Growth motivating Asian Americans to become community change makers

This growth is motivating Asian Americans to take on leadership roles, including two Triangle women who have become change makers in our community.

With her plate full of meetings, Wake County Commissioner Maria Cervania had a small window of time for an interview with WRAL News.

Cervania was elected in November as the first Asian American to serve as a Wake County Commissioner. She says it’s more than a full-time job but the best she’s ever had.

Thirteen percent of the residents in her district in Western Wake County are of Asian descent.

"To be able to be at the table and provide a voice and be able to make change, even in these little few months, has been amazing," she said.

Commissioner Cervania is Filipino. She grew up in Silicon Valley and made a career as a biostatistician and epidemiologist.

She and her husband have lived in Wake County for seven years.

"There came a point where I knew I needed to do something different to be able to serve our community better," she said.

When asked what she hopes to accomplish in her role Cervania said, "I want us to be prepared for the future- for our kids, our seniors. I want Wake County to be the best county in America and in the world."

Ya Liu grew up in China. She moved to America to attend graduate school. She started in Georgia and then moved to North Carolina.

"I'm one of those rare dinosaurs out there who has two doctoral degrees," Liu said.

She has a doctorate in law and in sociology.

In 2019, Liu became the first Asian American on the Cary Town Council. She says an anti-immigrant tone in national politics impelled her to run.

"Many immigrants felt that they were not welcome here, and I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to change the rhetoric," Liu said. The mother of three is an inspiration in the community.

“I’ve had people tell me this is the first time they’ve registered and they voted, and that just means so much to me,” she said.

Both leaders say they hope their service will encourage others to seek public office.