Executive Committee

Rachelle Pastor Arizmendi, Co-Chair
Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Los Angeles, CA

In 2014, Rachelle Arizmendi was the first woman of color elected to the City of Sierra Madre City Council. In April 2017, she was first selected by her colleagues to serve as Mayor, and then again in December 2020. Rachelle ended her public service in December 2022.

In addition to her role as National CAPACD's Board Co-Chair, Rachelle also serves as the Board President of the Asian American Pacific Islanders Equity Alliance and was appointed by the current and previous CA Governor to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. Former Board roles include Board Chair for the Foothill Workforce Development Policy Board, Board Secretary of Child 360, 1st Vice President of the CA League of Cities Women’s Caucus, and Board Member for the CDFI Coalition.

Rachelle Arizmendi was the Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE). Currently, Rachelle is a Government Business Advisor for Avenu Insights and Analytics, a nationwide government technology. She has two undergraduate degrees and an MS degree with an emphasis in Nutrition.

Angie Liou, Co-Chair
Asian Community Development Corporation, Executive Director
Boston, MA

Angie has been working in the affordable housing and community development field since 2004. Previously serving as ACDC's Director of Real Estate, Angie oversaw the asset management of ACDC’s portfolio of 300+ units, and was responsible for developing a pipeline of new projects for ACDC. She has worked as a consultant and project manager in Seattle and Philadelphia assisting nonprofits in providing safe and affordable housing. She has served as the project lead on over $95 million worth of projects. Angie received a Master of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Community Development. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Duncan Hwang, Secretary & Chair, Audit Committee
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Development & Communications Director
Portland, OR

Duncan currently serves as the Development and Communications Director for Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Oregon's leading AAPI grassroots advocacy organization. He first became politicized while attending the University of Michigan where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Asian Studies. During this time he worked on numerous civic engagement and environmental campaigns. After graduating, he worked as a field organizer for a national non-profit focusing on voter registration and GOTV campaigns. Duncan then moved to Portland, Oregon and obtained his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School. After becoming an attorney, he relocated to Asia to practice international corporate law where he advised Fortune 500 companies on their cross-border merger and acquisition activities.

Alisi Tulua, Treasurer & Chair, Finance Committee
Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Program Manager
Los Angeles, CA

For 15 years, ‘Alisi Tulua has grown to be a noteworthy leader in the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community through her various roles in NHPI and Asian American organizations. She is currently the California Program Director for Asian American Futures bringing her knowledge and experience with NHPI organizations to the foundation’s work. Her previous role as Project Director of the NHPI Data Policy Lab at UCLA Center for Health Policy Research ignited and expanded a passion for exploring and understanding systemic barriers to equity for NHPI and other communities of color.  ‘Alisi’s journey in the nonprofit sector was spent in homes like the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA), Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), One East Palo Alto (OEPA), Tongan Community Service Center (TCSC), and API Forward Movement. She currently helps with the development of the Southern California Pacific Islander Community Response Team (SoCal PICRT), is the board chair for the NHPI Alliance, and is a board member at ‘Anamatangi Polynesian Voices. She values mentoring and supporting emerging leaders, exploring strategies for values-based and culture-centered narrative building, and immersing in Tongan and Pasifika culture and language epistemology.

‘Alisi’s family migrated from the Kingdom of Tonga to the U.S. when she was 13 years old and she grew up in Monterey, CA. She has a Master of Science in biology and a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and cell biology from the University of California, San Diego.

Members

Chhaya Chhoum
Southeast Asian Freedom Network, Executive Director
Bronx, NY

Chhaya and her family lived in refugee camps in Thailand and the Philippines before being resettled to the US. After the US’s refugee resettlement program abandoned her family and thousands of Southeast Asian refugees in the Bronx, she organized her community through the newly created Youth Leadership Project. She took on slumlords, overcrowded schools, and cutbacks in translation services at public assistance centers and local health clinics. Chhaya harnessed the energy of youth in a community that has lost much of its adult generations. Through an intergenerational framework, she organized adults as well as youth to fight for justice and developed the framework of healing and organizing in the Southeast Asian community; that justice is healing. In 2002, Chhaya put out a call to Southeast Asian organizers across the country to train and strategize against welfare reform and the secret repatriation agreement between the US and Cambodia, which catapulted the deportation of thousands of Southeast Asian refugees. It was in the Bronx that the Southeast Asian Freedom Network and the Southeast Asian movement for social justice started.

In 2012 she co-founded Mekong NYC in the Bronx, empowering Southeast Asians through arts, culture, community organizing, and advocacy. Its work in the Bronx honors the history of the Bronx and all its people. As one of the earliest anti-deportation activists, Chhaya’s award-winning, strategic and innovative leadership has been critical to the movement and has laid the foundation for stopping numerous deportations. Her achievements were recognized by the Ford Foundation and the Petra Foundation. Her work was featured in a documentary called “Eating Welfare” and in the NBC Asian America “Deported” series.

