About Us

Our Story

As bilingual students navigating between our families’ cultural traditions and the Western healthcare system, we saw how language, misunderstanding, and bias could shape the quality of care patients receive. Therefore, we created The Cultural Health Equity Initiative (CHEI)

What started as a small idea—to teach younger students about these invisible barriers—has grown into a nonprofit reaching communities across the Bay Area through youth workshops, podcasts, and donation drives.

We believe that early awareness builds empathy, and empathy drives change. By empowering the next generation to think critically about equity and culture in healthcare, we hope to create a more inclusive future for all.

Meet the Founders

We are The Cultural Health Equity Initiative (CHEI), founded by Jaslynn Lee, a junior at Palo Alto High School, and Yuyou Zhang, a senior at Gunn High School.

Our shared vision is to create a world where every patient feels seen, heard, and understood, no matter their background. Yet the issue of minorities facing healthcare barriers often goes unnoticed. Growing up in well-resourced communities, it’s easy to take accessible care for granted. However, as we examined the root causes of health inequities, we recognized the multifaceted nature of the problem—from systemic discrimination to everyday unconscious bias.

That’s why we founded CHEI: to learn, advocate, and take action. By promoting cultural humility, advancing awareness, and empowering youth to lead change, we aim to bridge the gaps caused by health disparities.

Our Approach: Education. Empathy. Action

We design our programs to be approachable for young audiences. By combining storytelling, data, and creativity, we help students and communities understand that equitable healthcare starts with awareness and compassion.