Our program is highly selective and each member of our cohort is selected based on their leadership abilities, public service, and community involvement. Program fellows are identified by leading elected officials, select nonprofit partner organizations, CAUSE Board Members, and CAUSE Alumni.

AMARIS LEIATAUA

Juris Doctorate (JD) Candidate, Brigham Young University

Amaris Leiataua is the daughter of Siu and Vaosa Leiataua. Her parents emigrated from the South Pacific Islands of Samoa to Compton, California where she was born and raised. Her upbringing helped her render a deep responsibility and commitment to serving her community and helping Samoans attain a more prominent voice in the world. Amaris graduated from UC Berkeley with her Bachelor’s degree, earned her Pacific Studies Certificate from The University of Auckland in New Zealand and then attained her Master’s degree from UCLA.

Amaris has dedicated the last 12 years of her career to teaching and creating educational pipelines to higher education for historically underrepresented communities, especially Pacific Islanders. As the Director of Student Success and Diversity at the University of Utah, she oversaw all of the recruitment, retention and graduation efforts for undergraduate students. She led efforts that developed curriculum, pedagogy and influenced academic policies that were inclusive and diverse, which earned her a leadership position on the university’s Anti-Racism Task Force. She is a decorated individual with awards from universities and organizations across the nation.

She has held leadership and volunteer positions with Pacific Islander serving non-profit organizations such as the National Pacific Islander Education Network, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, OCA – Utah, the Office of Samoan Affairs, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics and is currently a CAUSE Leadership Institute Fellow. In her spare time, Amaris is building a consulting business, organizes the elderly in her community to get COVID-19 vaccinated and eats at as many family-owned restaurants as she can. She is currently transitioning into a legal career and will start at BYU Law School on a full scholarship in the fall. After law school, she plans on running for Mayor in the city of Compton and eventually in the California state legislature.

Angela (Angie) Chang

Chief Strategy Officer, KCAL Insurance Agency / National Chair, ACE NextGen

Angela Chang is the Chief Strategy Officer at KCAL Insurance Agency (KCAL), overseeing the company's strategies in sales, marketing, partnerships, technology, and customer acquisition and retention. At KCAL, Angela has made it her goal to encourage and foster a company culture that embraces innovation and respects tradition. KCAL now has a team of over 150 professionals, and serves over 6,000 business and 120,000 individual clients from its Southern California offices in Hacienda Heights, San Gabriel, Diamond Bar, Irvine, and Cerritos, California.

In January 2021, Angela founded Bao Payroll to help small businesses with their human resources and payroll needs. From 2019 through mid-2020, Angela hosted “Angie’s Chatroom 萱萱聊天室,” a Mandarin talk show on radio station AM690 that is now featured on Spotify and other podcast platforms. Prior to her role at KCAL, Angela was formerly a Senior Consultant in the Advisory practice at Ernst & Young, working with national and international Fortune 500 companies.

Angela currently serves as the National Chair for ACE NextGen, as the Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Asian Business Association (ABA) – Los Angeles chapter, and on the Board for the Industry Sheriff’s Youth Activities League (YAL). Having graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (GS10KSB) Program in 2018, she serves as her cohort’s Alumni Ambassador and frequently interviews and ideates with Members of Congress as part of GS10KSB’s Voices initiatives. She also previously served as the Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Asian Youth Center and on the Board of Directors for the East Los Angeles College Foundation (ELAC Foundation).

Angela received her MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business, and her BA from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. She holds active California insurance producer licenses in Life, Accident & Health, Property, and Casualty, and has her CLCS certification.

Angie Shaw

Consultant, CHTus and Aikar

Angie Shaw is a 1st generation Chinese-American. The first of her family to graduate college, she is particularly passionate about educational equity among a host of other social justice issues, including healthcare as a human right.

Inspired by the surge of grassroots activism in 2016, Angie shifted her career trajectory from teaching to politics and government. She started as an intern for her home State Senator in the South Bay where she gained experience with constituency services and field work before serving as field representative in various Legislative offices in Southern California, including Senator Josh Newman in LA/Orange County and then-Assemblymember Kamlager in LA/Culver City. As a field representative, Angie maintained collaborative relationships with local stakeholders, organizations, and constituents, regularly attending city council meetings and community events to stay engaged with the community as well as to give updates and receive feedback on bills going through the state Legislature.

Most recently she served as a Chinese-American constituency organizer for the DCCC in Orange County on high-profile races including Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45).

