Speakers, Facilitators and Presenters
Krystal Ka'ai, Executive Director
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Krystal Ka‘ai is the Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), a group of 41 Members of Congress who advocate on behalf of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community at the federal level. Since February 2011, CAPAC has been chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27). In her role, Ms. Ka‘ai manages the caucus’ internal legislative and policy agenda and facilitates its external communication and outreach with the White House, federal government agencies, and national and local leaders and organizations. Prior to joining CAPAC, Ms. Ka‘ai worked extensively with the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community, where she focused largely on community development, civil rights, health and education issues. She has held positions with the State of Hawaii, Office of Hawaiian Affairs; the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation; and the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Born and raised in Hawaii, Ms. Ka‘ai graduated with Honors from Lehigh University with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Business and English. |
Hyepin Im, President/CEO
Korean Churches for Community Development Ms. Hyepin Im is the President and Founder of Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD), a national nonprofit involved in empowering churches to leverage their resource by building capacity, leadership, and partnerships in economic development and serving as a bridge between the Korean/Asian American community and the greater community at large. Ms. Im is a frequent speaker who has been on CNN, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and NPR, and at numerous conferences including the White House, U.S. Department of Labor, Christian Community Development Association, and Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. She has a B.S. from U.C. Berkeley, M.B.A. from USC, and MDIV at Wesley Theological Seminary with Summa Cum Laude. She is a U.S. Presidential Appointee on the Board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. |
Jason Chung, Field/Communications Director
Asian Pacific American Engagement Republican National Committee Jason Chung currently serves as the Director of Communications for Asian Pacific American Engagement at the Republican National Committee (RNC). Prior to his position at the RNC, he served as a consultant to The Livingston Group, LLC a Washington, DC based government relations and public affairs firm, while concurrently serving as Managing Partner of GWC LLC, a Virginia based consulting company. Jason has served as a Congressional Liaison in US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) a bureau in the US Department of Homeland Security. Prior to CBP, he worked for then- Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs. He also served on the staff of then-Congressmen Thomas M. Davis, III of Virginia and Christopher Shays of Connecticut. |
Samuel Han, District Director
California State Assemblymember Donald Wagner As the District Director for California State Assembly Member Donald Wagner. Sam is also a planning commissioner in the city of Fullerton and serves as the Junior High Youth Pastor for Grace Ministries International in Fullerton. Sam was recently recognized by The Korea Times in its 44th Commemorative issue as a “Future Leader in Politics.” He has been quoted in several major publications regarding his views on Asian American Politics, including National Public Radio, World Magazine, Korea Daily, and the Korean Times. |
Mark Keam, Delegate
Virginia House of Delegates, 35th District Mark Keam represents Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Delegates. In 2009, Mark became the first Asian immigrant to hold state-level office in Virginia. As a third term legislator with a reputation for bipartisanship and effectiveness, Mark focuses on creating jobs, improving schools, addressing traffic gridlocks, reducing burdens on businesses, strengthening social safety nets, and making the government more accountable.Mark serves on Courts, Education, Finance, and Agriculture Committees. Several bills he drafted have become law, including green jobs tax credit, healthcare jobs for military veterans, property tax relief for elderly homeowners, sales tax fraud prevention and prisoner reentry reforms. Mark was born in Seoul, Korea. At age four, his family moved to South Vietnam but fled the country when communists took over. They then moved to Australia before moving to America. Mark graduated from the University of California at Irvine and Hastings College of the Law. |
Tuyet Duong, Senior Advisor
White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islander Tuyet Duong serves as a Senior Advisor for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She leads the Initiative’s public private partnership, economic development, and immigration work. She has over a decade of experience in the government and nonprofit sector in various areas, including economic development, disaster preparedness and response, human rights, civil rights, and immigration policy. Previously, she served as a Policy Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, where she worked on immigration benefits issues, border policy, language access, detention reform, and emergency response issues. She also led immigration and civil rights work at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC and Boat People SOS, Inc., both national nonprofits. She lives in Bowie, MD with her partner, two sons, and her mother-in-law. |
John H. Kim, Chief of Staff
The Annie E. Casey Foundation John Kim represents the Office of the President as the Chief of Staff of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In this role, he helps drive the Foundation’s agenda by facilitating internal and external meetings with the President, managing relationships and engagement with the Board of Trustees, and acting as liaison between the Senior Leadership Team and the President. He also serves in an advisory role to the President, oversees special projects, and facilitates budget deliberations and briefings. From 2010 to 2012, Kim served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees Americorps, SeniorCorps and the National Civilian Conservation Corps. Previously, Kim joined the Annie E. Casey Foundation as a Program Associate in the Casey Strategic Consulting Group in 2002, working with large state agencies to promote child welfare and juvenile justice reform. He served as Director of Grants Management at the Foundation from 2005-2010, successfully implementing many new policies and procedures. |
Acacia Bamberg Salatti, Acting Director
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Acacia Bamberg Salatti was appointed by the White House to the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (The Partnership Center) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2009.She serves as the Acting Director and her portfolio includes engagement on minority health outreach and health disparities reduction strategies. Salatti comes to this position from the office of Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn, where she was Lead Staffer for the House Democratic Faith Working Group (HDFWG). She also handled Congressman Clyburn’s education and agriculture portfolio. Salatti holds a Masters in Divinity and a certificate in Black Church Studies from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is also a former Adjunct Professor of Religion at Columbia College, her alma mater. |
Kara Inae Carlisle, Director
New Mexico Programs, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Kara Carlisle is director of New Mexico programs at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Mich. As director of the New Mexico program team, Carlisle serves as a convener, collaborator and catalyst, responsible for program conceptualization, design, planning, management, coordination, communication, evaluation, policy and learning from programming efforts. In addition, she serves on the foundation’s Community & Civic Engagement team. Prior to joining the foundation, Carlisle was associate director at Zócalo Public Square Lecture Series and a development consultant. Carlisle served as president of the City of Los Angeles’ Human Relations Commission in 2007 and 2008, and she has also served as a board member for the National Association for Community Mediation, Washington, D.C. Carlisle has received numerous honors, including the Millennium Momentum Foundation’s 2007 President’s Award and was the subject of a documentary film about her emergence as a community leader, which aired on national television in the Republic of Korea and the United States. |
Carol Lambert, Director of Marketing and Outreach
