Team
Leah Perez (she/her) plays a multi-faceted role at APIFM as a Community Healthcare Worker (CHW), Enroll LA team member, and early childhood educator. She joined the team during the pandemic since witnessing the magnitude of negative impacts within the Pacific Islander community. Leah found her passion in helping community members get the resources and help they need. She supports people with the challenging administrative process of applying for CalFresh to ensure applications are successfully submitted, benefit status is renewed, and questions are answered; Leah helps lead the farm-to-school program to teach healthy food and gardening with young children; Collectively, her outreach with community members spans from the South Bay, San Gabriel Valley, Koreatown, to Downtown LA.
Leah was born and raised on the west side of Long Beach. Being from such a diverse city, it's second nature for her to connect with people, especially individuals and families that grew up low-income. Both her parents are immigrants, from Samoa and El Salvador, and she is able to understand and empathize with those that are hesitant to ask for help. As a CHW, it is an honor for Leah to work in this field and advocate for community health needs.
Leah graduated from Cal State Long Beach with her Bachelors in Child Development. She has been on a health journey for years and really enjoys fitness and going to the gym in her free time.