Youth Ambassador Program

2025 Act To Change Youth Ambassadors | Photo Credit: Sally Pinera

EMPOWER AND ENGAGE

Youth Ambassador Program

The Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) is Act To Change’s flagship, eight-month leadership development and upstander program for AAPI high school students who want to stand up to bullying and help build more inclusive communities.

Through virtual monthly workshops, mentorship from AAPI leaders, and hands-on learning with community partners, students examine how bullying operates both interpersonally and structurally and learn how to interrupt and prevent it.

Participants build the skills to speak up, care for their well-being, and catalyze their lived experiences into solutions for change in their local schools and communities.

Youth design and lead Impact Projects that aim to address the problems that erode a sense of belonging and trust – from exclusion to harassment. These projects culminate at a national Youth Summit, where Ambassadors present solutions, share insights, and connect with their peers and supporters nationwide.

Outcomes:

Increased confidence, belonging, and self-advocacy among youth participants
Practical leadership, communication, and organizing skills
Youth-led projects that create on-the-ground change in schools and communities
Strong relationships with mentors, peers, and AAPI role models

Are you a U.S. high school student ready to lead? We’re looking for students who:

Care about social justice and community impact.
Are ready to collaborate and take action.
Have ideas to stop bullying and foster belonging.

Application for the next cohort will launch in August 2026. Stay tuned!

COMING SOON

Check out this one-page overview of the program.

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Youth Ambassador Mentor

Interested in mentoring high school students in our Youth Ambassador Program?

YAP provides young people with the opportunity to collaborate with AAPI leaders, intern with an allied organization, and reflect on their experiences through virtual cohort sessions and supplemental learning materials and resources.

During mentoring sessions, volunteer mentors will:

Help student leaders explore who they are and develop confidence in their identity.
Explore topics such as Maintaining Focus and Assessing Priorities, Setting Goals, College Readiness, Networking, and Career Exploration.
Work on an individual basis. Volunteers should be prepared to meet with mentees at least twice a month.

Email programs@acttochange.org to express interest.

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REAL PROJECTS. REAL IMPACT. YOUTH-LED CHANGE ACROSS THE NATION

Youth Ambassador Impact Projects

As part of the 2025 cohort, Act To Change’s Youth Ambassadors transformed their lived experiences into action through powerful Impact Projects. These youth-led initiatives directly confront bullying, racism, mental health stigma, and cultural erasure – empowering communities through storytelling, education, art, and advocacy.

From launching podcasts and digital campaigns to hosting youth summits and school workshops, these projects are redefining what youth leadership can look like.

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Apply Now to be a Youth Ambassador

Applications are now closed for the 2025-2026 cohort and reopen in Fall 2026.

Meet Our 2025 Ambassadors

Akshan Ranasinghe

Alysha Lim

Annie Chen

Barathi Balamurugan

Camile Chu

David Siu

Eesha Nachnani

Emily Zeng

Ethan Su

Haddie Watson

Khloe Nguyen

Khue (Cindy) Le

Krish Putta

Krisha Chopra

Mason Asakura

Maya Takabe

Megan Sugiyama

Navya Rachakonda

Yeda Song

Yusuf Naviwala

Akshan Ranasinghe

Akshan Ranasinghe is a junior from Ellicott City, Maryland. In his community, he leads efforts for AAPI representation through journalism and local advocacy. Akshan’s passion for Asian-American representation stems from his deep-seated belief that amplifying unheard voices strengthens communities at their roots

Alysha Lim

Alysha Lim is a junior from Brooklyn, New York. At school, she helps promote inclusion and cross-cultural understanding through student-led initiatives that celebrate diversity and encourage meaningful connections among students. Alysha is passionate about uplifting Asian American voices and building stronger, more compassionate communities.

Annie Chen

Annie Chen is a senior from Hershey, Pennsylvania. At school, she leads her AAPI Affinity Club and serves on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Council. Beyond school, she is a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Youth Advisory Board, where she has led and spoken on panels about the intersection of culture and mental health.

Annie also works with several AAPI nonprofit organizations, advocating for legislation to include AAPI history in K–12 classrooms and supporting an awareness campaign for 988 in honor of Christian Hall. She also helps conduct “Know Your Rights” outreach in response to local ICE raids. Annie is deeply passionate about Asian American representation and mental health advocacy.