Inhe Choi
HANA Center, Executive Director
Chicago, IL

Prior to joining KRCC’s staff in 2014, Ms. Choi worked as an independent consultant for nine years assisting community-based organizations and foundations with capacity building and strategic planning. Ms. Choi also served as the Program Director of the Crossroads Fund, the Asian American Liaison for the Harold Washington administration in Chicago and a community organizer for the Metropolitan Tenants Organization. She is a co-founder of Korean American Women In Need (KAN-WIN).

Chelsie Evans Enos
Hawaiian Community Assets, Executive Director
Honolulu, HI

Chelsie Evans Enos brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of transformative leadership within communities in Hawaiʻi. With a foundational career that spans roles from Direct Service Specialist to Executive Director of impactful organizations, Chelsie has been at the forefront of cultural-based financial education and housing initiatives that address the unique needs of the people of Hawaiʻi. Under her leadership at Hawaiian Community Assets, the budget for vital community programs increased by $3 million in the first year alone, highlighting a strong capability in financial management and fundraising. Her pioneering work includes building team infrastructure and creating the state's first rent-to-own housing program with fee-simple options, directly addressing inequities in housing policies for Native Hawaiians.

Chelsie's commitment to social equity extends beyond housing to include advocacy for equitable education systems for Native Hawaiians, managing significant budget increases, and innovating social entrepreneurship models that bridge at-risk youth to education and career opportunities. With a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, including critically ill children and domestic violence survivors, Chelsie has consistently worked towards creating programs that support basic needs in addition to educational and career support. Holding a Master's degree in Human Services with a specialization in Marriage and Families, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Chelsie embodies the spirit of service and dedication to creating equitable systems that allow Hawaiians to thrive. She's been recognized by Pacific Edge as the top leader of Native Hawaiian Business in 2023 and identified as a Mana Wahine in the publication of Ka Wai Ola.

Wayne Ho
Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), President & CEO
New York, NY

Wayne Ho is the President and CEO of the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), the nation’s largest Asian American social services agency. He is responsible for leading this 53-year-old organization that promotes social and economic empowerment of over 60,000 Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income New Yorkers each year. CPC implements more than 50 programs at over 30 sites throughout New York City, including early childhood education, school-age care, youth services, workforce development, community services, and senior services. Under Wayne’s leadership that started in 2017, CPC launched Advancing Our CommUNITY, its organization-wide strategy to expand services to address persistent needs and emerging trends and to improve leadership skills among staff and community members.

Previously, Wayne served as Chief Strategy and Program Officer for the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), an association of 200 community and faith-based member agencies aiming to promote upward mobility of underserved New Yorkers. He was responsible for expanding policy advocacy, capacity building, and faith-rooted organizing initiatives to achieve FPWA’s strategic plan. During his tenure, FPWA has advocated successfully for a funded $15 per hour minimum wage for City contracted social services nonprofit workers, grew the number of trainings and grants to member agencies, and increased its budget by 45%.

From 2004-2013, Wayne was the Executive Director of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), the nation’s only pan-Asian children’s advocacy organization. During his tenure, CACF collaborated with other organizations to successfully pass policies to improve language access, reduce bias-based harassment in schools, baselined funding for community-based child abuse prevention programs, and increased discretionary funding for the Asian Pacific American community. He has been recognized by the City and State in the inaugural Nonprofit Power 50 cohort in 2018 and as a 40 Under 40 New York City Rising Star in 2014. Wayne was one of 10 leaders invited to meet with President Obama during the White House’s Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration in 2011.

Wayne serves on numerous boards, including the board of Coro New York Leadership Center and Partnership for After School Education, and is appointed to several New York City and State advisory boards. Wayne received his Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley and his Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Chi-mei Lin
Chinese Community Center, Executive Director
Houston, TX

Chi-mei Lin has been the Executive Director of the Chinese Community Center [ https://ccchouston.org/ ] in Houston for the past 15 years. CCC is the largest Asian-led social services agency in the southwestern United States, serving over 10,000 families a year with educational, cultural, and social services. In 2015, CCC achieved recognition and accreditation from the Board of Immigration Appeals. Chi-mei actively engages in community work and is currently serving on the City of Houston Community Development Advisory Council, United Way of Greater Houston Care for Elders Leadership Council, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collective Executive Committee, and Houston Empower Community Initiative Executive Council.

Ekta Prakash
Director, Office of Public Engagement at The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Minneapolis, MN

Before joining the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, she served at CAPI USA - Immigrant Opportunity Center for 16 years, first as the Program Director and then as CEO for the last 12 years. She has served on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board and has been involved with many nonprofit organizations during her tenure with CAPI. Ekta has significant cross-cultural expertise and has worked extensively with culturally-based grassroots organizations. She has a deep commitment to the value of multiculturalism and has built bridges between and among numerous immigrant and refugee communities residing in the Twin Cities. Ekta has two master’s Degrees in Sociology (Delhi School of Economics) and Public Administration (Metro State University). She is a LAAMP and Gender Equity AAPIP Fellow and received the Rosa Park Diversity Award and Hometown Hero Award by Major League Soccer. Her experiences included leadership, cross-cultural expertise, program administration, strategic planning, and working with culturally based grassroots organizations.

