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 (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…

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…

KEKE SULU (SHE/HER)

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER

Keke was born and raised in the beautiful island of Samoa and now resides in the city of Long Beach. She was first introduced to APIFM as a volunteer for…

CHRISTOPHER TENORIO (HE/HIS)

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…

PHIL TIMOTEO (HE/HIM)

Administrative Assistant,
Food Roots Harvest

Phil Timoteo (he/him) is the Administrative Assistant for the Food Roots and DPH CalFresh program. Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Phil was driven by the impact advocacy has…

KYLE TSUKAHIRA (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…

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!

BRIAN KIM

Chair

Passion for APIFM: Brian is excited to be part of APIFM due to the real impact it makes in people’s everyday lives in the local community. Brian is especially enthusiastic…

SABRINA YUNUS

Vice Chair

Passion for APIFM: I love that APIFM is able to address the unique needs of the Asian Pacific American community and promote healthy living. I also like how APIFM looks…

LESLIE TOY

Secretary

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…

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…

LULUT GARCIA-LADIA

Lulut was introduced to APIFM through the Board Leadership Program (BLP) as an intern. Because of her experience in health care, Lulut was immediately drawn to APIFM’s mission and vision—access…

JESSICA JINN

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,…

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…

DAPHNE TAN

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…

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…

Donors & Supporters

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

Foundations

Aetna Foundation

 Albertsons Companies Foundation

 Annenberg Foundation

 Beim Foundation

 Butterfly Equity Foundation

 California Community Foundation

 Chinatown Firecracker Run

 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

 Community Catalyst

 Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

 Dignity Health Community Benefits – Long Beach

 First 5 Los Angeles

 FreshWorks Fund

 Kaiser Permanente – Los Angeles

 Kaiser Permanente – South Bay

 Kaiser Permanente – Southern California

 Independence at Home (IAH), a SCAN community service

 Nissan Foundation

 Resources Legacy Fund

 SoCalGas Foundation

 St. Joseph’s Foundation

 The California Endowment

 The Water Foundation

 Weingart Foundation

 W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Government

 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

 Metro

 North American Association for Environmental Education

 US Environmental Protection Agency

 US Department of Agriculture

Education

 California State University, Fullerton

 California State University, Los Angeles

 Occidental College

 Pepperdine University

 Pitzer College

 University of California, Los Angeles

 University of Southern California

Business

 Elite Graphics

 HealthFit

 Metro

 Sender One

 Timbuk2

Funders

 Asian Pacific Community Fund

 Capital Group

 Circle of Change