About Us

Kate was the program manager for the Asian American Education Project and a K-12 curriculum editor for the PBS Asian Americans docuseries. Born and raised in San Diego, Kate currently resides in Connecticut where she has been a middle school teacher for over ten years. She also served on the board of directors for the Immigrant History Initiative and is an advisor for the Asian American Women's Political Initiative's (AAWPI) National Civic Impact Fellowship and Incubator Program. Kate happily travels for food and is always on the search for a bowl of bún bò huế.

Jeffrey is a member of the Asian American Bar Association of NY’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force and serves on the Board of Directors for Guttman Community College - CUNY.  Jeffrey previously worked as the Legislative Director at the Every Voice Coalition CT where he spearheaded the unanimous passage of a bill lowering the barriers to reporting for student survivors of sexual misconduct.  Jeffrey has managed teams on local and state-wide political campaigns, interned for the RSLC in Washington D.C., and conducted research on the prevalence of AAPI history in K-12 curricula for C100.  Jeffrey is a poet, fishing enthusiast, and former ice hockey player.

Brett (she/her) is a first-year at Stanford University, studying Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and Human Biology. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Brett has been deeply involved with the MUV WA chapter since its formation. She is a long-standing committee member and their designated student and marketing liaison. In high school, Brett advocated for and assisted in implementing an Asian-American history course at her school, co-founded her school’s first AAPI Affinity Group, led her school’s first Lunar New Year and AANHPI Heritage Month celebrations, filmed a documentary on the AAPI experience at her school, was selected to attend the Student Diversity and Leadership Conference, and more. Additionally, outside of school, she worked with local AANHPI, specifically Desi, politicians in their marketing and community outreach strategies. After watching the PBS documentary series “Asian Americans” during the pandemic, her eyes were opened to the critical lack of AANHPI representation in her K-12 schooling. Today, Brett couldn’t be more enthusiastic about Make Us Visible and its grassroots efforts.

Colin is a high school student and youth activist from Central Florida. He has advocated for broader recognition of Asian Americans and their cultural heritage across the state of Florida, including with Make Us Visible's Florida Chapter. Colin also works with AAPI Youth Rising, REACH of Central Florida, along with his school's Asian Students Association. Currently, he is excited to transition from Make Us Visible Florida’s success to a position where he can guide other youth advocates to be successful in advocating for AAPI history in their local communities. In his free time, Colin likes to explore Mills 50 (Orlando’s Little Saigon) and learn Mandarin and Cantonese.

Jamie (she/they) is a social work professional in Florida. She is an alum of NYU's undergraduate film program and Washington University in St. Louis' graduate school of social work. Previously, they worked in New York City's film industry, fostering a supportive environment for young technicians to learn as well as lending their creative skills to projects that uplift the voices of BIPOC and LGBTQ people. Through working in youth-serving organizations and attending graduate school, Jamie has expanded their toolbox of skills to include advocacy, program development, direct practice, and research. They were a proud part of the Make Us Visible Florida team that helped to pass the state's AAPI history inclusion bill. Jamie wants to utilize her breadth of skills to make movements for change more colorful and aesthetically pleasing . They are a Walt Disney World annual pass holder  with an Instagram account dedicated to the Living with the Land ride at EPCOT and Disney-inspired information on nature, sustainability, and ecology.

Raphael is a father, author, and software engineer. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Amy, a Dominican American, and is the son of Iranian and Polish immigrants. They are raising their daughter to embrace and love all aspects of her heritage. He enjoys sharing his passions from cooking to developing. Raphael is concerned his 7-year-old daughter won't be interested in programming.

Raghav is an undergraduate student at NYU studying Political Science, Law, and Democracy.  Growing up in six countries across three continents, Raghav has developed a global perspective that he applies to every part of his political work. He serves as the Special Project Director for Voters of Tomorrow and is a Summer Fellow at South Asians For America. Raghav has extensive experience in political campaigns, advocacy at all levels of government, and organizing rallies, events, and fundraisers for candidates and organizations. In his free time, Raghav is pursuing a Private Pilot’s License and loves listening to (and playing) music across genres.

Karen is a student at the University of Connecticut working toward dual degrees in Economics and History. She is interested in pursuing a career in education policy and labor law. At UConn, Karen is involved in the BOLD Women’s Leadership Network, Leadership Legacy Experience, and UConn Humanities Institute (UCHI) Undergraduate Advisory Council. Karen has also served as an inaugural UCHI Undergraduate Research Fellow, COP27 Fellow, and Holster Scholar. In her free time, Karen enjoys reading the NYTimes Modern Love column, listening to live music, and stand-up paddleboarding.