Angie received her B.A. in English Literature from Concordia University, Irvine. She has a cat, age 2.

Angela Yip

Executive Director, AAMPLIFY

Angela Yip is a Senior District Representative for State Senator Nancy Skinner, serving the 9th Senate District. She works directly with local government, business, nonprofit, and community organizations to support a policy and budget agenda that seeks to advance equity and repair harms disproportionately inflicted on low-income communities and people of color.

Angela co-founded and currently serves as Executive Director of AAMPLIFY, an education nonprofit which supports Asian American youth leadership development, community advocacy, and college opportunity. She directs a board of volunteers to organize educational and mentorship opportunities for youth to learn about Asian American history and systemic issues and gain the skills and support needed to be empowered leaders for social justice in their communities.

Prior to her current role, Angela completed the California Senate Fellows program and gained experience working in coalitions to advocate for the needs of diverse communities, including with President Obama’s White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), and student-led organizations. Angela earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Asian American Studies at UCLA and a graduate certificate in Applied Policy and Government from California State University, Sacramento. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and taking advantage of California’s gorgeous parks and trails.

Annie Yea

Director of Government Relations & Advocacy, California State University, Fullerton

Annie Yea is the Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at California State University, Fullerton. She is responsible for cultivating relationships with elected officials at the federal and state level to advocate on behalf of students, faculty and staff but also to advance the mission of the California State University system.

Annie was born and raised in Orange County, California but has spent the last twelve years in Washington, DC a Senior Policy Advisor and Legislative Director for two Members of Congress from Southern California. She served as the principal staffer responsible for the Armed Services Committee as well as foreign relations and veterans' portfolio. She also spearheaded the creation of the Congressional Caucus on Women in the Military. Once returning to Orange County, Annie served as the Director of Planning in a Congressional District Office.

Annie received her Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Ohio Wesleyan University and will receive her Master's Degree in Defense and Security Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

Ayana Galace

Field Representative, California State Assembly, District 18

Ayana Galace serves as Field Representative for California Assemblymember Rob Bonta (AD-18), where she staffs issues relating to housing and community development, education, and AANHPI affairs. In response to COVID-19, Ayana serves as the office’s liaison to California’s Employment Development Department, helping thousands access unemployment benefits, housing and food assistance, and other vital resources. Prior to joining the Assembly, Ayana interned for Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51) and California’s Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

Ayana also serves on the Executive Board of AAMPLIFY, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that aims to empower Asian American youth through anti-racist educational opportunities, leadership training, and college preparation.

Catherine Villaverde

Executive Assistant, Working Partnerships USA

Catherine Villaverde serves in multiple administrative roles at Working Partnerships USA, acting as Executive Assistant to WPUSA’s Executive Director and Deputy Director, while also providing support to our finance and operations teams. Catherine has extensive experience in coordinating large-scale projects involving hundreds of participants ranging from volunteers and community members, to high-level organizational stakeholders, labor leaders, and elected officials. Catherine has worked in nonprofit events and development at organizations like Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and March of Dimes Foundation.

Catherine is passionate about volunteering and has worked with organizations like LEAD Filipino and Sacred Heart Foundation. While at San Jose State University she was an active member of Alpha Phi Omega and Akbayan SJSU. In her spare time, Catherine enjoys spending time with family, hosting game night with friends, and crafting projects on her Cricut.

Cindy Lee

Founder, Dreamers Corners / Vice President, Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP-LA)

Cindy Lee currently serves as the Vice President of Taiwanese American Professionals - Los Angeles (TAP-LA), a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. She has been collaborating with other AAPI community organizations on local initiatives while building leadership pipeline in the Taiwanese American community. Her goal is to continue promoting Taiwanese American leadership across the nation. Prior to serving on the board of TAP-LA, she was serving TAP-DC as the Social Chair (2017-2018) and the Vice President (2018-2019) when she lived in Washington, DC.

She is also an entrepreneur running a virtual staging business in the real estate industry. She is a Board of Director of Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce - Los Angeles and a member of ACE Nextgen - SoCal. Both organizations empower young Asian American business owners.

Cindy moved to California from Taiwan with her family when she was 10 years old and is considered as a 1.5 generation immigrant. She received a Bachelor's Degree from Boston University and Project Management Certificate from University of California, Los Angeles Extension. In her free time, she likes to take her dog Nanook, an American Eskimo and Pomeranian mix, to go camping, hiking, and kayaking.