U.S. Department of the Treasury Homeownership Preservation Office Carol Lambert is the Director of Marketing and Outreach for the Homeownership Preservation Office at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In August 2009, Lambert joined Treasury to promote the Making Home Affordable Program, a key part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Prior to her role with Treasury, Lambert was part of Freddie Mac’s Corporate & Marketing Communications, where she led the development and deployment of the organization’s consumer-facing and diversity-focused outreach initiatives and financial education tools. Prior to her work at Freddie Mac, Lambert increased marketing activity and strengthened brand adoption across the housing counseling network as part of Corporate Communications and Development for NeighborWorks® America. For more than a decade, Lambert’s work has been grounded in the education and empowerment of homeowners. |
Joshua Dickson, Director
U.S. Department of Commerce Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Josh Dickson serves as the Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the US Department of Commerce. He previously worked as Associate Director for Constituency Outreach on the Presidential Inaugural Committee and Deputy Director of Faith Outreach for the Democratic National Committee. Josh started his career as a teacher with Teach For America on Chicago’s South Side, where he volunteered with the Industrial Areas Foundation and developed a passion for sustainable community development. He subsequently worked at college campuses across the country as the National Recruitment Director for Teach For America’s Faith-based and Community Relations Team. While in Chicago, Josh also served on the board of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network. |
Mark Brinkmoeller, Director
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Mark Brinkmoeller leads developing high-level strategic partnerships within the faith, NGO and related industry communities to increase the effectiveness and reach of ones advocacy efforts. He manages relationships with faith-motivated artists and on partnerships for ones Living Proof Project. On the national scene, Mark served on the International & Domestic policy committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the CRS advisory board. He served on the board ROUNDTABLE, the national association of diocesan social action directors for six years, including three years as chair. He was a founding board member of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (now Interfaith Worker Justice). Brinkmoeller lives outside of Washington, DC with his wife Sara and daughter, Imogen Clare. |
Philip Tom, Director
U.S. Department of Labor Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Phil Tom is Director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Labor. Prior to joining the Department, Mr. Tom served the Presbyterian Church (USA) national office in Louisville, Kentucky for 13 years working nationally with urban, rural, and small churches and their communities. He also worked in partnership with faith-based and community-based housing and economic development, worker justice, and community organizations. Prior to his work with the PC-USA, Mr. Tom served 23 years as pastor for urban congregations in Chicago, St. Paul, MN and Indianapolis, IN. Mr. Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Coe College, a Master of Arts in Community Development from the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration, and a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary. |
Eugene Schneeberg, Director
Center at the U.S. Department of Justice President Obama appointed Eugene Schneeberg director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships in October of 2010. In this capacity, Eugene coordinates between the White House and DOJ in their efforts to outreach and partner with faith-based and non-profit organizations around the country. Under his leadership the center works to advance the goals of President Obama’s Responsible Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative, the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention, the Federal Reentry Council and the Children of Incarcerated Parents Working Group. Before coming to the Obama Administration he served for several years as the Director of Operations for Straight Ahead Ministries a national faith-based juvenile justice organization in Boston, Massachusetts. He received his undergraduate degree in Urban Affairs from Boston University and is married to his wife Deitra. They have two sons Eugene Jr., and Elijah, and one daughter, Genesis. |
Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Director
U.S. Department of Education Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Reverend Brenda Girton-Mitchell, J.D. began her service as the Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education on December 13, 2010. She provides leadership to help meet the goal of engaging community-based organizations, both faith-based and secular in building a culture of high expectations and support for education. Rev. Girton-Mitchell also works as part of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships to implement its mission in cooperation with the Centers for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at 12 other federal agencies. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Education, Rev. Girton-Mitchell served the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA as Associate General Secretary for Justice and Advocacy. She provided leadership for the work of the Washington Office and was responsible for coordinating the social justice and advocacy initiatives on Capitol Hill. Rev. Girton-Mitchell received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University, a Master of Science from Indiana/Purdue University in Indianapolis, a law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law and a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary. |
David Myers, Director
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Rev. David L. Myers directs the Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Appointed by President Obama in 2009, David heads one of 14 such centers in the federal government under the White House Office of Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, directed by Ms. Melissa Rogers. David also serves as Senior Advisor to FEMA Administrator, Mr. Craig Fugate and co-chair of FEMA’s Tribal Integration Group. As the DHS Center director, David oversees the development and delivery of the DHS Center’s main programs through a staff of seven. The DHS Center develops relationships, builds bridges and identifies points of collaboration between DHS & FEMA specific programs and faith-based and community organizations, specifically among ethnic, cultural and religious minority communities and traditions. |
Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, President
National Latino Evangelical Coalition Pastor, The Lamb's Church Rev. Gabriel Salguero and his wife, Rev. Jeanette Salguero, are the co-lead pastors of the multicultural Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene in New York City. The Lamb’s Church worships in three languages-- English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Much of their work focuses on racial reconciliation Rev. Gabriel Salguero is the founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC) which offers an important leadership voice for the close to 8 million Latino evangelical in our country. Rev. Salguero has worked on issues of leadership development, evangelicals and public policy, as well as racial reconciliation. In addition, he has written extensively on ethics and race, multicultural ministry, immigration, and spirituality and public work. Salguero has been named as one of the most influential Latino evangelical leaders by the Huffington Post, CNN Español, El Diario, and Jorge Ramos’ Al Punto. |
Dr. Jocelyn Whitfield, Senior Public Health Advisor
U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Jocelyn Whitfield is a Senior Public Health Advisor and Coordinator of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). She is the only SAMHSA employee committed full time to the Faith Based Initiative. For the last 20 years, Jocelyn has worked toward building the capacities of grassroots community and faith based organizations to deliver effective behavioral health services and to encourage collaborative partnerships among faith and community groups to respond to substance use and mental health issues at the local level. She is also the principal developer of several SAMHSA technical resources and publications; Sustaining Grassroots Community Organizations, Maximizing Program Services through Private Sector Partnerships and Relationships: Successful Strategies for Recruiting, Training, and Utilizing Volunteers and the new video and instructional manual, “ Building Strong Partnerships Among Community and Faith Based Organizations”. |
Max Finberg, Director
U.S. Department of Agriculture White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Max Finberg has dedicated his career to serving others, especially hungry people. He has a wide range of experience in the government, non-profit, and political arenas. Currently, he is coordinating two of USDA’s Secretarial initiatives: Cultural Transformation and StrikeForce for rural growth and opportunity. He recently finished assignments as the Acting Director of USDA’s Office of Tribal Relations and with the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, as a Senior Policy Advisor within President Obama’s Domestic Policy Council. In May 2009, he was appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to direct USDA’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Prior service includes the State Department, Capitol Hill and anti-hunger non-profit organizations. He is an Eagle Scout and Truman Scholar, with degrees from Howard University’s School of Divinity and Tufts University. He is from Upstate New York and he and his family live outside of Washington, DC. |
