Lily Wong

Lily Wong is a proud San Franciscan with a deep-rooted commitment to social equity and community-driven policy. Born in Hong Kong and raised in the Mission District after her family immigrated when she was two years old, Lily is a proud SFUSD graduate whose perspectives on justice were shaped by citywide organizing and the diverse neighborhoods she has called home. Her early experiences seeking services through community-based organizations in Chinatown fueled a career dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized and overlooked populations.

For over 25 years, Lily has navigated complex policy issues across federal, state, and local levels. She currently holds a dual leadership role as the Director of the Sunset Chinese Cultural District and the Director of Community Engagement at Wah Mei School. Her extensive public sector experience also includes roles in the offices of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Mayor Gavin Newsom, State Senator Carole Migden, and Supervisor Tom Ammiano.

Lily’s journey began on the front lines of grassroots advocacy. As an Organizer for Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, she directed the citywide YouthVOTE mock election and secured $1.4 million in public funding to found school-based Wellness Centers. Later, as a Community Advocate for the Asian Law Caucus, she led the agency-wide advocacy for San Francisco’s Sanctuary City Ordinance. She continues her commitment to civic leadership as the current President of the Coleman Action Fund for Children.

Lily brings a unique "value-add" to the Board of Appeals as a trained mediator specializing in alternative dispute resolution. She earned a Master of Public Policy and a Master of Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University, following a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from UC Davis. Her experience mediating in the Los Angeles court system informs her commitment to solving complex problems before they reach the stage of litigation. Fluent in Cantonese and proficient in Mandarin, she offers a culturally sensitive approach to understanding the nuances of community concerns. Lily is dedicated to fostering collaboration across political and cultural divides to ensure a fair and equitable future for all San Francisco neighborhoods.