Yiatin Chu, a firm believer in the transformative power of education, found herself at the forefront of the battle for fairness in public educational programs. Yiatin is no stranger to the competitive nature of educational success in NYC as she attended the Bronx High School of Science. She is co-president of Parents Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum Education in NYC (PLACE NYC). Growing up, Yiatin’s parents instilled in her the belief that education was the key to success. Despite facing challenges as immigrants, they worked hard to ensure her future was filled with opportunities in New York City. Years later, becoming a mother herself, she witnessed firsthand the impact educational policies and practices had on her daughters. She saw one of her daughters was not challenged enough – so she sought a better educational environment for her. This experience ignited Yiatin’s passion for education advocacy. She volunteered at her daughter’s school, where she learned about the challenges that NYC specialized schools were facing. Yiatin believes that individual merit is an important part of education. She became a vocal opponent of affirmative action. Although facing backlash about her views, she valued equal treatment for all above all else. Yiatin’s fight for equality in education is far from over. She is committed to ensuring that all students have access to opportunities based on their merit. She is now fighting for her seat in NY State Senate for District 11.