Jinyoung Lee Englund, Director of Public Affairs
Bitcoin Foundation Jinyoung Lee Englund’s passion for identifying comprehensive solutions and informed policies that empower women and the poor have led her to ever-increasing challenges spanning the non-profit, public and private sectors. When Jinyoung volunteered with Seattle’s King County GOP -- she was hired instead by the Washington State Republican Party. Since then, Jinyoung has had the honor of serving, learning from and directing day-to-day operations for two of the highest-ranking women in the Republican Party -- House Republican Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and the Honorable Secretary Elaine L. Chao, 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor, at the Heritage Foundation. She has also had the privilege to serve on nationally recognized campaigns -- Dino Rossi’s 2010 Senatorial race (WA) and the Romney/Ryan Presidential Transition Team in the office of the Executive Director. In the fall of 2013, she joined the senior management team at the Bitcoin Foundation as the Director of Public Affairs. In this role, she serves as spokeswoman and oversees the strategic communications and branding efforts for the global foundation. She also serves as an advisor and spokeswoman on policy issues important to Asian-Americans, Women, Millennials and the Tech community as a member of the Republican National Committee’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council. |
Nick Muzin, Director of Coalitions
House Republican Conference Nick Muzin is a physician and attorney who is the Director of Coalitions for the House Republican Conference, where he coordinates outreach and strategy for the 234 majority members of the United States Congress, under the leadership of Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers. He was previously Chief of Staff to Senator Tim Scott, managing the political rise of the nation’s only black Republican Senator; and served on the presidential campaign and transition team for Governor Mitt Romney. He has also worked on health care policy for the Food and Drug Administration and as senior medical advisor to Senator John McCain. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and his law degree from Yale Law School. He is also a graduate of Yeshiva University. Nick lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife, Andrea, and their three children. |
Richard Foltin, Director of National and Legislative Affairs
American Jewish Committee's Office of Government and International Affairs Richard T. Foltin is the Director of National and Legislative Affairs in AJC's Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C. Mr. Foltin coordinates AJC’s policy and advocacy activities on a broad range of agency concerns (including immigration, energy security, religious liberty, and civil rights), having previously served in AJC’s DC and New York offices in various other capacities. Earlier, Mr. Foltin was an associate at the New York law firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. Mr. Foltin has testified before Congressional committees and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and writes and speaks on current issues in various venues. He is a member of the Committee on Religious Liberty hosted by the Newseum, and serves on the governing Council of the American Bar Association’s Section for Individual Rights and Responsibilities. Mr. Foltin has served as a member of the National Immigration Forum’s Board of Directors. |
Jimmy Lee, Executive Director
Restore NYC Jimmy Lee is the executive director of Restore NYC, a non-profit that exists to find victims and restore survivors of sex trafficking in the United States. Restore focuses on foreign national victims. Prior to joining Restore, Jimmy was the vice president of strategy and regional affairs for GBCHealth where he led strategy development and led offices in Johannesburg, Beijing, Nairobi, Kiev, Paris and Moscow. Before that, Jimmy was a director of strategic planning & business analysis at American Express, director at World Vision, an investment banker at J.P. Morgan and a financial analyst at Goldman, Sachs. Jimmy has a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Jimmy served as chairman of the board of Restore from November 2008 to February 2011. He has been married to his wife Christine since 2002, lives in Harlem, loves to run long distances, and has been a member of All Angels’ Church since 1995. |
Terri Chung
Sister of Kenneth Bae Terri Chung is the sister of Kenneth Bae, the American missionary who has been detained in North Korea since November 3, 2012. She was born and raised in Seoul, Korea, until her family immigrated to California in 1985. She received her B.A. from Wellesley College and her M.A. from Stanford University. She teaches English Composition at North Seattle Community College although she is currently on leave from her job to advocate for her brother’s freedom full-time. She lives in Edmonds, Washington with her husband and two daughters, ages 13 and 10, and spends much of her weekends at her daughters’ soccer games. She attends Quest Church in Seattle with Pastor Eugene Cho, who has been helping in this case. She is grateful for the support of so many Christians around the world whose prayers have sustained the Bae family over the past 18 months of Kenneth’s detainment. |
Daphne Kwok, Vice President
Multicultural Markets and Engagement -- Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience AARP Daphne Kwok is the Vice President of Multicultural Markets & Engagement for the Asian American & Pacific Islander Audience at AARP. She brings with her experience as a “leader of leaders” through her community service in promoting and empowering the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Daphne Kwok was appointed in July 2010 by President Barack Obama to Chair his Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), advising the president on policies for the AAPI community. In DC, Ms. Kwok focused on increasing political participation of the AAPI community and working with AAPI elected officials as Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. A 1984 graduate of Wesleyan University in East Asian Studies and Music, Ms. Kwok is the first Asian American to serve on its Board of Trustees. |
Kieun Oh, Advisor
AARP Kieun Oh is an expert in strategic planning and outcome management. At AARP, she has played leadership roles in developing and implementing strategies on long-term care and caregiving issue areas, in managing an Association-wide Portfolio planning and reporting process, and in creating a new strategic planning and outcome management process for an internal group. Prior to AARP, she held several positions at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. She provided advice to its lobbying team on various public policies and programs affecting seniors, organized grassroots activities with volunteers, and targeted multicultural audiences for the organization’s outreach efforts. She holds Masters of Science in Administration, with a Certificate in Gerontology, from the West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and B.S. from Ewha Womans University in South Korea. |
Jim Wallis, President and Founder
Editor-in-Chief, Sojourners Magazine Jim Wallis is president and founder of Sojourners, where he is also editor-in-chief of Sojourners magazine, which has a combined print and electronic media readership of more than a quarter million. He is also a New York Times bestselling author, public theologian, speaker, and international commentator on ethics and public life. Jim recently served on the White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and currently serves as the chair of the Global Agenda Council on Values of the World Economic Forum. |
David Cho, Deputy Business Editor
The Washington Post David Cho is the Deputy Business Editor at The Washington Post. Last year, he was an editor of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. His work covering the recent financial crisis was named in 2012 as one of the "Great 100 Stories" of the last century by the Columbia School of Journalism. David studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music, got his B.A. from Yale, and graduated with honors from Columbia Business School and the Columbia J-School. He serves as an elder at Peace Fellowship, a diverse, inner-city church in Deanwood, and lives in McLean with his wife, Sarra, and his two boys, Ethan and Jonas.ristian ministries and attends Calvary Chapel South Bay. |
Rev. Herman Martir, Founding Pastor