Barathi Balamurugan

Barathi Balamurugan is a junior from Los Angeles, California. She frequently promotes inclusivity by leading “Artistic Ascent,” an art program for young children of all abilities to express their minds and identities. Barathi is also dedicated to representing Asian American groups to bring greater appreciation in her school community and beyond.

Camile Chu

Camille Chu is a junior from the Bay Area, California, passionate about health and racial equity. As a leader at the local, state, and national levels, she has advocated for legislation addressing racial disparities, led initiatives to empower AAPI communities, and expanded access to youth mental health resources. Camille is dedicated to using creative mediums to drive meaningful change and amplify youth voices.

David Siu

David Siu is a Sophomore from Lafayette, California, who is passionate about actively working to build a more inclusive future. He serves on the Board of AAPI Youth Rising, a student-led organization dedicated to educating others on AAPI history and uniting against hate, as the Legislative Action Director.

Through his work, he has written numerous articles, led a podcast, presented at UC Berkeley, and continues to advocate for equality. At school, David leads numerous Asian American affinity clubs and is passionate about minority representation.

Eesha Nachnani

Eesha Nachnani is a sophomore from Nashville, Tennessee. At school, Eesha leads the USN Shakti club, which is a club that celebrates South Asian culture through Bollywood dance and workshops. Eesha is passionate about Asian American representation because of all the racism and bullying she’s seen others experience.

Emily Zeng

Emily Zeng, a junior from Gilbert, Arizona, is passionate in bettering her community and those close to her. She trains to be a peer counselor for a teen hotline, works with children as a tutor, and leads a non-profit organization, striving to lessen the education gap present. As a second-generation Chinese American, she wishes to have more Asian American representation that she wanted as a kid herself.

Ethan Su

Ethan Su is a junior at Lowell High School in San Francisco, he strives to understand how the past shapes the present and how to understand behavior to build communities centered on understanding. His advocacy has taken him to speaking engagements ranging from ones like the White House Mental Health Forum to local teach-ins in the community. In his free time, Ethan enjoys playing guitar and cooking food (more like eating it).

Haddie Watson

Haddie Watson is a Junior from Kansas City, Missouri. Haddie’s favorite subjects are reading and writing and she participates in her schools Leadership council and superintendent advisory council. Haddie cares about inclusion and community building for Asian youth and sharing the unique stories of Asian Americans.

Khloe Nguyen

Khloe Nguyen is a junior from San Jose, California. At school, she is active in community service through Interact Club and serves as Business Lead on her school’s all-girls robotics team. Khloe is passionate about neuroscience and mental health advocacy, and she hopes to use her interests to promote empathy and understanding across communities.

Khue (Cindy) Le

Khue (Cindy) Le is a junior from San Diego, California. She is the founder of Sweet Relief, a student-led organization raising awareness about diabetes and health equity, and co-host of Twilight Talks, a podcast focused on youth mental health. As a Vietnamese immigrant, she is passionate about building empathy, inclusion, and representation for AANHPI youth.

Krish Putta

Krish Putta is a senior from Clarksburg, Maryland. He serves as First Vice President of the Maryland Association of Student Councils and Vice President of Marketing for Maryland DECA. Krish is passionate about mental health and developing innovative solutions to stop bullying and build inclusive, supportive school communities.

Krisha Chopra

Krisha Chopra is a junior from Livermore, California. She serves as president of her school’s Music Therapy Club and is a member of the East Bay Congressional Youth Council. Krisha is passionate about leadership, community service, and making a positive social impact through youth engagement.

Mason Asakura

Mason Asakura is a senior from Los Angeles, California. He leads his school’s Japanese American student organization and serves as class president in the associated student body. Mason is passionate about uplifting people of all backgrounds and advocating for equitable access to health, education, and representation.

Maya Takabe

Maya Takabe is a senior from Buffalo, New York. At school, Maya is part of the leading group that organizes the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference, which brings together all the independent schools in her area and is held at her school. At this conference, local guest speakers — including activists, poets, and educators — are invited to speak, and numerous student workshops are held. These workshops are designed so that at these conferences, not only adult speakers but also children have a platform to share what they are passionate about. Maya truly believes in the power of voicing and sharing your passion. That is why she is also passionate about Asian American representation as a diverse diaspora, given their multicultural heritage.

Megan Sugiyama

Megan Sugiyama is a sophomore from Moraga, California. At school, Megan is the president of a teen mental health club, Active Minds, which increases awareness of mental health and gives students a safe place to express themselves. Megan envisions a community where people are welcomed and safe, and she hopes that by using her voice to stand up for AAPI members will be the beginning of making that dream come true.

