About

Our Mission

We cultivate healthy, long-lasting, and vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander communities through community-centered engagement, education, and advocacy. 

Our Vision

We want a world where Asian and Pacific Islander communities – and all communities of color – have full power to access good health and a healthy environment.

Get to know us

Our Team

API Forward Movement is driven by advocates who are passionate about health equity, the environment, food access, and social justice. Our core staff collaborates closely with community members, organizational partners, youth activists, researchers, and other local leaders on a daily basis. We believe in doing the work collectively!

DUKE CHOI
MPH (HE/HIM)

Program Manager,
Sustainable SGV

Duke (he/him) works to ensure a healthier community through advocacy, community engagement, and service. In the future, Duke hopes to eliminate chronic diseases that continue to burden the population. Prior to joining APIFM, Duke worked in corporate wellness as a team lead…

CLARISSA CHOY (SHE/HER)

Community Engagement Coordinator, Sustainable SGV

Clarissa (she/her) is a Community Engagement Coordinator for APIFM’s Sustainable SGV team. Based in Alhambra, Clarissa is a cheerful and enthusiastic individual who is passionate about creating healthier…

KEVIN CORTEZ (HE/HIM)

Distribution Coordinator,
Food Roots Harvest

Kevin Cortez (he/him) is a Distribution Coordinator on the Food Roots team. He handles sales as well as the deliveries for the program. Every week, Kevin communicates with the local…

LOUISE "ISA" FONUA (SHE/HER)

Community Health Worker

Louise “Isa” Fonua (she/her) is a Community Health Worker at APIFM. Recently graduating with her Masters in Counseling from CSULB, Isa has always had a passion for community work. As a Community Health Worker, she has…

HENG LAM FOONG, MS (SHE/HER)

Co-Division Director

Heng Lam Foong (she/her) is currently a Co-Director at APIFM, bringing to the organization 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, community engagement and policy advocacy. Most recently,…

JEREMY GUAN (HE/HIM)

Community Engagement Coordinator

Jeremy (Jianhong) Guan (he/him) is a Community Engagement Coordinator for the Food Roots Harvest team. Jeremy was born in China and then moved to Los Angeles at the age of 12. He is currently a student majoring in…

LINDA HUYNH (SHE/HER)

PROGRAM MANAGER, CALFRESH HEALTHY LIVING & FOOD ROOTS NOURISH

As APIFM’s program manager, Linda values the power of helping people grow. She is most known for being community-oriented and is motivated to help others who sincerely benefit from APIFM…

CHARLES NGUYEN (HE/HIM)

community engagement coordinator, sustainable sgv

Charles Nguyen (he/him) is a Community Engagement Coordinator at APIFM with the Sustainable SGV program. Charles is most known for his experience in the dance industry.  He has spent the past decade as an entertainer, artist, and teacher…  

JEAN PARK (SHE/HER)

Program COORDINATOR, Sustainable SGV

Jean Park (she/her) is a Program Coordinator for Water is Life & Nature for All projects. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jean is inspired by community-led efforts and initiatives focused on…

NARE PARK (THEY/THEM)

Program Coordinator,
Food Roots Harvest

Now a Coordinator for APIFM’s Enroll LA project, Nare Park (they/them) started as outreach specialist for the amazing Healthy Eating, Active Living team. They provide community outreach, develop gardening curriculum, and facilitate collaborative, fun, and culturally…

LEAH PEREZ (SHE/HER)

Community Health Worker

Hello my name is Leah Perez, and I was born and raised on the west side of Long Beach. As a Community Health Worker for APIFM it is an honor to work in this field and advocate for community health needs and individuals especially because I am so passionate…

FREDDY RAMOS (HE/HIM)

DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR, CALFRESH HEALTHY LIVING

Freddy Ramos (he/him) is a Distribution Coordinator for the CalFresh Healthy Living (CFHL) team. He assists with produce deliveries and community produce distribution events. Freddy graduated in 2020 from UCLA…

CECILIA SU'A (SHE/HER)

Program coordinator, sustainable sgv

Cecilia Su’a (she/her) is a program coordinator at APIFM with the Sustainable SGV program. Since graduating from UCLA in 2021, she has been actively involved in various non-profit organizations and social services…

CHRISTOPHER TENORIO (HE/HIM)

Program Coordinator,
Food Roots Nourish,
Community Health

Christopher Tenorio (he/his) is the Program Coordinator for Food Roots Nourish’s Community Health project at APIFM. Born in Guam and originally from the Bay Area, Chris found himself in Los Angeles in 2017 in order to…

