Board of Directors

Yu-Han (she/her) currently teaches Mandarin, Visual Arts and ELL (English Language Learning) at a secondary school on the ancestral and unceded land of the Coast Salish people. 

Yu-Han worked for 5 years as a Youth Settlement Worker at the Neighbourhood Houses in Vancouver to support the integration of newcomer youth. She has been an Adult Ally to initiatives that centre around the voices of immigrants, refugees & international students. 

Yu-Han has a passion for teaching languages, starting with teaching English in Taiwan and Korea, then at Chinese school in Vancouver. Being an immigrant herself, she understands the struggle as an English learner, as well as the importance to hold on to heritage roots. 

In 2013, Yu-Han started Little Lantern, with the dedication to share Hua-Chinese culture & language with children and families by incorporating a play-based method. In addition, Yu-Han envisioned Little Lantern’s work to engage Hua-Chinese youth to be empowered by their Mandarin skills and cultural knowledge. Altogether, Yu-Han believes that Little Lantern’s work would create a community that is centred around celebrating Hua-Chinese heritage!

Submit bio to express interest at littlelanternsociety@gmail.com

Candice Chen is a member of the board of directors of the Little Lantern Cultural and Heritage Society since 2020. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and economics from the University of Toronto in 2024. In her 7-year experience in social work, she organized campaigns and designed programs for multiple non-profit organizations.

Candice is passionate about advocating mental health. Her academic background provides her with knowledge and techniques in mental health care. She has volunteered as a peer supporter at the University of Toronto. 

Katherine Li (She/Her) now works in the museum and cultural industry and has always been interested in community development and education. She came to Canada for university and has a background in anthropology and art history. By working with Little Lanterns, Katherine hopes to develop platforms that encourage communication inside and outside the Chinese community, to support and empower the community through cultural activities. 

My connection to Little Lantern began because I was fortunate to have met Yu-Han as settlement youth workers at different neighbourhood houses in Vancouver, nearly a decade ago. I felt called to contribute to Little Lantern’s journey, alongside Yu-Han, Kelly, and Aaron, because of various aspects of Little Lantern’s purpose, vision, and values – particularly around supporting youth leadership through deepening community connections and weaving hua culture into social justice awareness. 

I remain a firm believer of Little Lantern’s relevance today, especially among hua youth and families who are immigrant settlers living on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples. I hope for an eco-just future for my two young children, and imagine them participating in community building through an organization like Little Lantern. Some of the other ties to our community that I gratefully hold include being part of the team at Vantage Point, UVic’s community development program, and Richmond’s childcare advisory development committee. 

Submit bio to express interest at littlelanternsociety@gmail.com

I’m Kelly, a tax analyst at UBC with a green thumb and a love for the great outdoors. When I’m not diving into tax codes, you can find me tending to my garden or exploring nature through outdoor activities like hiking. Since 2017, I’ve proudly served on the Board of Directors for Little Lantern, working to make a positive impact in our community. Now, as I eagerly await the arrival of my little one, I’m also on a mission to become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), balancing my career ambitions with the joys of impending motherhood. Join me as I embrace this exciting new chapter with enthusiasm and anticipation.

Hello, my name is Cherry, I am currently a second year undergraduate student studying Statistics at SFU. I’d love to become a member of Little Lantern’s board of director because of the amazing opportunity I had connecting with others, sharing experience with peers and interacting with kids in previous events. It will be a valuable experience to get more involved in planning events and passing down the Hua heritage. Previously, I was involved in volunteering for the Leo Club at Byrne Creek Community School as an executive member and later co-president of the club. I helped plan and run various community events for five years. This commitment has helped me understand that the most impactful experiences are those that can inspire our youth. I hope to continue this sentiment by joining the Little Lantern and bringing joy to the children in our community.

Hi! This is Cindy and I am from Taiwan! I’m looking to be elected as a member of the Board of Directors, and I will be new to this position this year. I have participated and volunteered in the events of Little Lantern since 2020 and was a part of Byrne Creek Community School’s Leo Club. I am experienced in planning and volunteering at various events in both organizations in the past years. I am currently studying and will soon graduate from the Stagecraft and Event Technology program, where I learned more about event planning and found it interesting. I am glad to be able to contribute my skills and knowledge to Little Lantern and I am excited to contribute more in this following year! 

Submit bio to express interest at littlelanternsociety@gmail.com

• Candice Chen
• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Katherine Li
• Joyce Li (on leave)
• Kelly Ren

• Candice Chen
• Yu-Han Linda Chen (on leave)
• Katherine Li
• Joyce Lin (on leave)
• Kelly Ren

• Candice Chen
• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Katherine Li
• Joyce Lin (on leave)
• Kelly Ren

• Candice Chen
• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Katherine Li
• Joyce Lin
• Kelly Ren

• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Joyce Lin
• Kelly Ren
• Clarie Zhao

• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Joyce Lin
• Kelly Ren

• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Joyce Lin
• Kelly Ren
• Lindsay Chow

• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Joyce Lin
• Kelly Ren

Adults:

• Yu-Han Linda Chen
• Sammy Ip
• Wendy Yang
• Chelsea Zhao

Youth:

• Clarie Zhao
• Jerry Pan
• Neal Jiao
• Teresa Wang

Founder:

• Yu-Han Linda Chen

Adult Founding Partner:

• Sammy Ip

Youth Founding Partners:

• Clarie (Lemon) Zhao
• Jerry Pan

Founder:

• Yu-Han Linda Chen