Nations Worship Center Herman Martir is the founding pastor of Nations Worship Center, a multi-ethnic church in Ft. Worth, Texas, now in its 20th year, with the vision of changing lives, transforming nations. He speaks in conferences in the United States and overseasto challenge the body of Christ to contend for reformation in society. Herman is also the founder of Emerging Leaders Int'l., a network of leaders who work together to bring Godly influence in the 7 spheres of society (Church, Family, Government, Education, Media, Entertainment and Business). Herman is also the president of Asian Prayer Network, an organization that strategically connects and mobilizes the Asian-American Christians to pray and work together to see transformation in America. |
Dr. Chris Hardy, Vice President
Special Events for Women, AT&T Dr. Chris Hardy brings an extensive background in Telecommunications and Leadership management. For over 30 years she has supported Sales, Sales Support, Marketing, Service Executive, Customer Service and IT for the AT&T Business Customers. Through a progression of roles with greater responsibilities, and most recently in the Quality Process operations role, Dr. Hardy has developed expertise in leadership, nationwide supervision and project management. She is an avid supporter for non-profit events, and is the Vice-President of Special events for Women of AT&T and chairs the Golf Tournament, and the Asian Pacific Islanders group’s Good Fortune Mixers for both Los Angeles and Orange County. She was the Mentoring Ambassador and VP moderator for the under 30 generational OxyGEN group. In her spare time, she can be found on the golf course or traveling. She received her Doctorate in Public Administration and her Masters of Science in Technology Management from Pepperdine University. |
Grace Weltman, President
Communities in Motion Board Co-Chair, KCCD Grace Weltman, President of Communities in Motion (www.communities-motion.com) has over 20 years of community development and nonprofit leadership experience. Her notable accomplishments include being the Founding Executive Director of the Child Care Alliance and establishing many collaborations and partnerships. Leveraging her experiences and expertise in public policy and nonprofit management, Grace has been building nonprofit capacity in the form of leadership development training and technical assistance. Grace has extensive community facilitation, nonprofit training, and community engagement experience which spans across her professional and volunteer experience, as well as across a variety of sectors. Grace received her Bachelor of Science in Public Policy & Management and her Master’s in Public Policy degrees from the USC. She active in various Christian ministries and attends Calvary Chapel South Bay. |
Jerry Park, Professor
Department of Sociology, Baylor University Jerry Z. Park is an associate professor of sociology at Baylor University. His research interests are in American race relations, religion, social identities, culture, and civic engagement, with a focus on Asian Americans. He served as an advisory panel member of the 2012 Pew Asian American Survey, is a feature blogger on "Black, White and Gray" on Patheos.com, and has been guest blogger at Asian-Nation.org. His current projects include a grant from the National Science Foundation to study the influence of religion on workplace and entrepreneurial outcomes and a book on religious and racial identity development in Asian Americans. In addition, he is developing a survey and seeking funding for a national study of Asian American religion and socioeconomic mobility. Dr. Park has published over 25 peer-reviewed academic articles and book chapters on religious civic engagement, racial and religious identity, with a particular focus on Asian Americans. |
Roland Chi, Director of Development
Five Two Foundation Roland Chi is currently Director of Development for the Five Two Foundation an online crowd funding company located in Seoul, Korea. Prior to this he was Managing Director at USASIA International, a regional commercial real estate investment and development company, located in Orange County, California. Roland wholly owns a real estate development consulting firm, Banyan Tree Enterprises, providing entitlement, brokerage, and project management services. Prior to this Roland worked as a staffer for the California State Legislature and commissioner for two cities in Orange County, California. Roland volunteers his time as a Project Coordinator for the Citizen's Alliance for North Korean Human Rights and serves as an Advisory Board Member and former Board Member of Korean Churches for Community Development. |
Paul Chou, CEO
Source Press Paul Chou grew up in a poverty stricken Korean family. He grew up in gangs in the inner cities of Los Angeles but later left the gangs to pursue education and a career. Graduated from a University and became a businessman in the high tech industry. His passion for seeing people freed from poverty and substance abuse and gang violence has grown rapidly. Paul encourages others by the trials he overcame and the far-reaching impact these lessons have had. Paul is currently involved with Semiconductor Machinery Business, Water Industry and Real Estate. His desire to see a change by providing jobs and a future for the inner city under-priveledged has motivated him to have a purpose in life. Paul is also involved with several ministries including evangelism with Calvary Chapel South Los Angeles, mission work in 3rd world countries, gang and substance abuse prevention. |
Galen Carey, Vice President
Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals Galen Carey is the Vice President, Government Relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, a broad network of evangelical denominations, churches, networks and organizations.. He is responsible for representing the NAE to Congress, the White House, the judiciary and the public. He works to advance the approach and principles of the NAE document, “For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility.” Before joining the NAE, Galen served for more than twenty-five years with World Relief, in the USA, Croatia, Mozambique, Kenya, Indonesia, and Burundi. Galen grew up in the Philippines where his parents served as missionaries. He holds a B.A. in history and philosophy from Trinity International University, where he was honored as the 2008 Alumnus of the Year. He also holds the Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and the Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary. |
Matthew Lee, Founder
FASTECH Matthew Lee founded FASTech Inc. in 1990. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Mr. Lee has guided the growth of FASTech from its inception to its current position as a well regarded business serving the Baltimore-Washington corridor. He has overseen the Company's growth in many technical and administrative areas and has enabled FASTech, Inc. to build a strong reputation by providing quality Information Technology (IT) products and services to Federal, State and Local Agencies, and commercial clients. Under Mr. Lee’s leadership, FASTech now offers a wide range of services including custom application and database design, network engineering and desktop support, web technologies, digital audio visual technologies, project management, facilities management, and computer security. |
Jonathan Ngai, Director
Radiance International Jonathan's life is marked by an abandonment to see Jesus Christ known in his generation. Since his call to full-time ministry in 1996, he has pioneered movements among Students (Movement 133), in Worship and Prayer (Reformation House of Prayer, STRIKE LA), and in the Marketplace (Upper Room Studios, Radiance Art Gallery). Most recently – he founded Radiance International in the Heart of Hollywood and has seen it grow into an Apostolic Center with unceasing 24/7 Worship and Prayer at its core. One of the primary gifts in Jonathan’s life is to bring vision to reality – whether individually or corporately. The Lord has used him to walk many leaders on the campuses, in the Churches, and in the Arts & Entertainment industry to their full potential in Christ. His heart is to see every individual unleashed to strategically live out God’s dream for their life. Jonathan is a graduate of USC and Fuller Theological Seminary. He serves on the Apostolic Council of the Reformation Prayer Network and is one of the key prayer leaders in our nation. He and his wife Sharon live in Los Angeles and have three children (Elijah, Ezekiel, & Eliana Harvest). |
Helena Hwang, CEO
VAVMedia, VAV Ventures Ms. Hwang is a trailblazer with a passion to build networks. She travels nationally and internationally consulting in the area of strategy, culture and organizational structure to strengthen business, government, ministry, and media leaders, while bridging the generations. As CEO of VAVMedia, she was instrumental in launching 24/7 Internet TV channels and broadcasting live events in the US, Asia and Europe. Currently, she is establishing strategic partners for different nations to establish Internet TV networks. She has invested in a portfolio of stocks and venture funds for years, but recently launched VAV Ventures to facilitate EB5 investments for Asian investors. As VP of Operations of The Call, Ms. Hwang coordinated and supervised most aspects of 10 multi-ethnic and multi-generational stadium gatherings of 20,000-100,000 people. From 1990-2001, Ms Hwang counseled and set up HIV Test Sites as a LCSW for LA County DHS and UCLA Medical Center. She has an EMBA from UCI, MSW from UCLA, and BA in Anthropology/Public Policy from Pomona College. Ms. Hwang co-convened an Asian American Roundtable and serves on the planning committee of the White House Briefing and Asian American Pacific Islander Faith Alliance. She serves on numerous boards. |