Navya Rachakonda

Navya Rachakonda is a junior from Maryland. At school, she serves as the software captain of her robotics team and is the head of photography for her school’s sports media team. Navya is passionate about Asian American representation and diversity, drawing inspiration from her mixed Indian heritage, which has shaped her understanding of identity and inclusion within the broader Asian American community.

Yeda Song

Yeda Song is a 17 year old junior from Portland, Oregon. She is passionate about Asian-American representation in educational and behavioral curriculum in addition to combating the model-minority stereotype. Outside of school, she enjoys competing in DECA, playing soccer with her friends, and trying new restaurants.

Yusuf Naviwala

Yusuf Naviwala is a junior from Tucker, Georgia. At school, Yusuf leads their chess club and is part of the superintendents advisory council. Yusuf is passionate about bullying prevention in all schools.

Jax Kohlbrenner

Marketing & Communications Coordinator (any pronouns)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

My favorite thing about Act To Change is the unique way they approach combating bullying in schools, especially through the YAP program and the youth’s impact projects.

What’s one fun fact about you?

I make custom dolls!

Amy Paradis

Vice Chair of Finance (she/her)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

My favorite thing about Act To Change is meeting so many people who are Asian American like me. For so long I felt like I didn’t fit in with the Asian culture because I grew up in America, and I didn’t fit in with the American culture because I looked Asian. After I found Act To Change, I have met so many Asian Americans who can relate to me. I have gone so far as to find Asian American Korean Adoptees like me!

What’s a fun fact about you?

My favorite color is purple. My favorite food is mushrooms. I love the NYT Mini Crosswords. I love Puzzles. I like to color!

Arij Mikati

Board Member (she/her)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

What I love most about Act To Change is the opportunity to see our young alumni lead the next classes with power, confidence, and wisdom. It feels like real-time proof of how effective our programs are, and it makes me hopeful about the future they will shape.

What’s one fun fact about you?

So far, I’ve met 2 Batmans through my career. I love letting people guess which two.

Deborah Yeh

CMO, Sephora Americas & Sephora’s Global Chief Purpose Officer, Advisory Council Member (she/her)

Deborah Yeh is the Chief Marketing Officer for Sephora Americas and Sephora’s Global Chief Purpose Officer. In her Americas role, Deborah is responsible for cultivating the brand experience at Sephora and ensuring it is differentiated and compelling across all marketing touchpoints — from communications and creative, to loyalty and personalization. In her Purpose role, Deborah is focused on driving Sephora’s global mission to expand the way the world sees beauty. Prior to Sephora, Deborah held various marketing and digital leadership roles at brands including Target and Old Navy.

Deborah has been recognized as one of the 25 most innovative CMOs in the world by Business Insider, Forbes CMO Next, Adweek 50, Campaign 50, The Influence 100 by PRovoke, and Women Worth Watching by Diversity Journal. She is passionate about driving more inclusion in marketing and serves on several advisory boards aligned to this mission, including the ANA’s Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing as well as BRIDGE.

Michelle Lee

VP, Global Editorial & Publishing at Netflix, Advisory Council Member (she/her)

Michelle Lee is the VP of Global Editorial & Publishing at Netflix. Prior to joining Netflix in 2020, she was Editor in Chief of Allure. Since taking the helm of Allure in 2015, Lee has been committed to championing diversity and expanding the definition of beauty.

She was named Adweek’s 2017 Editor of the Year while Allure won Magazine of the Year for their groundbreaking covers, such as the July 2017 This Is American Beauty cover featuring model Halima Aden in her hijab. Lee and her staff declared the “End of Anti-Aging” in their September 2017 issue and took an oath to remove the term “anti-aging” from their own lexicon. It was a bold statement that challenged readers and brands to look at and speak about aging in a more positive way — and it has made ripples in the beauty industry and beyond.

Throughout her time at Allure, Lee has been uniquely committed to Asian-American issues and representation, featuring stars like Gemma Chan, Naomi Osaka, Priyanka Chopra, Fei Fei Sun, Fernanda Ly, Soo Joo Park, and K-pop stars Jihyo and JB on the cover of Allure; and she’s highlighted notable Asian-American voices on The Allure Podcast, including Awkwafina, Prabal Gurung, and Phillip Lim.

Lee was previously the Editor in Chief and Chief Marketing Officer at NYLON, Co-Founder and Chief Content and Strategy Officer at branded content agency Magnified Media, and held senior positions at Mademoiselle, Glamour, and more.

