Today we’d like to introduce you to Shally Wong.
Shally , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Shally Wong’s journey from Hong Kong immigrant to Special Assistant to Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings is a story of perseverance, community, and a deep belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Shally came to the United States from Hong Kong in 1991 and made Central Florida her home. Like many immigrants, she arrived with dreams for a better future and faced the challenges of adapting to a new country, language, culture, and way of life. Rather than allowing those challenges to define her, Shally turned them into motivation to help others navigate their own journeys.
Her passion for community service began long before she entered government. In 2005, Shally co-founded Asia Trend Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Asian American culture, unity, representation, and understanding. Through Asia Trend and numerous community partnerships, she helped create opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to connect, celebrate their heritage, and contribute to Central Florida.
Her commitment to the community eventually led her to Orange County Government. In June 2019, Shally joined the Office of Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings as a Special Assistant and community liaison. For seven years, she has worked to strengthen relationships between county government and culturally diverse communities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, veterans, and community leaders.
In her role, Shally has helped connect residents with government resources, promote county programs and services, and bring greater visibility to communities that may sometimes feel overlooked. She has supported initiatives involving the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, veterans, cultural organizations, and many other community partners.
One of the principles that has guided her work is simple: “Government continues to see us, serve us, and celebrate with us.” For Shally, community engagement is not simply about attending events or making introductions. It is about building trust, listening to people’s needs, creating meaningful partnerships, and making sure residents know that they belong.
Shally has also served for many years with the Orange County Asian Committee and the Orange County Mayor’s Veterans Advisory Council, helping organize programs, cultural celebrations, educational opportunities, and community outreach. Her work reflects her belief that communities become stronger when people come together across cultures, generations, and backgrounds.
As Shally prepares for the next chapter of her career, her story remains rooted in the same values that brought her from Hong Kong to Central Florida more than three decades ago: hard work, gratitude, compassion, and service.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was definitely not a smooth road. During my years with Asia Trend, there were many times when I thought about giving up. Building an organization and creating awareness for the Asian American community was not easy, especially when people did not yet fully understand the importance of representation. But every time I felt like stepping away, another opportunity would come along and give me a reason to continue.
I learned that meaningful change takes time. It takes years for a community to recognize an organization, understand its purpose, and realize why representation matters. We had to keep showing up, building relationships, earning trust, and proving that our voices and our stories belonged at the table.
Looking back, I treasure those experiences. The journey brought me countless friendships, meaningful partnerships, and, most importantly, people I know I can trust. Those relationships have become one of the greatest rewards of my years of community service.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One of my proudest accomplishments is forming the CHARGE Dragon Boat team to promote teamwork, camaraderie, and a healthy lifestyle. Over the past 16 years, CHARGE has become much more than a dragon boat team—it has been a journey that taught me what leadership truly means.
Through CHARGE, I learned to lead with positivity, inspire others, and understand that no one can achieve a meaningful goal alone. Every person brings different strengths, experiences, and abilities to a team. Learning when to lead, when to listen, when to encourage others, and when to accept what I can and cannot control has been more important than anything else.
Dragon boating is a powerful reminder that everyone must paddle together and move in the same direction. One person cannot make the boat move forward alone. Success comes from trust, commitment, teamwork, and the willingness to support one another.
In 2025, CHARGE proudly celebrated its 15th anniversary by competing at the GWN International Dragon Boat Festival in Toronto, where we represented our Central Florida community on an international stage. Being there together, competing alongside teams from around the world, was an incredibly rewarding experience.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my fondest childhood memories is celebrating the many traditional Chinese festivals with my family. Among them, the Moon Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival, has always been my favorite.
Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival marks the beginning of autumn and is a time to celebrate family, reunion, and harmony. Growing up, I looked forward to gathering with my loved ones, enjoying mooncakes and fresh fruits, carrying colorful lanterns, and admiring the bright, full moon together.
Those childhood memories have stayed with me throughout my life. They are also one of the reasons I feel so strongly about preserving culture and sharing traditions with others. As an immigrant, I understand how important it is to hold on to the traditions that connect us to our roots while also sharing them with the broader community.
Today, I am especially grateful that I can continue celebrating the Moon Festival in Central Florida and help others experience its message of family, unity, gratitude, and harmony.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shally.wong.10
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shally-wong-186154183/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shallywong5554