Eunice Barruel, Founder and Executive Director
New Strength International Ministries Global Day of Worship, TM Eunice Barruel is a worshiper whose desire is to see the nations worship. She is the Founder and Executive director of New Strength International Ministries (NSIM), and Global Day of Worship, TM (GDW), based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, whose mission is to usher the glory of God to the nations for transformation and harvest. Her heart is to partner with national and international churches, ministries and organizations in order to exhort, equip and release them to fulfill their purposes and destinies. One focus of NSIM is to teach and train children in orphanages in worship. Through this training, children are introduced to Jesus and be equipped to have overcoming lives despite circumstances. The Global Day of Worship TM, which was founded in 2010, is 24 hour yearly call for a unified day of lifting up the name of Jesus around the world. This day connects worshipers of Jesus from all denominations, expressions and cultures around the world. This day also unites the body of Christ via the internet as we view the beautiful diverse expressions of adoration and worshiping Jesus from the 24 timezones. She travels nationally and internationally teaching in conferences and leading people to worship in freedom. Eunice is an alumna of the Regent University School of Business. |
Sam Yoon, President
Council of Korean Americans Sam Yoon worked for the Obama Administration at the Department of Labor as a Senior Policy Advisor. He reported to the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, and his focus was on jobs, unemployment, and skills development of the American workforce. He also served on the Boston City Council as an At-Large member for four years, and ran for Mayor in 2009. Sam was the first Asian American ever to run for office in Boston’s history, and the first to be elected to office. He has since moved to Washington, DC and heads the Council of Korean Americans. |
Bill Mefford, Director of Civil and Human Rights
General Board of Church and Society, The United Methodist Church Bill Mefford serves on the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church as the Director of Civil and Human Rights. He helps to build movements among United Methodists to defend the rights of immigrants, to end mass incarceration, and to end gun violence. He also advocates for religious freedom and to abolish the death penalty. Bill came to GBCS in 2006 and has spent his life serving the local church in various positions. He has served as a youth pastor, pastor, Wesley Foundation Director, and an urban missionary in several cities including Chicago, Cleveland and Waco, Texas. Bill graduated from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas in 1990. He graduated with a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1998 and a Doctor of Missiology, also from Asbury, in 2008. The title of Bill’s dissertation is To Set Free the Affluent: Liberating the North American Church in Captivity through Solidarity with Refugees. Bill also co-authored The Not On Our Watch Christian Companion: Biblical Reflections on the Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond in 2008. Bill’s wife, Marti, is a Social Worker and Counselor at a substance abuse treatment center in Arlington, Virginia. Bill and Marti have two amazing boys, Elisha, 14 and Isaiah, 11. |
Rev. Sam Koh, Lead Pastor
Hillside LACPC Founder, NexGen Pastor's Fellowship Sam Koh is a graduate of Biola University. He went on to receive his M.Div. at Talbot Seminary and his Th.M at Fuller Theological Seminary. He resides in Orange, California with his amazing wife Shanie and their adorable son Benji! He is the lead pastor of Hillside LACPC which is located in East Los Angeles. In addition to pastoring, he is also the founder of NexGen Pastor's Fellowship, which is a network and organization of pastors in SoCal. and is a board member for ISAAC, Institute for the study of Asian American Christianity. |
Rev. Paul Song, Lead Pastor
Youngnak International Worship in English Youngnak Presbyterian Church - Seoul, South Korea Rev. Paul Song serves as the Lead Pastor of Youngnak International Worship in English (IWE) at Youngnak Presbyterian Church in Seoul, Korea. He also serves on the leadership team of the Association of International Ministries of Korea (AIM Korea). Upon graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Biology, he received the calling for full-time ministry and studied at Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div. Family Life Education concentration). For over fifteen years, he has counseled and mentored leaders, worship leaders and musicians in various ministries in the US. He was also a lecturer on worship theology at Shepherd University in Los Angeles, CA. Recognizing Korea as a fast-developing global hub, Paul and his wife moved from Southern California to Seoul in November 2012, to fulfill the growing need of raising up the next generation of global leaders that will impact and influence the multi-cultural communities around the world. |
James Huang, President and CEO
BRC Advisors James Huang is president and CEO of BRC Advisors, a Los Angeles - based commercial real estate brokerage firm specializing in investment sales and leasing, and property management and advisory services. The firm also provides debt and equity investment platforms and construction design and build services. Mr. Huang founded BRC Advisors with a vision for creating a brokerage with a fresh culture that embraces diversity, collaboration, and teamwork. With over 100 agents and five office locations, BRC Advisors has built a reputation for superior market knowledge and exceptional client service through customized financial and operational solutions. Due to his extensive knowledge of the industry and reputation for collaboration, in 2014, Mr. Huang was appointed the National Chairperson of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) where he provides strategic direction to the organization, globally. Mr. Huang currently serves on the boards of the Real Estate Associate Program (REAP), Commercial Real Estate for Women (CREW); and is Vice Chairperson for the early education children's program Jumpstart Southern California. |
Toms Steers, Founder and Co-Director
Asian American Ministries of the Navigators Tom Steers has been working cross-culturally 41 years with The Navigators. He has ministered in The Philippines, Brazil, and in Los Angeles. His work with The Navigators has grow into one of the most diverse Asian American works among evangelical organizations. The ministry has grown in the U.S. and is flowing into 12 Asian countries. Tom, and his wife Dana have been longtime members of one of L.A.'s first Chinese churches, Alhambra True Light Presbyterian Church. They have three adult children and two grandsons. Tom received a M.A. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Missiology. |
David Kyuman Kim, Associate Professor
Connecticut College David Kyuman Kim is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and American Studies at Connecticut College, where he served from 2005-2008 as the College’s Inaugural Director of the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity. He is the author of Melancholic Freedom: Agency and the Spirit of Politics (Oxford 2007), and co-edited most recently The Post-Secular in Question (NYU 2012) and, with John L. Jackson, Jr., a special issue of The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science on race, religion, and late democracy. From 2009-2012, Kim served as Senior Advisor to the Social Science Research Council’s Program on Religion and the Public Sphere. |
Angel Huang, Program Development Director
Emerging Markets at huangel.com As a full-time marketplace missionary, Angel focuses on integrated Kingdom organizational development. She serves as a bridge builder across companies, non-profits, and parachurch ministries; as well as a passionate catalyst in calling forth the rising generation into mission work in every sphere of influence. She drives programs and partnerships towards localized economic sustainability and community empowerment across North America, Africa, & Asia. She is a former Silicon Valley start-up co-founder + director, consultant to social entrepreneurs, and evangelistic missionary to rural villages among the poorest of the poor. Her speaking engagements on the topics of missions and Kingdom have spanned throughout 17 countries around the world. |
Nikki Toyama, Sr. Director