She is a Board member at ColorComm, a member of Adweek’s Advisory Council and Twitter’s Content Council, and she was named to the Gold House A100 of most influential Asians in 2018, 2019, and 2020, as well as Digiday’s Glossy 50, and Create & Cultivate’s Creative 100 in 2017. She was a recipient of a 2019 ColorComm Circle Award, and Allure was nominated for a National Magazine Award for its March 2018 issue The Culture of Hair featuring Lupita Nyong’o.

Sarah Ha

Senior Director of Strategy, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) (she/her)

Sarah Ha is the Senior Director of Strategy at the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), where she spearheads the organization’s comprehensive strategy to drive impactful change for marginalized Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across New York. She oversees policy advocacy, membership and coalition-building, and leadership development programs, ensuring they align with CACF’s mission to enhance the health, well-being, and safety of marginalized AAPI children and families.

With over 20 years of experience driving strategic transformations in the racial and social justice, nonprofit, education, and social impact sectors, Sarah specializes in strategic partnerships, cross-racial coalition building, organizational strategy, leadership development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) capacity building. A Professional Diversity Coach and trained Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator, she leverages her narrative as the daughter of working-class immigrants, caregiver, and satellite child to her professional practice, fostering environments of growth, healing, and transformation.

Before joining CACF, Sarah founded Jayu Consulting, LLC, a strategy coaching and consulting firm dedicated to empowering social impact leaders and organizations to deepen their connections and amplify their transformative impact. As Vice President of National Community Alliances at Teach For America (TFA), she led external engagement strategies with national civil rights and mission-aligned organizations, building intersectional partnerships across Black, Native, AAPI, Latinx, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities. Her leadership at TFA included founding the AAPI Community Alliances, which mobilized and developed AAPI leaders to drive systemic change in education, earning her team national recognition, including the 2018 Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) Community Award and acknowledgment by the California delegation.

Sarah’s career also includes leading programs for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program (GMSP) and APIA Scholars, where she supported over 16,000 scholarship recipients and contributed to national research on educational equity for underserved AAPI communities. Her strategic expertise and dedication to community engagement and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives have consistently empowered communities to achieve transformative change. Prior to serving at APIA Scholars and GMSP, Sarah worked in the Office of the Dean of Students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the UCLA LGBT Campus Resource Center, and served as an Intergroup Dialogue Facilitator dedicated to creating inclusive, affirming, and diverse campus environments.

She holds a Master of Education in Student Affairs, Higher Education & Organizational Change from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Faith, Peace & Justice from Boston College. She has completed certifications and fellowships with the Coach Diversity Institute, Pahara Institute, Aspen Institute, LEAP’s Emerging Leaders Program, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) National Leadership Academy, and TFA’s New Executive Director Fellowship.

Living on the unceded land of the Lenapehoking (Queens, NY), Sarah is committed to creating equitable opportunities for historically underserved communities, grounding in her core value of collective liberation. She serves on the Advisory Council for Act To Change and volunteers with community organizations dedicated to promoting equity, belonging, and justice.

Philip W. Chung

Creative Director, YOMYOMF, Advisory Council Member (he/him)

Philip W. Chung oversees the creative content for YOMYOMF, director Justin Lin’s (STAR TREK BEYOND, FAST & FURIOUS franchise) Asian American-centric digital company, and has worked in various capacities in film, TV, theater and digital. Previously, he was the co-founder/co-Artistic Director of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, an Asian American theater company, for ten years. Chung has developed projects for Google, Machinima, Comcast/NBCUniversal, Ovation TV, IFC, Legendary Pictures, ABC and others. Upcoming projects include FAMILY STYLE (an Asian food series for Warner Bros/Stage 13), MOONSHADOW (a LGBTQ-centric horror feature for Gunpowder & Sky), a Christmas musical for Disney Channel, and a theatrical adaptation of the beloved children’s book, EVERYONE POOPS.

Dr. Vanessa de Guia

Board Member (she/her/siya)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

Programs like the Youth Ambassador Program bring students together from across the country to develop leadership skills to protect students from bullying and hate speech and work to ensure students are treated with dignity, care, and respect. Students gain confidence, strengthen their public speaking skills, and become leaders in their communities.

What’s one fun fact about you?

I love to write and I was recently featured inThe Chicago Soul Poem: A City That Writes Together project – created by avery r. young, Chicago’s inaugural poet laureate. You can find all 30 featured poets in this project on YouTube. If you love poetry, please consider watching them in consecutive order.

