Community in the Capital (CITC)

Community in the Capital (CITC) is a policy advocacy fellowship for staff at National CAPACD member organizations. CITC aims to increase the national presence and visibility of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) community-based organizations and emerging leaders, and bridge the gap between local and federal policy advocacy. CITC Fellows:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the structure of the federal government to identify how to most effectively advocate for AA and NHPI-specific policies.
• Learn how the federal government impacts their work at the local and state levels.
• Understand how to pursue equity for AAs and NHPIs in a coalition.
• Build strategic relationships with other community leaders.
• Learn how to become stronger and more effective leaders.
• Become dynamic storytellers and effective communicators who can confidently speak about their work and organization as policy advocates.

National CAPACD has trained nearly 150 leaders from across the country representing 50 different AA and NHPI community-based organizations over the past 15 years through CITC. We’re proud to see that CITC alumni are becoming leaders in their respective fields, growing strong peer relationships, serving on National CAPACD’s Board of Directors, or becoming policymakers themselves.

CITC 2024 Cohort

Jimina Afuola (She/Her)
Advocacy Coordinator, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) | Los Angeles, CA

As a first-generation college graduate dedicated to being of service to her community in various capacities, Jimina serves at Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), where she supports the advocacy and civic empowerment of Pacific Islanders. In her role at EPIC, Jimina leads Get Out the Vote campaigns to increase Pacific Islander voting power, provides policy recommendations to lawmakers in California on how specific issues are impacting the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities, and offers advocacy trainings for youth to feel politically charged in deepening their understanding with living in the diaspora. As a mother to 2 boys and sister to 7 siblings, Jimina is passionate about cultivating pathways for the next generation of youth to feel activated in challenging the systems in power through culturally centered practices. Prior to her role with EPIC, Jimina served in various leadership roles at the CA State Legislature and community college level, where she supported providing pathways for collaborative efforts with AAPI communities on impacts of COVID-19 and Educational leadership.

Jason Bautista (He/They)
Community & Civic Engagement Associate, Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC) | Los Angeles, CA

Jason Bautista is the Community & Civic Engagement Associate at the Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC), a nonprofit organization based in East Hollywood / Thai Town. Thai CDC is dedicated to community economic development, immigrant and workers' rights advocacy, food justice, healthcare access, and the provision of social and legal services. In his role, Jason focuses on driving systemic policy changes by highlighting the struggles and experiences of the communities served by Thai CDC, which includes Thais and other disadvantaged immigrants facing substandard housing conditions and limited access to basic health services, education, and employment opportunities.

During his undergraduate studies at UCLA, Jason was deeply influenced by student organizing and its impact on advancing social change. Upon graduating, he joined Filipino grassroots organizations like BAYAN USA and the Malaya Movement, which immersed him in community organizing and advocacy within the Filipino diaspora and migrant communities of Los Angeles. These experiences in community-building, internationalism, and working-class solidarity have been foundational to Jason's transition to his current public policy work at Thai CDC.

In his free time, Jason enjoys cafe-hopping, cooking, and taking long walks throughout the city.

Avi Gandhi (She/Her)
Senior Community Planner, Chinatown Community Development Center (Chinatown CDC) | San Francisco, CA

Avi Gandhi is a Senior Community Planner at the Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) – a place-based community development organization dedicated to advocating, organizing, and planning for neighborhood improvement while also managing affordable housing developments across San Francisco. In collaboration with Planning, Policy, and Organizing team members, Avi currently leads CCDC’s efforts to develop and implement a local operating subsidy program to support and maintain extremely low-income residents’ access to affordable housing. She also assists the team in analyzing and advancing other policies and practices that expand housing opportunities for the most vulnerable San Franciscans and amplify their voices in land-use decisions. Avi’s responsibilities include fostering relationships and effectively communicating with various stakeholders, including coalitions, other nonprofits, policymakers, and community members.

Prior to her role at CCDC, Avi lived and worked in Los Angeles, where she assisted small businesses in navigating land-use entitlement processes across various Southern California cities and counties. Avi holds a master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and an undergraduate degree in Architecture. While in graduate school, Avi interned with the City of Pittsburg's Planning Department, contributing to the groundwork for establishing a new conservation district overlay. Her journey toward social justice work was sparked while volunteering with the South Asian Helpline & Referral Agency (SAHARA), a nonprofit organization providing culturally sensitive services to survivors of abuse. In her spare time, Avi takes joy in painting, dancing, traveling, and exploring local coffee shops and fitness classes in the city.