Connie Kim Chan

Legislative Analyst, Office of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma

Connie Kim Chan recently graduated from the University of California, Riverside with Bachelor’s degrees in Public Policy and Political Science. During her undergraduate career, she interned in various public offices including Office of Congressman Pete Aguilar, Office of Congressman Josh Harder, Office of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, and Office of Lord John Bird of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords.

She currently serves as a Legislative Analyst for California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, where she had previously interned. In her role, she serves as a liaison at the Capitol for the Boards, Commissions and Agencies chaired by the Treasurer on legislative issues and conducts policy analysis on a variety of bills. Connie’s policy interests are in housing, higher education and restorative justice. She is involved with the organization Initiate Justice, where she advocates for the end of mass incarceration.

Douglas Yang

Associate, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Douglas Yang is an associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin's Los Angeles office.
Doug represents employers in high-stakes single-plaintiff and class action controversies before federal and state courts. He has significant experience in litigating cases from the filing of the legal complaint to the rendering of a verdict.
Prior to joining Sheppard Mullin, Doug served as a law clerk to the Honorable Helen Gillmor of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii. While in law school, Doug served as the Executive Editor of the Boston University Public Interest Law Journal.

Janet McIntyre

VP of Programs & Training, Executive Service Corps of Southern CA (ESC)

Janet McIntyre (she/her) works with nonprofit organizations’ staff and board members in areas of organizational development and leadership development. Currently she is the VP of Programs and Training at Executive Service Corps of Southern California (ESC) where she oversees two leadership institutes and leads the training program for ESC’s 100+ member volunteer consultant corps.

In her private practice, she gets to work with amazing nonprofits that are on the forefront of social justice. For example, she serves as a Capacity Coach with The Leaders Trust which works with foundation grantees on organizational transformation with a racial equity focus; a Board Governance/Development instructor for the Annenberg Foundation’s Alchemy Leadership Seminar and CNN Heroes; and as an executive and leadership coach for individual clients, many of whom are women of color nonprofit leaders.

Upon graduating from Occidental College with honors in Public Policy and a minor in Asian Studies, she held leadership positions in arts and cultural organizations in Los Angeles with a primary focus in development/fundraising. She earned an Executive Master of Leadership from the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy with an emphasis in nonprofit management and she earned her certification in coaching at the Co-Active Training Institute. She completed Leadership Education for Asian Pacific’s (LEAP) six-month leadership development program for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander nonprofit professionals.

Janet is the daughter of immigrants from Japan and identifies as a second-generation Japanese American, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She currently resides in South Pasadena, CA with Miso the cat. She is an active member of her community and volunteers as a board member, alumna mentor, community gardener, and political campaign volunteer. Her activism, volunteerism, and meaningful work with nonprofits helps her maintain faith in people and a hopeful outlook on the world.

Jason Khoo

Founder & CEO, Zupo

Jason is the founder and CEO of Zupo, which is a B2B SEO consulting agency helping construct powerful long term SEO strategies for our clients. Before Zupo, Jason started freelance consulting for local small businesses in the Orange County area and co-founded an agency upon graduation. After 4 years, Jason successfully sold the agency and moved on to start Zupo.

In the community Jason serves as the communications chair and the state board representative for the National Women's Political Caucus of Orange County. The aim of the organization is to help get more women in Orange County get elected. Jason also sits on the American Advertising Federation of Orange County board and is a frequent speaker and mentor at Cal State Fullerton.

Jason also enjoys multiple cups of tea a day, hiding away on weekends catching up on reading and rewatching The Simpsons for the 20th time.

Jason Song

Assurance Manager, EY

Jason Song is currently an assurance manager at EY that primarily focuses on technology companies. He also has experience working in the start up space outside of EY. He is an advocate for Diversity and Inclusiveness , serving as a co-chair of the Pan Asian Professional Network for the Los Angeles office at EY. In addition, Jason serves as a mentee for America Needs You, a non-profit focused on providing support and mentorship for first-generation college students. He has previous experience working as a volunteer with the Chicago Public School system.

Originally from Chicago, Jason attended the University of Notre Dame and has a degree in Business Administration, emphasis in Accountancy. Outside of work, Jason is busy being a dog dad for his yorkie mix, Izzy. He’s also an avid hiker and music lover (still waiting for the day when concerts come back).