Satjeet Kaur

Board Member (she/her)

Satjeet is a non-profit executive focused on civil and human rights issues, community mobilization and organizing as well as fundraising and operations.

She most recently served as the Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition, the largest and most prominent Sikh civil rights organization in the United States. Though she became Executive Director in 2018, she has worked in nearly every core facet of the organization’s work throughout her 12 years on the team. During that time, Satjeet has served as a leading organizer and activist providing direct support to Sikh communities across the country, including the rapid response after the Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting. Under her leadership as executive director, the Sikh Coalition has passed hate crime laws at the state and federal levels, successfully fought back against attempts to roll back federal policies that protected Sikhs from discrimination, improved how Sikhism is taught in six new states, oversaw the development of classroom-ready resources, mobilized grassroots voter registration drives, and successfully litigated cases to set strong precedence against religious discrimination. Recently, the organization led a U.S.-based response to the farmers’ protest in India, and provided crisis response support after the mass shooting in Indianapolis.

She currently serves as a Spiritual Life Advisor at New York University. She was named as one of 15 Faith Leaders to Watch by the Center for American Progress and has appeared on New York City and State list of leading Asian Americans. Satjeet has also served on interfaith advisory councils for Netflix, Facebook, and New York State. Previous to her tenure at the Sikh Coalition, Satjeet worked at SAMAR to increase the number of minorities registered on the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Satjeet was born and raised in New Jersey and currently lives in Connecticut. She is a graduate of New York University with degrees in Religious Studies and Psychology.

Nancy Tiên

Board Member (she/her)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

My favorite thing about Act To Change is the community we’ve built centered around supporting our youth, especially because as an adult I wish this type of support existed for the younger me. I am privileged to witness the journeys of the youth that we get to work with, as they embody the hope, potential and importance of a better future.

What’s one fun fact about you?

My first language was Vietnamese but I’m most fluent (and more comfortable) in Spanish and English. Growing up in Texas, my friends over the years introduced me to Latin American music, cuisine and traditions, which included opportunities to learn Spanish. I love how Latin culture and my friends’ experiences, albeit different than mine, have been both a window to the world and a mirror of my own experience.

Dr. Adam Collins

Vice Chair of Programs (he/him)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

My favorite thing about Act To Change is that we center youth in everything we do. We have helped AANHPI youth become stronger leaders who are able to show other youth in their communities what it looks like to be proud to be Asian and to stand up to bullying. My colleagues on the Board of Directors are aligned in making sure this generation of AANHPI youth know they belong no matter where they are in the country.

What’s one fun fact about you?

I have six pets, including four chickens. My two elementary-school-aged kids help take care of them and plan to sell our extra eggs at an egg stand in our neighborhood during the summer!

Gang Fong

Vice Chair of Operations (he/him)

Gang Fong is a director at Copia Power, an energy transition company in the U.S. committed to accelerating decarbonization in all areas of our economy. Prior to Copia Power, Gang was a management and technology consultant for 15 years, leading and supporting public, private, and government organizations to implement transformational programs, process improvements, and optimize their operations. Gang received his Executive Master of Business Administration (Valedictorian) from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Oregon State University.

As a first-generation Chinese American immigrant, Gang is familiar with the impacts of bullying in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and is passionate to support and amplify Act To Change’s mission and initiatives. Gang resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and children.

Sumi Parekh

Board Chair (she/her)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

What I love most about Act To Change is how it centers youth voice and leadership in such a meaningful way. It’s not just about responding to anti-Asian hate—it’s about building a future where young people feel a true sense of belonging, power, and agency in shaping their communities.

What is one fun fact about you?

I’ve lived in five very different states across the U.S. (Utah, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and California), and each place has shaped how I see community, identity, and belonging. Those experiences have given me a deep appreciation for how the environment influences opportunity—and have really informed the way I approach my work.

Jonathan Dacula

Senior Manager, Operations & Development (he/him)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

Seeing our youth participants grow and fully tap into their confidence as leaders! It’s so inspiring to get a front row seat into their growth, tapping into the power they hold as changemakers for good that was always there. I’m proud of our role at Act To Change bringing that out of them and seeing the impact they have on others beyond their time with us.

What’s one fun fact about you?

