No Longer the Silent Minority: How Community Action Improves Our Lives with Alfred Twu
不再做沉默的少数：华裔如何通过社区行动改善我们的生活？ with Alfred Twu
Event Language: English
Featuring Alfred Twu (涂顥曦) Berkeley Rent Board Commissioner / Architect / Artist
For too long, the Chinese American community has often been viewed as a "silent minority." But when faced with rising housing costs, shifting urban landscapes, and threats to our public infrastructure, how can we move from being bystanders to active participants?
We are honored to host Alfred Twu, an elected Commissioner on the Berkeley Rent Board. Alfred will share insights from their career in government, architecture, and community organizing to discuss how our community can find its voice in local politics and take action to protect our quality of life.
About the Guest
Alfred Twu is a licensed architect and elected Berkeley Rent Board Commissioner (2024) who currently serves on the Berkeley Planning Commission. A graduate of UC Berkeley (B.A. Architecture) and SF State (MBA), Alfred draws on their deep roots in the Berkeley Student Cooperative to advocate for increased political participation among Asian American, LGBTQ+, and tenant communities. As both a technical expert and a working artist, they specialize in using visual storytelling to make complex housing and transportation policies accessible to the public.
Special Focus: Saving Bay Area Public Transit
The Bay Area is currently facing a "fiscal cliff" that threatens the very future of our public transportation. Without immediate action, agencies like BART, Muni, and AC Transit face drastic service cuts—including station closures, 30-50% fare increases, and the potential elimination of entire lines.
During this event, we will discuss the Connect Bay Area campaign. This regional initiative seeks to secure long-term funding to keep our trains and buses running, ensuring our neighborhoods remain walkable, connected, and environmentally sustainable. We will share how you can support the petition to qualify this vital measure for the November 2026 ballot.
The Mission of the Rent Board
We will also dive into Alfred’s work with the Berkeley Rent Board, which regulates residential rent increases and protects residents against unwarranted evictions. Learn how the Board advances housing policies that support students, seniors, and marginalized communities while ensuring a fair return for property owners.
嘉宾：Alfred Twu (涂顥曦) 柏克莱租房委员会委员 / 建筑师 / 艺术家
长期以来，华裔群体常被视作“沉默的少数”。但在面对住房压力、城市规划和公共设施危机时，我们该如何从旁观者变为参与者？
本次活动，我们特别邀请到柏克莱租房委员会（Berkeley Rent Board）民选委员 涂顥曦 (Alfred Twu)。Alfred 将结合其在政府决策、建筑设计以及社区组织方面的丰富经验，与大家分享华裔如何通过实际行动，在地方政治中发出更有力的声音，并切实改善我们的生活品质。
嘉宾介绍
涂顥曦 (Alfred Twu) 是现任柏克莱租房委员会民选委员（2024年当选）及柏克莱规划委员会委员。他拥有加州大学柏克莱分校建筑学学士及旧金山州立大学工商管理硕士学位，是一名执业建筑师。Alfred 曾深度参与柏克莱学生合作社（BSC）的管理，现任多个组织董事，致力于提升亚裔、LGBTQ+及租户群体的政治参与度。作为一名跨界艺术家，他擅长通过视觉叙事将复杂的住房与交通政策转化为大众易懂的信息。
核心议题：拯救湾区公共交通
目前的湾区公共交通正面临严重的“财政悬崖”。如果不能及时采取行动，BART、Muni 和 AC Transit 等机构将面临惨重的服务削减——包括车站关闭、票价上涨 30-50% 甚至整条线路的取消。
在本次活动中，我们将重点讨论 "Connect Bay Area" 运动。这一区域性倡议旨在争取长期资金，以维持列车和巴士的正常运行，确保我们的社区保持步行友好、紧密连接且环境可持续。我们将现场分享如何支持该联署请愿，推动这一关键法案进入 2026 年 11 月的投票。
关于租房委员会的使命
我们还将深入探讨 Alfred 在柏克莱租房委员会的工作。该委员会的核心职能是调节住宅租金增长，防止不合理的加租与驱逐。我们将了解委员会如何保障学生、年长者及弱势群体的住房权益，并在确保房东获得公平回报的同时，推进城市的住房公正。