Erich Nakano
Little Tokyo Service Center, Executive Director
New York, NY

Erich Nakano has been with the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) since 1992.  LTSC is a 40+ year old nonprofit organization that builds affordable housing, engages in comprehensive community development work in Little Tokyo, and provides a broad range of social services for the elderly and families.  Erich Nakano graduated from UCLA’s Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Planning with an M.A. in 1993.  At LTSC he has managed affordable housing and community facility projects in Little Tokyo, and in other communities of color throughout the L.A. area, in partnership with other community-based organizations.  He was responsible for program development for several LTSC programs including the Affordable Housing Collaborative, Asian Pacific Islander (API) Small Business Program, LTSC’s Child Development Program; and others.  He has been LTSC's Deputy Director, serving as LTSC's chief operating officer.  In October, 2019 he was appointed Executive Director after the former Executive Director passed away.

Prior to his work at LTSC, Erich Nakano has been involved in various community organizations and issues including the Japanese American redress and reparations movement, community preservation and tenant rights, educational rights, and various national and local political campaigns.  He graduated with a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley in political science. 

Susana Sngiem
United Cambodian Community, Executive Director
Long Beach, CA

Susana Sngiem has served as United Cambodian Community’s (UCC) Executive Director for over nine years. Susana was born and raised in Long Beach by Khmer refugee parents. She earned her Master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Susana has over 20 years of nonprofit leadership. She is committed to equitable development in the Cambodian community in Long Beach. She has led and partnered with the Cambodia Town Thrives Collaborative, Cambodian Advocacy Collaborative, and Language Access Coalition. She currently serves as the Chair of the Midtown Business and Property Owners Association and is a member of the City of Long Beach’s Homeless Services Advisory Committee.

Trina Villanueva
Union Bank, Director, Community Outreach/Foundation Officer
San Francisco, CA

Trina Villanueva serves as Director, Community Outreach and Foundation Officer, covering Northern California and the Central Valley for Corporate Social Responsibility. In this role, Ms. Villanueva manages a portfolio of grants focused on Community Economic Development, Affordable Housing, Education and the Environment; oversees employee engagement and volunteer activities for Union Bank employees; and creates opportunities to partner with nonprofit organizations as well as government entities and private corporations. She has more than 20 years of community development and community relations experience. Prior to joining Union Bank in 2011, Ms. Villanueva served as Program Manager at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development in San Francisco where she managed the city’s Community Benefit District program. Previously, she served as a Senior Community Development Specialist at the Mayor’s Office of Community Development in San Francisco. Ms. Villanueva began her career in the nonprofit sector working at the Greenlining Institute and PolicyLink. Ms. Villanueva serves on the Board of Directors of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development and Filipino Advocates for Justice. She is also a member of the Greenlining Academy Alumni Association and was part of the founding alumni board. Ms. Villanueva holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies and Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley.

Maiko Winkler-Chin

Maiko Winker-Chin served as Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation Authority (SCIDpda)’s executive director since 2009, and prior to that role she served as SCIDpda’s Director of Housing and Facilities. She has worked at the SCIDpda for over 17 years. Maiko has served on numerous Seattle-area workgroups focused on core community development issues, including housing and commercial affordability, equitable development, transportation, and public safety. She was a founding member of Puget Sound Regional Council’s HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Equity Network, co-chaired the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Sustainable Leadership, and was a UW Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies Affiliate Fellow.  Maiko is a recipient of the 2020 Women of Valor Award from Senator Maria Cantwell, and was named one of the "100 Most Influential People in Seattle" by Seattle Met in 2021.

Malcolm Yeung
Chinatown CDC, Executive Director
San Francisco, CA

Malcolm started as Executive Director on April 10, 2020. Before this, Malcolm served as the Deputy Director of Programs and Policy Manager of Chinatown CDC since 2009. Malcolm graduated from Duke University in 1994 (B.S.), University of Colorado at Boulder in 1997 (M.A. History), and Berkeley Law (J.D.) in 2001. Malcolm first practiced in venture finance and patent litigation at Perkins Coie LLP and then O'Melveny and Meyers LLP before joining the Asian Law Caucus in 2003. In 2011, Malcolm took a brief vacation from Chinatown CDC where he served in the Administration of San Francisco's First Asian American Mayor, the Honorable Edwin M. Lee, for one year to launch Mayor Lee's housing programs. Malcolm was former Co-Chair of the California Coalition on Civil Rights and President of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area. He currently serves on the Boards of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and API Council. Malcolm likes to tell bad jokes, ride his bike(s) slowly, and torture his two children by making them tell him what a great dad he is. Malcolm is co-editor of a collection of short historical essays, Chinese Americans on the American Frontier, which can only be found in the most exclusive bookstores.