ORLANDO, Fla. — A Central Florida martial arts teacher is working to combat the recent rise in Asian American hate crime and she is beginning the fight with a grassroots campaign that is gaining momentum.

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Mimi Chan is a sifu, or a martial arts teacher, at Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Temple in Orlando. The facility has been a fixture in the community for 41 years.

“Kung Fu means hard work and that’s what we teach our students,” said Chan.

This traditional Chinese martial art has a unique way of bringing people together.

“We’re all here working hard; sweating and just training together. It’s really a beautiful thing,” she revealed.

But this is more than just an intense workout.

“It provided me a foundation for everything I do,” she said.

For Chan, Kung Fu is a way to connect with her personal and cultural heritage.

“It also connects me to my roots. So my father literally escaped China to be able to come here to this country and to live out the America dream. But at the same time he honors his heritage and his roots of being from China,” she said.

Recently, she has decided to take on even more hard work; petitioning to introduce Asian American and Pacific Islander history into the Florida public school curriculum.

Chan partnering with Rep. Anna Eskamani and Make Us Visible FL to petition that Asian America/Pacific Islander history is included in K-12 history curriculum in public schools throughout Florida.

They are also working on a bill to include this AAPI history curriculum which, if finished in time, will go to the Florida house floor this fall.

This effort is being carried out in reaction to the recent uptick in hate crimes committed against Asian Americans.

Chan is hoping that through education, she can lessen these acts and show that Asian Americans have had a role in building this country. The petition can be signed at Change.org/AsianAmericanHistory.

Story by Benjamin Boocker