Thang (he/him) is lai mi or Chin (an indigenous group in Myanmar). Thang was born in Hakha, Myanmar, and immigrated to Michigan in 2008 when he was five years old. Thang is a rising junior at Duke University pursuing degrees in History, International Comparative Studies, and Asian American Diaspora Studies as a David M. Rubenstein Scholar and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow. Much of Thang’s experiences as a youth organizer, primarily as the Youth Fellowship Coordinator at Rising Voices, have been shaped by his enduring philosophy of communities in power for communities with power. Thang began writing to meet the rising tides of traumas inflicted by war and violence, grappling with his escape from the clutches of the Burmese military. Thang’s journey as a writer deeply reflects his fervent passion for an inclusive and expansive education that renders visible histories relegated to the footnotes.

Aiza (she/her) is a Filipino-American New York Posse Scholar at Connecticut College with a major in Biology and minor in English. She hopes to pursue a career in nursing, specializing in neonatal care or pediatrics. At Conn, Aiza is a scholar for the Program in Community Action (PICA), where she strives to implement meaningful changes in local and global communities through experiential learning with non-profit organizations in New London, CT, and through critical scholarship in social and economic justice. Through this fellowship, she hopes to incorporate what she accomplishes and learns into her Senior Integrative Project, as well as her social and political praxis. Aiza also serves as Secretary for the Asian Students in Action (ASIA) club, which aims to foster greater inclusivity for all Asian-identifying students, and to create a safe environment for all club members through education, programming, and events. Aside from these leadership positions, she works as a barista at her campus cafe: Coffee Grounds. Her favorite foods are sushi, Filipino sinigang, and Bonchon soy garlic fried chicken.

Sabiha is a recent graduate from Cornell University with a major in Industrial Labor Relations and minors in Inequality Studies and LGBT Studies. With a passion for social justice, Sabiha emphasizes community building and mutual aid. As a recipient of the Biddy Martin Award, Sabiha hopes to utilize writing and arts to create fundamental change. Based in Buffalo, Sabiha lives with their family and three cats. Sabiha enjoys reading, watching shows, and fashion.

Erin is a high school junior originally from New York who has lived abroad most of her life. She now resides in Singapore. Erin is interested in exploring Asian American representation in cinema, literature, and education, and enjoys learning about the rich histories of ethnic communities around the world. With Taiwanese and Korean roots, Erin is passionate about advocating for multi-cultural representation in curricula and hopes to increase the current landscape of Asian American narratives through her work with Make Us Visible. Besides researching Asian American history and content in schools, Erin likes to spend her free time reading and eating through the town!

Aanya is a rising junior in a high school in Connecticut. She is involved in affinity groups and the DEI board within her school. She worked on the My Story Our Future project in collaboration with the University of Connecticut, to create an archive of oral histories of Asian American immigrants. In her free time she enjoys playing piano and squash.

Sophia is a Japanese-American high school student residing in San Diego. She lives with her parents, who immigrated from Japan, and their adorable dog, Chabo. Growing up, Sophia was very integrated with her Asian heritage. Every summer, Sophia and her parents return to Japan to reunite with their extended family.  She looks forward to seeing all her cousins, having the best food, attending summer festivals, and overall, spending quality time and making memories with her loved ones. Motivated by her desire to elevate her knowledge about AAPI history and educate others, Sophia joined Make Us Visible. She is proud of her Asian-American heritage and hopes to share the beauty that is our cultures, histories, and traditions with the rest of the world. By doing so, Sophia hopes to contribute to the representation and empowerment of all Asian American communities.

Alex is a high school student and a self-proclaimed history nerd based in New Jersey. He runs a YouTube channel where he makes videos on obscure historical events. Additionally, Alex works with South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA) on the First Days Project where he collects accounts of immigrants' first days in America. MUV's goal of stopping violence against the Asian American community through education resonated with Alex after his mother was a victim of an anti-Asian hate crime. As an education intern, Alex is currently working on research for curriculum development. He’s a competitive swimmer and water polo player and also enjoys volunteering at an elder care facility in his town. An avid film buff, Alex is working his way through the AFI’s top 100 movies and has seen 28 so far.

Jason is a rising high school senior at Brooklyn Technical High School studying law in its school's major program. Jason has worked on multiple political campaigns around New York City, such as Congressman Jerry Nadler's reelection campaign and Dianne Morales' mayoral campaign. Jason has been involved in the Asian American community in multiple ways, such as currently interning at the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn, which seeks to franchise and empower Chinese Americans. Jason has also been involved in the Asian American community in indirect ways, such as curating research projects and working at a 9/11 law firm specializing in helping Chinese American victims receive compensation. Jason is very energized to spark change and is willing to help in whatever capacity they can. Besides that, Jason mainly likes fashion, shopping, and watching TV shows!

Cynthia is a student at Yale with interests in art, creative writing, and ethnic studies. Her artwork and writing is inspired by her family's immigration story as well as by her experiences growing up in their Chinese restaurant in New York. At Yale, she is involved in the Asian American Cultural Center's Leadership program and designs for Changing Womxn Collective. She enjoys writing and performing poetry with her spoken word group Jook Songs and ballroom dancing.