Jazmin Garcia

Prevention Specialist III, Koreatown Youth and Community Center

Jazmin is currently a Prevention Specialist III at Koreatown Youth and Community Center, a non-profit organization that serves the evolving needs of the Korean American population in the greater Los Angeles area as well as the multiethnic Koreatown community. Jazmin is part of the Prevention Education Unit where she provides community education to increase awareness on the risks of substance abuse. She works closely with parents to help increase their policy advocacy skills in order to create a community free from alcohol and other drugs.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego.

Jen Chiou 趙燕妮

Founder, CodeSpeak Labs

Jen Chiou (she/her) is the founder of CodeSpeak Labs, a computer science education social enterprise that empowers K-12 students to use tech to build a better world. Over 12,000 students in California and New York have taken their classes, and over 500,000 kids across the country have used their curriculum. Jen is a three-time 4.0 Schools fellowship recipient for CodeSpeak’s creative learning models that support underrepresented youth.

Prior to founding CodeSpeak Labs, she was the founding Executive Director of Crisis Text Line, the first nationwide SMS-based crisis hotline. Jen has deep experience innovating and expanding education models, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds, through her work at the global NGO Teach For All and the nonprofit consulting firm the Bridgespan Group. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford, and she lives in Irvine with her husband and 2 sons, ages 5 and 7. She’s a member of the City of Irvine Child Care committee and the Children, Youth and Families Advisory Committee, and the founder of Asian American Impact Fund.

Jessica Chang

Project Management Office (PMO) Manager, SoCalGas

Growing up in Tennessee, the Asian American community was small, but Jessica grew up watching her parents’ dedication to service, whether presiding over the local chapter of the OCA, founding a Chinese school or serving food at the local shelter. These formative moments ingrained the importance of civic engagement and cultural identity.

As a Transaction Enablement Manager for the Supply Chain organization at SoCalGas, her team brings innovation and efficiency to the way that the company procures. Before joining the company, she lead various organizations overseeing operations in the biotechnology, start-up and culinary space. Currently, she is on the Executive Board and chairs the Governance Committee for Little Tokyo Service Center. A believer in life is to be experienced and passions to be pursued, Jessica has worked as a food truck chef, co-founded a start-up, wrangled talent and egos on the production side of the entertainment industry and is currently enamored with her community farm plot by the Santa Monica airport.

Kathleen Soriano

Legislative Analyst, State Government Relations, University of Southern California

Kathleen Soriano serves as the Legislative Analyst for the University of Southern California (USC) Office of State Government Relations. As a Legislative Analyst, she supports all functions of the Office of State Government Relations, including legislative, budgetary, and evening planning responsibilities. Kathleen serves as the key government representative on health issues on behalf of Keck Medicine of USC, which includes its 3 hospitals: Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospitals. Kathleen works closely with key stakeholders to identify priority legislative issues for the USC. She drafts position letters and testifies at policy hearings with USC’s approved position on state legislation and works closely with state agencies and elected officials’ offices. Kathleen monitors, analyzes and reports out key legislative priorities to university leadership and provides policy recommendations.

Before joining USC in 2016, Kathleen worked as a Public Policy and Global Initiatives Coordinator at the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce where she organized and coordinated major policy programs and events that impact Asian Pacific Islander (API) small businesses throughout California. Kathleen currently serves on the board of the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association, Greater Sacramento Chapter (APAPA-GSC). She is currently the co-chair of the 2021 APAPA-GSC summer internship program.

Kathleen received her Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy and her Bachelors degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis. She was born and raised in Chicago and currently resides in Sacramento, CA. Kathleen enjoys traveling, playing MahJong, reading, and is a San Antonio Spurs fan.

Marlena Truong

President, National Women's Political Caucus of Orange County

Marlena Truong is currently the President of the National Women’s Political Caucus. The organization’s mission is to identify, train, and elect pro-choice, progressive women to all levels of elected and appointed office. Marlena and her board members endorse candidates, fund their campaigns, and host monthly events to educate their membership on current events and the realities of running for office as a woman. Marlena is specifically interested in increasing women’s representation and participation in politics, particularly women of color. She has now given two talks on the importance of women, specifically women of color, in all levels of politics.

Marlena graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a B.A. in History and a minor in Political Science. In her time there, she was the involved in and eventually president of a community choirs organization.

Originally thinking she wanted to go to law school, she got a job as a file clerk at Minyard Morris LLP in September 2019. Realizing law school was not for her, but still enjoying the company, she was promoted to administrative assistant in November 2020.