I’ve been in choirs for most of life and was part of a short-lived alt-rock band in high school. I may or may not also have a few music social media channels out there under a different name…

Josef Canaria

Manager, Programs & Strategic Initiatives (he/him)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

My favorite part of Act To Change is watching young people step into their power and turn their experiences with bullying or exclusion into something meaningful. Seeing their confidence grow as they spark conversations, build impactful community projects, and make their schools more inclusive is what makes this work so special to me!

What’s one fun fact about you?

I’m sharing more than one fun fact, but together they paint a pretty accurate picture of who I am: I still have two baby teeth (which I insist just means I’m youthful), I’ve somehow landed in Taylor Swift’s top 0.05% of Spotify listeners for three years straight, and I’ve watched every single episode of Survivor – all 50 seasons of it.

Soukprida Phetmisy

Executive Director (she/they)

What is your favorite thing about Act To Change?

What I love about Act To Change is seeing young people from communities and cultures that also raised me, realize their voices are powerful — that they matter — and then watching what happens when they get a platform and use those voices to create real change. Every story shared and every action taken is proof of what’s possible when young people feel truly seen, supported, and rooted in who they are. It gives me a lot of hope for what we’re building together.

What’s one fun fact about you?

I’m thisclose to platinum-ing Balatro. I’ve been a card carrying member (No. 17793) of the Cloud Appreciation Society since 2009. Please ask me about my cloud collection.

Jill Yu

Co-Founder (she/her)

Jill Yu’s own experiences with bullying have profoundly shaped her commitment to creating a world where every young person feels safe, valued, and proud of who they are. As a new mom, her motivation has grown even stronger—knowing that the work she does today will help shape a brighter, kinder future for her child and all children yet to come.

Currently, Jill serves as a senior official overseeing field operations in Washington, DC, where she works tirelessly to support and empower communities on the ground. Her journey in public service began as a Presidential Management Fellow, driven by a desire to advocate for vulnerable youth. Prior to that, she was a Staff Attorney at the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, focusing on issues affecting foster youth and education.

In 2015, Jill served as an Advisor at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. There, she contributed to critical initiatives such as “Act to Change,” which promotes kindness and anti-bullying efforts, and organized impactful events at the White House that fostered collaboration between philanthropic, public, and private sectors. She also worked closely with senior federal agency leaders to improve how their agencies serve Asian American communities.

Beyond her professional roles, Jill is an active member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association and founded the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Washington, DC. Her personal experiences and her love for her family inspire her to empower youth, helping them embrace their identities and stand proud—because she knows firsthand how vital it is for the next generation to grow up in a world that celebrates diversity and kindness.

Rebecca Lee

Co-Founder (she/her)

Rebecca brings more than 15 years of experience in strategy, outreach, and communications as Founder and Principal of Dot Movement, a public affairs and marketing agency working to turn ideas into movements. Rebecca served as Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the Biden-Harris Administration. In that role, she coordinated and implemented federal programs and initiatives to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities. During her tenure, she led the launch of the first-ever national strategy to advance equity for AA and NHPIs, a regional economic summit series, and the historic White House Forum on AA and NHPIs featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.

Rebecca was previously Communications Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders under the Obama-Biden Administration. She also held public affairs roles at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after joining the federal government as a Presidential Management Fellow.

Rebecca co-founded national anti-bullying organization Act To Change and served as Chair of the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership. Rebecca received her master’s degree from Columbia University and bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where she led a diverse coalition to found the Asian & Asian-American Center.

Maulik Pancholy

Co-Founder/Advisory Council Chair (he/him)

Maulik Pancholy is an award-winning actor, author and activist whose work has spanned hit television shows, the Broadway stage and films. He is best known for playing Jonathan on NBC’s award-winning comedy 30 Rock, Sanjay on the Showtime hit series Weeds, and Neal on the NBC comedy Whitney. He is also the voice of Baljeet on Disney’s Phineas and Ferb, and the title voice of Sanjay on Nickelodeon’s Sanjay and Craig – the first lead Indian-American character on a network cartoon.

His debut novel, THE BEST AT IT — about a gay, Indian American boy coming into his own — was named a 2020 Stonewall Honor Book, a 2019 Junior Library Guild Selection and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, The American Library Association’s Booklist and Kirkus Reviews.

As an activist, he has long been an advocate for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and LGBTQIA+ communities. He is the recipient of the Asian American Arts Alliance Award, the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award, and was named to Out Magazine’s Top 100 list. He regularly speaks at universities and corporations on the topics of diversity and inclusion.

In 2014, President Obama appointed Pancholy to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs. During his three-year tenure at the White House, he helped launch Act to Change.