World Citizen 2024
Joan Pu

Joan Pu has recently completed a career as senior auditor with the City of
Kansas City where she counseled a succession of mayors on how well or
poorly city government was performing in virtually all programs. She also has spent many years doing nonprofit work to make the Kansas City area a
welcoming, diverse and equitable place.

One example of her commitment is her continuing contributions to the
Sister City Association of Kansas City. She currently serves as
secretary of the board, where her leadership has been vital in keeping
relations with our 12 international “sisters” strong and relevant.

Joan is also vice president of the Society for Friendship with China, a
local, a-political organization, which seeks to foster understanding and
appreciation of Chinese Culture. Its work includes putting on the Dragon
Boat Festival on the Plaza for nearly twenty years. The group works
closely with schools in Kansas, Missouri, and Xi’an China.

She is a founding director of WeDevelpment Federal Credit Union, whose
objective is to make financial services available to people who are currently
“unbanked." The FDIC notes that young adults, low-income individuals,
women and minorities frequently have limited access to checking
accounts, loans, credit cards, etc. This is a worldwide problem. The UN
reports that work like Joan’s can assist 2 billion “unbanked”
individuals.

Joan is also an active board member of the Edgar Snow Foundation which
celebrates this Kansas City journalist’s work to foster understanding and
friendship with the people of China.