Chi-mei Lin has dedicated her life to the nonprofit sector, working with at-risk youth, individuals with disabilities, vulnerable seniors, and underserved communities; serving Greater Houston; and bringing the voices of Asian Americans to the forefront.

 

Chi-mei was born in Xindian, Taiwan. She grew up in a military family with her three brothers and attended First Taipei Girls High School. Chi-mei earned her B.A. from National Taiwan University in 1980 and her M.A. in educational administration and supervision from the University of Michigan in 1981.

 

Chi-mei has given over 40 years to community service through her career in the nonprofit sector. She has held leadership roles at several social service organizations, including South Cove Manor in Boston, Goodwill Industries in San Antonio, and The Women’s Home in Houston.

 

Currently, Chi-mei is the CEO of the Chinese Community Center (CCC) in Houston. She began her career at CCC in 1999 as associate executive director and was promoted to CEO in 2002. Over the past two decades, Chi-mei has been at the forefront of expanding CCC’s programs and fostering collaborations with local and national initiatives to serve Greater Houston and elevate the voices of Asian Americans.

 

A dedicated servant leader, Chi-mei has worked extensively with at-risk youth, individuals with disabilities, vulnerable seniors, and underserved communities. Under her leadership, the CCC Child Development Center achieved national accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – a distinction held by fewer than five percent of childcare centers in Houston. She was also instrumental in establishing CCC’s Financial Opportunity Center (FOC), an integrated job training and financial education program that helps underemployed individuals achieve financial sustainability.

 

In addition to expanding programs, Chi-mei worked closely with the CCC board to successfully complete the Capacity Building Campaign in 2005 and the New Horizon Campaign in 2019, raising a combined $14 million for the center’s current campus. Today, CCC operates on a beautiful 5.7-acre property with over 80,000 square feet of space, which includes a fully accredited senior day center, a state-of-the-art auditorium, and a gymnasium and ping-pong center offering exercise and wellness programs for all ages.

 

Chi-mei is a strong advocate for capacity building and resource sharing.  She has been involved in numerous local initiatives to foster collective impact, including serving on the advisory board of Care for Elder, a collaborative of over 80 organizations in Harris County dedicated to improving the quality of life for older adults. CCC is a long-standing member of the Asian American Health Coalition, a volunteer organization focused on increasing access to physical and mental healthcare for Asian communities  in Houston. Today, CCC is the largest Asian-led human services agency in the southwestern United States, serving over 10,000 clients annually.

 

Chi-mei is active at both local and national levels. She currently serves on the board of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) in Washington, D.C. and as a leadership advisor for the Empowering Communities Initiative (ECI) in Houston.

 

In recognition of her abilities and service, Chi-mei received a full scholarship from Harvard Business School in 2007 for the Nonprofit Management Summer Program, received the Childcare Provider of the Year Award from the Child Care Council of Greater Houston in 2008, and led the agency to receive the Community Builder Award from Bank of America in 2010.  Recently, she was honored with the HOPE Clinic Pioneer Award from the Asian American Health Coalition.  In October 2024, the Harris County Commissioners Court presented her with a resolution recognizing her 40 years of dedicated service in the filed of human services.

 

A lover of books and film, Chi-mei enjoys reading, spending time at Barnes & Noble picking out books for her grandchildren, and watching classic movies. She and her husband have two grown sons and love to watch their grandchildren play softball and baseball on the weekends.

 

It is for all the reasons mentioned above, and many more, that Chi-mei Lin has been

named a Star Impact Maker for 2025.