Marlena is a proud mixed woman. She is ¼ Vietnamese, ¼ Chinese, ¼ Filipina, and ¼ Caucasian. Her father left Saigon in 1979, and her parents met in Texas in 1993. She has a younger sister and a younger brother.

When she isn’t at work or working on NWPC OC events, Marlena enjoys cooking, baking, and eating, reading historical fiction, and spending time with her boyfriend, who was also accepted into CLI 2021.

Melissa Apuya

District Director, Office of Assemblymember Marc Levine

Melissa Apuya is the District Director for Assemblymember Marc Levine, who represents Marin and Sonoma Counties. She has over thirteen years of policy and community experience working in the California State Legislature for elected representatives throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Melissa was born and raised on the island of Guam. After graduating from high school, she moved to California to attend the University of San Francisco, where she earned a degree in International Studies. Melissa serves on the County of Sonoma Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Advisory Board, and is also on the Board of Directors of the Agricultural Institute of Marin. In 2012, Melissa was selected to be part of the inaugural class of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), a network of high-performing, next-generation leaders in Filipino communities across the United States. She was also recently named one of the North Bay’s Forty Under 40 by the North Bay Business Journal.

Michelle Kuang

Attorney, Covington & Burling LLP / Deputy Director, AAMPLIFY

Michelle Kuang is an attorney at Covington & Burling LLP in San Francisco, where she practices complex commercial litigation and maintains an active pro bono practice. She has experience litigating claims on behalf of private and public entities in California and New York, and she has represented clients in criminal defense, employment, and immigration cases. She is also the Co-Founder and Deputy Director of AAMPLIFY, an education nonprofit dedicated to empowering Asian American youth to build on leadership and advocacy skills to effect change in their communities. In this capacity, she organizes and facilitates seminars for students on topics centered around social justice and community-building.

Michelle was an editor of the Cornell Law Review and the President of the Public Interest Law Union. She represented workers and immigrants as part of the Farmworkers’ Legal Assistance Clinic and participated in legal clinics for agricultural workers in Central California. She spent a semester at the Obama White House in the Counsel’s office, where she worked on matters related to clemency and government ethics. Her prior affiliations also include Justicecorps and the Asian-Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).

Michelle received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and her B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from the University of California, San Diego. Outside of work, she enjoys talking about her cat and making TikToks with her dog.

moises jun aglipay

District Field Representative, Office of Assemblymember Mike Gipson

Moises Jun Aglipay District Field Representative staff for Assemblymember Mike Gipson of the 64th District. Helping the Constituent in our District with resources on anything. Also oversees the Public Safety, Business, and Veterans Affairs. But before joining the Public Sector, he has been involved with numerous non-profits either as a Member, Advisory Board, Board of Director, and Executive President. Those were the Filipino Community of Carson, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Southbay Los Angeles Area, and PALAD to name a few that he is involved with. He has been part of planning festivals and causes such as the Alliance Against Asian hate Rally.
Before writing my chapter in the US, Jun was born in the province of the Philippines (Bontoc Mountain Province). Raised in the busy city of Caloocan in the Morning Breeze subdivision. Have witnessed the 1986 People Power revolution, Coup Attempt, and survive a few natural disasters. Until 3 years later I have arrived in America and years later become a naturalized citizen. Hopefully, his shared knowledge of being involved in the community can be replicated by the youths he mentors.

NIRA SINGH

Director of Behavioral Health, Asian Americans for Community Involvement

Nira Singh is a licensed clinical psychologist with 30 years of experience in non-profit, community-based organizations (CBOs), working with and advocating for underserved and marginalized communities, with a strong focus on programs for immigrant and refugee populations. A child of immigrants from India herself, she understood the experience of barriers to care. From her first position as an advocate in a shelter for survivors of domestic violence, she has worked to address cultural competency and humility among providers and in service delivery. She has been involved in developing and implementing trauma-informed, strengths-based services at various agencies in the Bay Area with a focus on client-centered care that is responsive to diverse communities. It has also been an important part of her work to develop consumer councils to empower community members and ensure their voices lead services.

Nira has also served as Adjunct Faculty at CSPP-Alameda teaching multicultural awareness and has enjoyed teaching, supervising, and mentoring the next generation of behavioral health providers, supervisors, managers, and educators in the field. At AACI, she oversees the diverse range of behavioral health service programs serving infants through older adults, with a multidisciplinary team from peer providers and paraprofessionals to licensed staff. As part of the Executive Leadership, she works collaboratively with AACI’s Wellness, Primary Care, and Advocacy departments as well as with other CBOs, school districts, county, state, and national providers, to coordinate innovative and responsive programming that address the whole health needs of the community.