Biblical Justice for International Justice Mission Nikki Toyama-Szeto serves as the Sr. Director of Biblical Justice for International Justice Mission (IJM) a human rights organization focused on violent injustice. She co-edited "More Than Serving Tea" a book for API women integrating faith, culture, and gender and authored "Partnering with the Global church" with Femi Adeleye. She served as the program director for the API Women's Leadership Conference. Nikki served previously with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as the Urbana Program Director. She also served on the Board of Mission Year, and with the Program Planning team for the Lausanne 2010 Congress. Nikki's speaks and teaches on issues of justice, race, and gender and is passionate about leadership development. She lives in the DC area with her husband and two kids. |
Sharon Ngai, Founder
Justice Speaks/ Radiance HOP Sharon Ngai is the founder of Justice Speaks, an organization fighting human trafficking in the U.S and in Asia. Since 2007- Sharon has raised awareness, done prevention work and reached women & girls in the sex-industry. She has spoken at conferences, universities and was a presenter at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women workshop on "Pornography and Sex-Trafficking". Sharon is passionate about raising up a generation of Justice Champions who will be a voice for justice on the earth. She is a graduate from the University of Southern California, and Fuller Seminary. Sharon and her husband, Jonathan founded Radiance International in Hollywood where they are impacting the Arts & Entertainment sphere. |
Jenny Yang, Vice President
Advocacy and Policy at World Relief Jenny Yang provides oversight for all advocacy initiatives and policy positions at World Relief, representing the organization’s advocacy priorities to the U.S. government and mobilizing churches on advocacy campaigns. Prior to World Relief, she worked at a political fundraising firm in Maryland managing fundraising and campaigning for local politicians. Jenny has researched refugee and asylum law in Madrid, Spain through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is on an active deployment roster for UNHCR. She is Chair of the Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) Africa Work Group which brings NGOs and government partners together on the protection of African refugees and was recently named as “50 Women to Watch” by Christianity Today. She is co-author of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate (2009) and contributing author to Talking Taboo: American Christian Women Get Frank about Faith (2013) and Global Diasporas and Mission (2013). |
Sarah Bard, Director
Faith-Based and Community Initiatives U.S. Small Business Administration Sarah Bard was appointed Director of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the U.S. Small Business Administration in December 2013. Bard is responsible for coordinating with faith-based and neighborhood organizations to encourage entrepreneurship, support economic growth and promote prosperity for America’s entrepreneurs. Bard is a former small business owner and a non-profit consultant who specialized in corporate and private sector engagement and partnership building. Previously, Bard directed the Jewish Leadership Council and the Democratic Business Council for the Democratic National Committee under Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). In 2012, Bard served as the Director of International Finance for Obama for America – launching and running an engagement program for American citizens living abroad in over 40 countries. In addition, she conducted Jewish community and interfaith outreach for the 2012 campaign and the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee. In this capacity, Bard worked with faith leaders and organizations across the country to organize communities and build coalitions. Bard is an active volunteer, participant and board member for various organizations focusing on interfaith collaboration, economic development and community healthcare solutions. She is a graduate of the University of Colorado. |
Allen Yeh, Associate Professor
Biola University Dr. Allen Yeh is Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies at Biola University near Los Angeles, California. He specializes geographically in Latin America and China. He also has other academic interests in history, social justice, missions history, and World Christianity. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for American Baptist International Ministries. |
David Cho, Deputy Business Editor
Washington Post David Cho is the Deputy Business Editor at The Washington Post. Last year, he was an editor of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. His work covering the recent financial crisis was named in 2012 as one of the "Great 100 Stories" of the last century by the Columbia School of Journalism. David studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music, got his B.A. from Yale, and graduated with honors from Columbia Business School and the Columbia J-School. He serves as an elder at Peace Fellowship, a diverse, inner-city church in Deanwood, and lives in McLean with his wife, Sarra, and his two boys, Ethan and Jonas. |
Daniel D. Lee Associate Director,
Asian American Initiative (AAI), Fuller Theological Seminary Daniel D. Lee is a 1.5 generation Korean American who grew up in the East Coast, transplanted now in Southern California. He graduated from University of Virginia with a B.S. in Engineering Science and worked as a systems engineer providing consulting support to government agencies. For a season, Daniel was an itinerant campus ministry staff working with college students all over Virginia. He has a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he studied the intersection of Reformed theology and Asian American theology. After some years serving in a Korean immigrant church and a church plant, Daniel returned to academics and received in ThM in Mission Theology from Fuller’s School of Intercultural Studies. Currently, Daniel serves as the Associate Director of Fuller's new Asian American Initiative that provides contextualized theological training and resources for the Asian American community. He is also a PhD candidate in Systematic Theology at Fuller, researching Asian American theology and ministry. |
Steve Cho, Pastor
Brentwood Baptist Church Steve and his wife Joy are Korean Americans from Miami, FL. They are proud parents of two boys, Isaiah (7) and Isaac (6). Steve is an International Church Multiplication Pastor from Brentwood Baptist Church and is moving to Seoul, South Korea in 2014 to plant churches for the growing International community. Previously for 6 years he was the Lead Student Pastor at the Korean Presbyterian Church of Miami. He served 6 years as an US Army Interrogator which he finds very useful in ministry. He was honorably discharged with 100% service connected disability as a Iraq war veteran. He has a burning passion to connect and unite the international church community to one sole purpose of expanding God’s Kingdom into the most unreached and unengaged parts of the world. |
David Jamir, Pastor
Rosewood United Methodist Church Rev. David M Jamir is originally from Nagaland in the northeast India. In 1980 he was commissioned as missionary-at-large to the Himalayas covering Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim and then in 1981as a first Naga American Baptist missionary to the United States by a Naga congregation. However, he was quickly recruited by Northern Illinois Conference (NIC) of the United Methodist Church in 1984 for cross-cultural and cross-racial appointments. He led churches from small rural towns to midsize to large suburban churches in NIC. He is now a lead pastor at Rosewood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles. |
Ken Kong, Director
SEAC Ken Sem Kong serves the Southeast Asian Ministries of The Navigator. He teaches and speaks at conferences throughout the United States. In the summer he facilitates mission trips for Southeast Asian American to Southeast Asia. He trains, mentors and disciples emerging leaders. In addition, he serves as a director for the Southeast Asian Catalyst, a network of Southeast Asian leaders who are called to ignite a missional movement of South East Asian Jesus followers to impact the world. Ken lives in Long Beach, California. |
Rev. Misi Tagaloa, Pastor
Second Samoan United Church of Christ Rev. Misi Tagaloa is a candidate in the race for Long Beach City Council's District 1 seat in California. He is also the Senior Pastor at Second Samoan Congregational UCC, nearly full-time Realtor with the Rana Organization, and also a part-time instructor at Claremont School of Theology. A former Trust Administrator for Farmers & Merchants Bank with a Master's degree in Business Finance from Long Beach State, Misi was born in Samoa in 1965 and moved to California in 1984. His education resume includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Theological Studies at the Claremont School of Theology, M.B.A. in Finance at CSU Long Beach University, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering in the University of Hawaii at Manoa Affiliations. Misi and his wife Mareta have three children: Eneti, Luamata, and Teruah. |
Russell Jeung, Professor
San Francisco State University Russell Jeung is a professor in Asian American Studies. Author of Faithful Generations: Race and New Asian American Churches (2004) and Sustaining Faith Traditions (2012), he is writing a spiritual memoir about his 20 years of incarnational urban ministry. |
Ingrid Wang, Chair
