Congratulations to my dear friend Zhihai Li on becoming a citizen of the United States!

I first met Zhihai at a community picnic. We soon realized we shared a deep belief in building strong connections of friendship and mutual respect among the many different immigrant and cultural groups in our community.

When I was elected to the Irvine City Council in 2016, I appointed Zhihai as my representative on the Irvine Children, Youth, and Famlies Committee.

Zhihai exemplifies the continued strength of the American Dream.

She attended Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (北京邮电大学) and first came to the U.S. in 1998 to study computer science. She received her Green Card in 2004 and worked for several years in the Chicago area helping launch several software companies. Zhilai then moved to Irvine where she engages in numerous business and community activities, including serving as Vice President at Re/Max Luxury Properties & Commercial Division.

In addition to her service on the Irvine Children, Youth, and Famlies Committee, she is president of the Chinese American Mutual Association (CAMA), [美国华人发展互助会是], a non-profit organization that helps new Chinese immigrants adapt to the American environment.

She is also a founder of I-Love-Irvine, a Chinese social media platform that serves 15000+ members of the Chinese Community in Irvine.

Zhihai is a Board Member of the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, a member of the Advisory Board for the UCI School of Education, and Secretary and Outreach Chair of the Cadence Park PTSA.

As president of the Chinese American Mutual Association, she is working on the First Chinese Culture Festival in Irvine, scheduled for June 2020.

She is also an award-winning ballroom dancer, a wife, and the mother of two extraordinary boys!

Congratulations Zhihai Li on your U.S. Citizenship!

I am so proud to call her my friend!