Utah State Legislature, Rep. Kwan served on leadership as Minority Whip and avidly works on legislation to support immigrant and refugee communities, language access, local businesses, invest in quality education, enhance the care of senior communities, preserve family values, and advance equality for all Utahns. She is grateful for the opportunity to represent Utahns and to serve our communities

Pat Santee

Secretary

Pat Santee joins us after a long career working in public and private non-profits. As an educator and administrator, he worked to support low-income immigrant and refugee children and their parents in a variety of programs using city, county, state, federal, and private grants to improve their skills in English,the path to citizenship, their mental health, intergenerational support, and physical well-being.

Along the way, he has consistently volunteered in the community being a valued member in many
organizations. Among those, he has held support positions in the Utah Organization of Chinese Americans, and now, with us at CRWDA.

YuLi Lin is the treasurer for CRWDA and a board member for Utah Indochina Benevolence Society, Chinese Association for Science and Technology-Utah Chapter, United Chinese Association of Utah OCA- Utah, and Utah Organization of Chinese Americans.

YuLi graduated from QuanZho YongChun Vocational College in China and taught at Yongchun Shi Yan Elementary for two years before coming to the United States. She has taught at Hwa Kwang Chinese School for 27 years.

YuLi and her husband live in Utah where they own and manage the restaurant- China Grill. They have 6 wonderful child