Asian American Pacific Islander Clergywoman of UMC Born and raised in Taiwan, Rev. Ingrid Wang brings a blend of Eastern and Western culture to her ministry. She has a Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC and is one of the co-authors of “Reclaiming the Wesleyan Tradition-John Wesley’s Sermons for Today” and a contributor to “Breaking Through the Stained Glass Ceiling.” Rev. Wang currently serves as the President of the Asian American and Pacific Islander United Methodist Clergywomen Association (AAPIC), which represents seven Asian countries and the Pacific Islands. She is also the Senior Pastor of the Wesley Grove United Methodist Church in Hanover, MD. Rev. Wang is also a Life Coach and a Chinese/English translator. She has done academic translation work for the Chinese Pastors who study at the Wesley Theological Seminary. She enjoys traveling, skiing, reading, theater, singing, and dancing. |
Tommy Dyo, National Executive Director
Epic Movement Tommy's background ranged from being a ski patroller to a business consultant before going into full-time Christian work. In 1988 he started his service with Asian American Christian Fellowship (AACF) and has served as a campus minister as well as the director of AACF for nearly ten years. He has also served as a consultant with the Asian American Leadership Center where he has been serving the Southeast Asian community to mobilize church planters, equip ministries, and network resources. Since June 2006, Tommy has been serving Cru, as the National Executive Director of Epic Movement (Cru’s Asian American ministry). He leads a national strategy to reach Asian Americans college students and faculty. In 2010, he was a US delegate at the 3rd Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town South Africa. In 2011, he helped coordinate relief work in the Sendai region of Japan. |
Dr. Jinha Park, Director
City of Hope Jinha Park is Director of MRI and Radiology Research at the City of Hope Medical Center. He is active in the American College of Radiology working to improve access to imaging screening tests and increase the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology in improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. He is also a Board Member of the Korean American Coalition and the Korean American Medical Association. Dr. Park obtained his B.A. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. He then completed both the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Southern California studying a specific tumor associated protein called HER-2 in breast cancer and developing an antibody against this cancer protein for future diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. He then completed a Residency in Diagnostic Radiology at UCLA Medical Center and a Fellowship in Abdominal Cancer Imaging at Stanford University Medical Center. |
Gael Pullen, Founder
Sylvia Global Media Network GAEL SYLVIA PULLEN is a pioneering businesswoman, prolific speaker, and ardent philanthropist. Her life’s goal is to empower and inspire all to see the good that is around us. Acting out of her core values, she recently founded Sylvia Global Media, a global broadcasting digital platform that serves as a sphere of influence for women and girls around the world. Channeling quality, trustworthy content, Sylvia Global is a referral source of AMAZING women and enlightened men. Her passion meets purpose as the leading proponent of the “Global Call To Action for Women and Girls’ Health – The First Ladies Campaign,” as the founder of Girls Fly!, former owner of Ghail Media Group –the largest Spanish-radio broadcast in northeastern Ohio, tCharis Real Estate – the largest minority-owned (revenue generated) commercial real estate brokerage firm in southern California. |
Grace Meng, Lawyer, Representative Congressmember
New York's 6th Congressional District U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng is serving her first term in the United States House of Representatives. Grace represents the Sixth Congressional District of New York encompassing the New York City borough of Queens, including west, central and northeast Queens. Grace is the first Asian-American member of Congress from New York, and the first female Member of Congress from Queens since former Vice Presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro. She is dedicated to fighting for the hardworking families of Queens by protecting Medicare and Social Security, spurring economic growth, creating jobs, ensuring access to a quality education and increasing funding for transportation and infrastructure projects. Grace is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and its Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. |
Jane Hyun, Founder & President
Hyun & Associates Jane Hyun is a leadership strategist and coach to Fortune 500 companies, MBA programs, and nonprofits. She helps organizations grow their bottom line and achieve productivity through the effective deployment of human capital. For the past 10 years, her signature programs (Bamboo Ceiling Leadership Series & Art of Cultural Fluency™ roundtables) have received international acclaim from clients in a variety of sectors, including consumer products, professional services, retail, media, technology, financial services, and healthcare. She serves as an advisor to management teams and diversity councils about Asian, women, and multicultural talent strategy. Prior to starting this consulting firm, she was VP of Human Resources/Talent at JP Morgan, and Director of Recruiting at Deloitte and Resources Global. |
Yang Il Kim, Pastor
Word of God Church, Former President of the Council of Korean Churches in Greater Washington DC Yang Il Kim is the Senior Pastor of Word of God Baptist Church President of International Bible Study Institute and Former President of Council of Korean Churches of Greater Washington. |
Diana S. Jo
KCCD Board Member Diana Jo is a Business Development Officer with JP Morgan Chase where she is responsible for coordinating with non profits for community reinvestment in the Mortgage Services sector. Due to the partnership with KCCD she was able to see first hand what the impact and need is for advocacy in community development. She has been in Mortgage Services for 12 years and has been recognized nationally for customer service and origination. Diana now serves on the Board of Directors for KCCD and is on the Leadership Board for Asian American Real Estate Association (AAREA) of Greater Los Angeles. |
Benjamin Uybengkee, Pastor
River of Life International Christian Fellowship/Asian Prayer Network Born and raised in Cebu City Philippines with experience in Business (exporting) before going into full time ministry as a worship pastor before being sent as a Missionary to the USA. Burdened by a call of God in 1992 to come and minister to America. In August of 1998, Rev. Uybengkee’s family moved to Baltimore, Maryland to pioneer a non-denominational church as missionaries from the Philippines. Since then, God has given him the passion to connect with the Body of Christ in the greater Baltimore/ DC area by being involved in inter-church prayer gatherings (e.g. Lighthouse Prayer Movement, Peace for the City, Partners for Transformation, Multi-Cultural Prayer Movement, Asian Prayer Network). He firmly believes that he will witness another Revival and Great Awakening in America that will influence the rest of the world. |
John Park, Chairman
KCCD, Korean Cultural Heritage of America Rev. John Jongdai Park is an ordained pastor and advocate for Korean immigrants. He is originally from South Korea and came to the States in 1982, where he attended Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. Rev. Park served as the past President for The Council of Korean Churches in Southern California. He also currently the Chairman of KCCD and of the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation of America as well as Co-Chair of the Board of Korean Churches for Community Development. Rev. John Park is currently in Los Angeles California where he continues to serve as Head Pastor of Joong-Ang Presbyterian Church in Hollywood. |
Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Kiran Ahuja was appointed on December 14, 2009 to the position of Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), housed in the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC. In this capacity, she is responsible for directing the efforts of the White House Initiative and the Presidential Advisory Commission on AAPIs to advise federal agency leadership on the implementation and coordination of federal programs as they relate to AAPIs across executive departments and agencies. The White House Initiative on AAPIs works with these entities to improve the quality of life and opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through increased access to, and participation in, federal programs in which they may be underserved. |
Janelle Wong, Director
Asian American Studies Program Janelle Wong is Director of the Asian American Studies Program and Associate Professor at the University of Maryland. She is the author of Asian American Political Participation and Democracy's Promise: Immigrants and American Civic Institutions. She received her PhD from the Department of Political Science at Yale University in 2001. She is currently writing a book on Asian American and Latino Evangelicals and their potential political impact. |