Nira is passionate about community outreach and organization and working towards systemic changes at the neighborhood, local, state, and national levels especially around health parity. She currently serves on the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Contractors Association Antiracism task force and the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies Racial and Social Equity Task Force.

Rajan Gill

Professor of History, Yuba College / Farmer, Gill Ranches

Rajan Gill is a professor, historian, and farmer who grew up in the agricultural fields of California. He presently teaches at Yuba College. Rajan's research focuses on articulations of identity for immigrant groups in the United States, with special attention to Asian communities.

In 2013, he was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs where he advises the Governor and other policymakers on how to approach issues regarding API communities. In his capacity as Commissioner, he has advised the Governor and other policymakers on issues ranging from technology, social issues, language access (on government websites and in buildings), disaggregated data, and educational opportunities. From 2014-2017 he served as Secretary Commissioner of the board.

Rajan received his master’s in History from UC Santa Cruz in 2015, in 2013 he graduated with a bachelor’s from UC Davis, and in 2011 he graduated with an associates degree from Yuba College.

Sarah Lee

Prevention Specialist, Koreatown Youth & Community Center

Sarah received her Bachelors of Public Health at the University of California, San Diego, where she first developed her passions for public health. Sarah’s interests lie in the social determinants of health and how they interact to impact overall health. She hopes to grow in the public health field to eliminate health disparities among underserved populations. Before working at KYCC, Sarah was an intern for APLA Health directly working with the HIV/AIDS community to provide access to health services and resources. As a Prevention Specialist at KYCC, Sarah continues her passions to serve the community in preventing substance use/misuse by providing education, mobilizing communities, and advocating for policy among substances such as prescription medication, alcohol, and marijuana.

D. Stephen Pham

Director, Organizational Learning, The Learning Accelerator

Stephen Pham is the Director of Organizational Learning at The Learning Accelerator (TLA), a national education nonprofit that connects teachers and leaders with the knowledge, tools, and networks to transform K-12 schools. An experienced educator and systems leader, he brings expertise in student-centered learning and design, data systems and infrastructure, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As a passionate advocate for inclusive innovation, racial justice, and educational equity, he leads TLA’s initiatives around DEI, data and analytics, and learning infrastructure.

While at TLA, Stephen developed an organization-wide DEI strategy, designing and leading the programs and practices to integrate equity internally and across all mission-related work. He also created and continually stewards the Remote DEI Collective, a community of 12 national, virtual education organizations that collectively works to advance antiracism within our organizations and across the sector, including the development of the nationally recognized Remote DEI Toolkit. In his past role as a partner at TLA, Stephen led the development of the Learning Commons and supported the codification of innovative practices from schools around the country.

Before joining TLA, Stephen led school model innovation, instructional pilots, and blended learning implementation as the national Manager of Personalized Learning at Rocketship Public Schools. In his tenure, he built data systems to support blended learning and helped the network launch 4 schools across the country. Stephen started in education as a 5th grade STEM teacher and Teach for America corps member, also serving as a BetterLesson Blended Learning Master Teacher and leading his grade level in a flex model pilot.
Stephen serves as the board chair of The Collective Washington, a Teach for America alumni association working to increase teacher diversity and develop leaders of color in service of educational equity throughout the state. Stephen holds a B.S. from UCLA and is based out of Seattle.

Van Thi Le

East Side Board Trustee and Business Woman

Van Thi Le is a first-generation immigrant who escaped by boat with her family on the last day of Black April, she survived the journey to America and finally established her life in San Jose. She had to drop out of college and worked very hard for two jobs to support her family and came back to school to finish her bachelor's degree in business after 20 years to achieve the American dream.
Her passion is serving and giving back to the community that embraced her family to America.
She has been involved, volunteered many organizations, charity events over 30 years and received many awards from city, county, state and federal. She has been through many challenges as a teenager without one word of English in high school but did not give up her hope and dream. She got elected to school board trustee in 2010 and has been served for 3 terms.
She hopes to learn leadership from CAUSE and networking with others to empower and support each other especially Asian Americans, to be role model for our younger generation and to represent the voice of Asian Pacific Islanders.