Community Builders Advisory Council: Stella Yu

Stella Yu grew up in Hong Kong, came to the US in 1964 for a college education and received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts and Arts Education. She fulfilled 48 years of successful careers in Colorado as an art educator, business entrepreneur in graphic design and printing, and non-profit director including serving as the Arts Education Director for the City & County of Denver during the Webb Administration. Yu retired in 2016 after founding Arts Street in 1995, a job-training program where youth and young adults can “learn and earn” to become a culturally competent creative workforce. Arts Street has received numerous awards, including the prestigious National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award, and it continues to flourish today.

Beyond support of the arts, arts education and youth development, Yu has been active in community building since the mid-1980’s, strengthening the La Alma Lincoln Park Neighborhood, participating in the Denver Foundation Economic Development grant initiatives, and spearheading efforts for the Asian communities to connect and build resilience within Colorado and nationally. She served in multiple leadership roles with the Asian Cultural Center and was the co-founding president of the Asian Roundtable of Colorado. Since retirement, Yu has helped lead the CO statewide AAPI outreach and education of the 2020 Census, and is currently engaged in the launch of the Action Against Hate initiative in Colorado.