Kyle Tsukahira

KYLE TSUKAHIRA, MPA (HE/HIM)

Co-Division Director

Kyle Tsukahira is currently a Co-Director at Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement (APIFM). Kyle has over nine years of experience in leading community-based programs focused on health equity, food access, and environmental justice for Asian & Pacific Islander (API) communities in Los Angeles…

AMELIA VERNON (SHE/HER)

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER

Amelia (she/her) is passionate about working to improve health equity and provide quality care for underserved communities. Since graduating from UCLA, she has worked with various Pacific Islander COVID-19 response…

Lyna Vuong

LYNA VUONG
MA (SHE/HER)

PROGRAM MANAGER, FOOD ROOTS NOURISH

Lyna Vuong (she/her) is APIFM’s Food Roots Nourish (FRN) Program Manager. She focuses on culturally responsive programming centering on healthy food access, nutrition education, healthy cooking, and community gardening. Lyna also leads…

PEGGY WANG (SHE/HER)

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Peggy Wang joined SSG/APIFM in 2022 as a Community Engagement Coordinator with the Enroll LA team where she engages easily with community members to inform and help qualified persons to enroll into the CalFresh program. Peggy is…

JE-SHOW YANG (HE/HIM)

PROGRAM MANAGER, Sustainable SGV

As the Senior Policy Coordinator of the API Forward Movement’s Sustainable SGV program, Jeshow Yang works to empower local residents to positively impact the SGV communities. Collaborating with the residents and elected officials, he focuses on…

Advisory Board

Our highly active advisory board provides vision and fundraising support across our work. Their energy and dedication help drive us!

JESSICA JINN

CHAIR

Jessica is currently a climate advisor with the Natural Resources Defense Council and works intimately with the City of Los Angeles on vehicle electrification and mobility projects. Prior to this,…

LESLIE TOY

VICE-CHAIR

Passion for APIFM: I first was introduced to APIFM through its Community Supported Agriculture program and loved the fresh produce and ability to support local Asian farmers. I’ve also been…

DAPHNE TAN

SECRETARY

Passion for APIFM: Daphne is excited to be a part of APIFM because of her passion for health and wellness as it contributes to active living. She strongly believes in…

MICHAEL NGIM

Passion for APIFM: Michael is passionate around health and an active lifestyle. He believes the API community in the Los Angeles area should have access and support to achieving a…

KATHRYN LEE

Passion for APIFM: Kathryn was introduced to APIFM through the Board Leadership Program (BLP) and was immediately drawn to the organization’s mission. She loves that APIFM provides such a wide…

SREE PONAMALA

Passion for APIFM: I was introduced to APIFM through the Board Leadership Program (BLP). I loved the mission of this organization which serves the community by…

JOCELYN ESTIANDAN

Jocelyn Estiandan, MPH, serves a Health Program Manager of the Integration Unit within the Office of Planning, Integration, and Engagement at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH)…

RANKO FUKUDA

Passion for APIFM: Ranko has been a long-time supporter of APIFM’s work and is especially passionate about access to local, fresh produce by API families. She has learned a lot from APIFM’s continued…

SISI ZHANG

Passion for APIFM: I love that APIFM introduces healthy living and sustainable life skills to our community. It’s such necessary and critical work that often gets overlooked…

Donors & Supporters

This work would not be possible without the generous support from people who believe in the work we do. We thank you!

  • Over 45 individuals who give monthly to support APIFM’s work in the community!
  • Albertsons Companies Foundation
  • Beim Foundation
  • Butterfly Equity Foundation
  • California Community Foundation
  • Chinatown Firecracker Run
  • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
  • City of Hope Community – Benefits
  • Community Catalyst
  • Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
  • Kaiser Permanente – Community Benefits
  • Independence at Home (IAH), a SCAN community service
  • Liberty Hill Foundation
  • Resources Legacy Fund
  • The California Endowment
  • The Greenlining Institute
  • The Water Foundation
  • Weingart Foundation
  • Board of Supervisors – Hilda Solis
  • California Air Resources Board
  • California Environmental Protection Agency
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
  • US Environmental Protection Agency
  • California State University, Fullerton
  • California State University, Los Angeles
  • Occidental College
  • Pepperdine University
  • University of California, Los Angeles
  • University of Southern California

  • American Automobile Association – AAPI Business Resource Group
  • Elite Graphics
  • HealthFit
  • Sender One Climbing
  • Southern California Edison
  • Yang’s Kitchen