Paying Her (She/Her)
Building Community Program Manager, Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (FIRM) | Fresno, CA

Paying Her (s/h) is the Building Community Program Manager at FIRM. She has worn various hats over her 8-year journey with the organization - from case manager to family advocacy coordinator, leading up to her current role. She is particularly passionate about advocating for heritage programs and parent engagement to connect with parents so they better understand their child’s academics and opportunities. She also empowers resident leaders to speak up in important spaces. During her early years at FIRM, she saw the livelihood of communities and their struggle with housing and resources. With the support of management, she went beyond her scope of work to ensure refugee communities receive the support they need and understand their rights as tenants, build their confidence in self-advocacy, and uplift the housing work at FIRM. She takes pride in spearheading the HUD housing program at FIRM, serving clients across Central Valley, a groundbreaking initiative catering to clients throughout California. She’s a proud CSU-Fresno graduate with a bachelor's in Social Work. She has many hobbies that keep her busy, including baking, painting, and hiking. She’s also a Pinterest enthusiast who always tries out new DIY projects. She believes in the power of our voices and taking up space to build impactful communities.

Avalon Igawa (They/She)
Community Engagement Specialist, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) | Los Angeles, CA

Avalon Igawa (they/she) is a Community Engagement Specialist in the Community Building & Engagement Department of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), a multi-service center and community development corporation located in the City of Los Angeles. As a Community Engagement Specialist, Avalon strategizes with the homeless services team, meets with community stakeholders, plans volunteer opportunities, and develops informational resources to help build a supportive network of community members that contribute to LTSC’s overall approach to homelessness. Avalon grew up in Seattle before earning their B.A. in political economy from the University of Southern California. Before coming to Little Tokyo, they worked at the housing and services provider, Brilliant Corners, and lived in Cape Town, South Africa, for a couple of years, helping students pursue tertiary education. Avalon plans programs with the Little Tokyo committee of the grassroots, multi-generational community organization, Nikkei Progressives. She also serves on the Arts District Little Tokyo Neighborhood Council board and identifies community needs and opportunities to improve the neighborhood. In their free time, Avalon loves ultimate frisbee and can be found on the field playing with the Los Angeles Astra and SoCal Flipside or coaching the USC Hellions. She also loves crafting, propagating plants, and exploring the outdoors.

Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou (She/Her)
Chief Community Engagement & Development Officer, Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources (PIK2AR) | Los Angeles, CA

Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou is a Co-Founder and current Chief Community Engagement & Development Officer after eight years serving as CEO of Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources (PIK2AR), a nine-year-old community-powered 5O1C3 non-profit based in Salt Lake City, Utah. PIK2AR's mission is to eradicate poverty and reduce harm with an ecosystem of culturally relevant programming around social services, the Chamber of Commerce, and the humanities and art.

Susi is a proud community health worker and a certified peer support specialist born in the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific. She is a trans-racial adoptee, immigrated to the US when she was 13 years old with her adopted family, and grew up in Vernal, Utah. She has lived and worked in Dallas, TX, Honolulu, Hi, Tucson, AZ, and  San Francisco, CA. She relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, 13 years ago when she married her biggest supporter and advocate, Simi Poteki.

Susi’s lifetime work is centered in the margins because of her life experiences of being an ex-felon, a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, and someone who lives with a mental illness and is in lifetime recovery. Susi centers on championing and empowering the most vulnerable, the under-resourced in communities through self-determination, turning challenges into strengths, and building and regaining cultural self-value with as many chances as people need to strive and thrive.

Susi has received many awards and accolades: ABC4 selected Susi as 1 of the 4 Remarkable Women of Utah Honorees in April 2024; the 2022 National ACE (Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship) Advocate of the Year Award; and Utah's “40 Over 40” awardee. In 2021, Forbes Magazine named Susi one of the  “50 Over 50” for Impact. She was also awarded the FBI Directors’ “Community Leadership Award” for the State of Utah and honored as one of Utah’s 50 Enlightened.

Urgen Sherpa (He/Him)
Senior Small Business Organizer, Chhaya CDC | Jackson Heights, NY

Urgen Sherpa is the Senior Small Busniess Organizer at Chhaya CDC. Chhaya builds power, housing stability, and economic well-being of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities in New York City. 

Before joining Chhaya, Urgen served as the president of the United Sherpa Association and as Senior Vice president of the Himalayan Buddhist Community in New York. For over two decades, Urgen has been a community leader in South Asian communities, specifically the Nepali, Tibetan, and Bhutanese communities. He was also a founding member of the Zangdokpalri Foundation for Great Compassion in the US Peekey Creative Youth Club and the Nepal Sherpa Student Association in Nepal.

Urgen studied Business Management and Economics at Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and received a New York GED. Urgen serves as a member of the New York City AAPI Small Business Task Force, New York City Queens Community Board 4, and Executive Secretary of the Rotary Club of New York Queens.

Wenyan Wang (She/Her)
Research Analyst, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) | Chicago, IL

Wenyan Wang has been a research analyst for the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) since 2020. After joining CBCAC, Wenyan actively participated in various community-focused initiatives, including the Small Business Program and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Her involvement in these programs has equipped her with valuable insights into the challenges and needs of small businesses and renters, further enhancing her ability to serve the community effectively. Currently, Wenyan is in charge of the Digital Literacy Program at CBCAC. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to enhance digital skills within the community. These understandings and experiences drive her to learn more about policy advocacy through the CITC program.