Paul Monteiro, Vista Director,
Corporation for National and Community Service Paul Monteiro is a Partner with Values Partnerships. He comes to VPI from The White House, where he served as Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement. Paul led the White House’s outreach to faith-based organizations with a particular focus on African American religious groups; Arab Americans; anti-poverty groups; and gun safety advocates. He also coordinated the White House Mentorship Program for young men in local high schools. Paul worked as the national deputy director for faith outreach on the 2008 Obama for America campaign. He earned his J.D. from Howard University School of Law and a BA from the University of Maryland. He is widely known as one of the country’s leading experts on Black church engagement, Muslim American and Dharmic community outreach, as well as various efforts to strengthen the social safety net. |
David Lee, CEO & Founder
DCO Ventures David is a zealous entrepreneur and Chief Think Architect / Founder of DCO, a culture-catalyst group involved in multiple industries ranging from business startups to city transformation. David also founded two other innovative companies, one in boutique real-estate development and the other in emergency management, and had the privilege of consulting a state governor on the state’s emergency strategies. David has a background in Real Estate Development with the Anschutz Entertainment Group, and is most known for being one of the select few overseers for the development of the Staples Center, the StubHub Center and the Dolby Theatre. He sits on the board of several non-profit organizations and travels extensively as a speaker and consultant. It is his passion to see others achieve their dreams and calling. David received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, in Architecture, and currently resides in Southern California with his wife Ruth, and daughter, Dakota Justice. |
Hak Jon Lee, Professor
Fuller Seminary Hak Joon Lee joined the faculty at Fuller Seminary in 2011 as professor of theology and ethics. Lee has published several books, four in English, includingCovenant and Communication: A Christian Moral Conversation with Jürgen Habermas (University Press of America, 2006), We Will Get to the Promised Land: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Communal-Political Spirituality (Pilgrim Press, 2006), The Great World House: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Global Ethics (Pilgrim Press,2011), and Shaping Public Theology: The Max L. Stackhouse Reader (coedited, Eerdmans, 2014), as well as numerous articles. An ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA), his current research focuses on public theology in the global era. He has also focused much of his study on the ethics and spirituality of Martin Luther King Jr., and has been invited to be the keynote speaker for the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in several cities. |
Steve Park, Executive Director
Little Lights Urban Ministries Steven Park is the Founder and Executive Director of Little Lights Urban Ministries in Washington, DC. Following his conversion from atheism to Christianity at the age of 24, he felt compelled to share Christ's compassion to low income children, youth, and families in a neighborhood where his parents owned a small business. Little Lights now employs 9 full-time staff and over 40 part-time staff, many from the community being served, to provide award winning programs and services including after-school programs, one-to-one mentoring, Bible studies, parenting and adult programs, and a landscaping micro-enterprise called the Clean Green Team that employs 8 men from the community. Steve passion is to see Christians live out the Great Commandment of loving our neighbors as ourselves across racial and class lines. His wife, Mary, works with Steve full-time and they raise their children, Kayla (10) and Dylan (8) in Anacostia, a historic African-American neighborhood in DC. |
Eun Bok Kim, President
Council of Korean Churches of Florida Eun Bok Kim is a pastor at Keystone Korean Baptist Church. He is also the executive director of the Korean Committee Organization in West Florida and Vice President of the Korean Baptist Church Council of West Florida. Reverend Kim received his education at Washington Baptist College & Seminary, with Bachelors in Theology and his Masters in Divinity. He has a wife and three wonderful children. |
Sunny Ahn, Vice President
National Association of Korean United Methodist Clergywomen Sunny Ahn is a Korean American who is a fourth generation Christian, descended from ancestors who were converted under the ministry of the first Methodist missionary to Korea, R.A. Hardie. he was born in Incheon, Korea and immigrated to the United Sates when he was 15. H was ordained as Deacon in 2000 and as Elder in 2002 in The United Methodist Church. |
Special Performers
Larissa Lam, President
LOG Records
Director, On the Way Up
Larissa Lam is a Chinese-American recording artist, songwriter and TV/radio host. She is currently the president of LOG Records and director of On the Way Up, a ministry of Artists in Christian Testimony, an arts sendingmissions organization. She began her career in entertainment as the Chief Financial Officer of NSOUL Records. While at NSOUL, Larissa joined the Gospel/Dance group Nitro Praise as one of the lead singers. She has spoken at numerous universities such as Yale, UCLA and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill promoting diversity and faith in media. Sheserved for two years on the Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month committee for the city of Los Angeles under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Larissa is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (The Grammys) and on the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) Awardsnominating committee. She holds a BA in Business Economics from UCLA.
LOG Records
Director, On the Way Up
Larissa Lam is a Chinese-American recording artist, songwriter and TV/radio host. She is currently the president of LOG Records and director of On the Way Up, a ministry of Artists in Christian Testimony, an arts sendingmissions organization. She began her career in entertainment as the Chief Financial Officer of NSOUL Records. While at NSOUL, Larissa joined the Gospel/Dance group Nitro Praise as one of the lead singers. She has spoken at numerous universities such as Yale, UCLA and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill promoting diversity and faith in media. Sheserved for two years on the Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month committee for the city of Los Angeles under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Larissa is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (The Grammys) and on the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) Awardsnominating committee. She holds a BA in Business Economics from UCLA.
Peace Mission Korean Dance Group
|
|
|
Jae Jin
Jae Jin is a rising new musician, having first caught the attention of many in the music industry less than a year ago with his viral cover of a 1960s soul classic by Sam Cooke. This up and coming artist was also recently featured as a principal actor to play and sing on an episode of the original Netflix TV show House of Cards this season. Jae spends his days working for social change in the heart of Baltimore City, but is preparing to take flight and create his footprint in the world through his gifts. He hopes to use these gifts of songwriting, music, and art to connect with others, share his story, and inspire others.
Jason Chu
Asian-American rapper Jason Chu is on a mission to speak hope and healing in a broken world. He tells stories of a generation wrestling with fear and joy, greed and hope, hurt and healing. For more information, visit www.jasonchumusic.com
Only Won
Only Won is a mechanical engineer, speaker and rapper known as “The Lyrical Engineer.” He has spoken at numerous churches, conferences and schools across the U.S. Whether it’s rapping about dim sum, thermodynamics or God, he brings clever wit to his songs. He has attracted fans and the attention of CNN and the Discovery Channel due to his clever music videos. His video "I Wanna Be an Engineer" (a parody of "Billionaire") went viral with over one million views on YouTube. He is also a spokesperson for the White House/Intel campaign, “Stay With It,” promoting careers in science and engineering. Only Won’s songs were featured in the video game “Sleeping Dogs” and the film “Dead Man Down” starring Colin Farrell. In addition to music, Only Won is a professional actor who has appeared in films such as The Pursuit of Happiness, The Hulk and The Matrix.
Deborah Worship Dance Mission
Deborah Worship Dance Mission has a purpose of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Dance and Body Worship.
Deborah Worship Dance Mission has a purpose of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Dance and Body Worship.
|
Leader:
강 정아 (Jung Ah Kang) 목사님/ 단장 |
Performers:
이 미란 (Mee Ran Yi) 박 민희 (Jumi Park Au) 정 경화 (Esther Chung) 최 정미 (Jaycee Yum) |
|
|
