This photo of Diane Wong was taken to accompany an interview published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. At the time, Diane Wong was the director of Washington State Commission on Asian American Affairs.

Diane Wong grew up in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. She attended Garfield High School, where she became involved in the civil rights movement, and the University of Washington, where she was active in the Asian Student Coalition. Wong studied law in Massachusetts, and returned to Seattle where she began working for Evergreen Legal Services. At the same time, she joined a core of activists working in the Chinatown - International District to develop social service programs and improve living conditions for its residents, largely low-income elderly and immigrant families. She also became involved in projects to educate Asian garment workers as to their rights as employees, and to save the Milwaukee Hotel housing in the Chinatown - International District neighborhood from destruction, which would have displaced a number of people.

Eventually Diane Wong decided that she wanted to spend her time as an activist for the Asian-American community rather than in the legal profession. She was appointed director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Affairs in September 1978. The Commission's tasks included legislative advocacy, bridging gaps between state agencies and community groups, and community education. The Commission continues its work as of 2022 as the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.

Caption information source: Conversation with Diane Wong, PI/Northwest Magazine, July 1, 1979, pp. 10-11