Ying “Lucy” Zhou: A ‘Yes’ I still remember from Kari Galassi

Hinsdale Village President Greg Hart, DuPage County Board Member Kari Galassi, and Dr. Ying "Lucy" Zhou at the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hinsdale. Photo credit: Hinsdale Public Library

I do not expect to agree with any public official on every issue. What matters to me is how someone responds when an ordinary resident reaches out.

A few years ago, I was helping organize a new multicultural Lunar New Year celebration in Hinsdale. I had lived in the community for nearly 10 years, but I still had few civic connections. As a first-generation immigrant, language and cultural barriers made that outreach intimidating.

I contacted officials at several levels of government. Kari Galassi was the first to say yes.

When a scheduling conflict kept her from attending one event, she did not simply decline. She contacted me about attending our library celebration instead, and she came. Afterward, she asked whether I had civic guests confirmed for our other celebrations. I told her I did not. She then helped connect me with two other DuPage County Board members, who later participated.

I remember that because, at the time, there was no long track record behind the celebration. I was simply a resident trying to turn an idea into something real. Kari answered, showed up, noticed what was missing and helped connect people.

That early experience has stayed with me. It showed me what accessible local public service can look like. — Ying “Lucy” Zhou, Hinsdale

Original letter can be found here: https://www.thehinsdalean.com/story/2026/09/24/opinion/letter-a-yes-i-still-remember-from-county-board-member/11394.html