By Meera Pal, Contra Costa Times
Born in the Bay Area to Chinese immigrant parents, Jamie Yee Hintzke learned about the power of advocacy from her father, an active member of a labor union. She credits her father for her passion and work as an advocate for the rights of others.
"As an Asian, it's not OK in our culture to speak out," Hintzke said. "My dad always said it's OK. So, I always grew up with the idea that we need to advocate."
In honor of her longtime efforts on behalf of health care in Pleasanton schools, Hintzke has been named the Woman of the Year for the 18th Assembly District.
Hintzke, a Pleasanton resident, was chosen by Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward, to receive the annual award that honors a woman from each of California's 79 assembly districts in recognition of March as Women's History Month.
"After learning more about her work, I realized she is a worthy role model as someone who contributes to her community," Hayashi said.
The newly elected Assemblywoman first met Hintzke about a year ago, when as president of the Pleasanton PTA Council, Hintzke approached Hayashi about local legislative issues.
Hintzke serves as chair of the Health and Wellness Committee for the Peralta School District PTA, which serves nearly 160 PTAs throughout Alameda County. That committee works to promote health councils in the district. They, in turn, help combat childhood obesity and address school health issues such as mental health, social services, healthy school environments, staff wellness and parent/community involvement.
"I've been advocating for health issues since my son was in kindergarten, and he's in sixth grade," Hintzke said. "When you're looking at the health issues that kids are facing now, what that does to us as a society is, we have increased health care costs and we will have a generation of kids who are not healthy."
Through her work with the Pleasanton PTA, Hintzke has led the effort to place defibrillators in all Pleasanton middle and high schools. She has worked closely with the State Department of Health's Cancer Prevention Unit, the city of Pleasanton and the American Cancer Society to promote sun safety and advocate for more credentialed school nurses.
"I was really impressed with her work and dedication to improving health care in school-based programs," Hayashi said.
As co-founder and executive director for the West Coast Allergy and Asthma Network, Hintzke is gathering data to be used to improve emergency care of anaphylaxis and asthma in California public schools.
She lives in Pleasanton with her husband Jeff and two school-age children.
Hintzke will be honored at a special Assembly ceremony on March 5 at the State Capitol, beginning with a breakfast reception hosted by Lt. Governor John Garamendi.
The Woman of the Year event was established in 1987. The yearly event, sponsored and organized by the California Legislative Women's Caucus recognizes one woman from each Senate and Assembly district for their accomplishments.
Hayashi was recently elected to the 18th Assembly District, which includes San Leandro, Hayward, Dublin, most of Castro Valley and Pleasanton, and a portion of Oakland, as well as the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo and Sunol.