Mimi, the life model and martial arts video reference for Disney’s animated classic, Mulan (1998), is one of the world's foremost martial arts instructors and performers. She is passionate about the preservation of Chinese culture through her work at the Wah Lum Kung Fu Temple. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, she is an advocate for helping others find their voice. Mimi is also the host of The Sifu Mimi Chan Show Podcast which explores a variety of topics through inspiring and thought-provoking conversations.

Angelie is based in Seattle, Washington and practices labor law for the federal government. Born in Seoul, Korea, Angelie’s family immigrated to Hawai’i when she was a child. Her advocacy work in the AAPI community began in college when she met Ronald Takaki and was inspired to start a letter-writing campaign protesting the racist depiction of the character “Fuji” in the show Super Dave. During law school, Angelie was co-president of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and President of the National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. She has served on several boards and is past president of the Korean American Coalition of Washington (KAC-WA) and Asian Counseling and Referral Service. As KAC-WA President, Angelie planned the 1st annual Korean BBQ Cook-Off, a favored community event showcasing Korean food and culture. Angelie is a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and acted in the local Seattle theater scene for several years. She enjoys Zumba, listening to podcasts, and getting schooled by her two tween/teen sons.

Connie is a mother of two playful, curious, craft-loving Vietnamese/Korean/American children. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Connie has cherished memories of listening to her parents recount the heartwarming (and sometimes also heartbreaking) stories of her family’s history and migration story. Connie received her doctorate in community psychology from Wichita State University. During her time at Wichita State University, she co-founded the Women’s Multicultural Leadership Alliance. She has also served as a youth mentor and board member for the Vietnamese American Community Service Center in Washington, D.C. She currently lives and works in Virginia as a research and evaluation capacity-building specialist, supporting human services programs across the country to effectively track and use data to better serve children, families, and the community as a whole.

Denise (Ji Hyun) is a parent of two, the founder of AAPI Montgomery County, and a community leader on the PTA and KAIFPA. She also serves on her district's DEI committee. As a 1.5-generation Korean American and coming from a large family of multicultural backgrounds, Denise resides in Huntingdon Valley where she has owned and operated an insurance agency for the past 8 years. Denise believes that everything in life worth having comes from hard work and dedication. She loves to travel, try different foods, and dreams of moving to New Zealand one day.

Kenneth is a member of his school district's diversity committee, a consultant for large public and private organizations around the world, and a start-up executive. He is a fourth-generation Chinese American with roots in the US going back to the beginning of the Chinese Exclusion era. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Kenneth worked in Asia for five years after college. He now lives in Chester County with his wife and three teenage boys. In his spare time, Kenneth enjoys learning to cook traditional Toisanese foods, researching his family's history in the US and China, and being an assistant BSA scoutmaster. He is a former swimmer and water polo player.

Christine is a mother to two fun-loving children in Queens, NY. As the child of immigrants from Taiwan who placed strong value on their cultural traditions, she grew up enjoying Chinese school, singing Jay Chou songs at the top of her lungs, and learning traditional Chinese dances. Christine taught in NYC public schools for 9 years and firmly believes in the power of education to build a better future.

Helen S. (Suh) Singson was born and raised in NY to Korean immigrant parents. Helen currently resides on Long Island with her husband and two fun loving children. As a Korean and Filipino American household, their family embraces and enjoys celebrating their cultural heritage and ancestry. Through her involvement with local AAPI community and student organizations (rooted in advocacy and community building) as a college student, she learned of both the struggles and impactful contributions of the AAPIs throughout American history. While this was an incredibly exciting time, Helen was disappointed that she had not learned of AAPI history much earlier on during her K-12 education.. She joined Make Us Visible because she believes education and the sharing of stories foster greater understanding and bridges communities together. Helen is a graduate of Fordham University and CUNY School of Law. She currently manages the global immigration program at a fin-tech company. In addition to Make Us Visible, she serves as the Co- Chair of a PTA Multicultural Festival, the first event of its kind at her children’s school.

Charles is a Co-Founder and Digital Communications Lead of Community Builders for Monterey County. He has worked toward digital inclusion and educational equity along with ending homelessness and supporting veterans. Charles has also freelanced as a local journalist. He holds an MPA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and is a proud UC Merced Bobcat. A second-generation Filipino American of mixed heritage, Charles loves reconnecting with his roots through music, food, and family stories. He’s lived in Singapore, traveled to the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand, and dreams of returning to Southeast Asia. Charles is also a coffee geek, urban design enthusiast, and audio nerd. 

Devin is a public policy student at the University of Delaware’s Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy & Administration. Devin’s parents immigrated from China to Delaware, where he was born and raised. An aspiring public servant, Devin looks forward to uplifting communities through research, advocacy, and policymaking. He is passionate about social justice and civil rights, as well as speechwriting and crafting narratives. In May 2023, Devin made history by working with Delaware state legislators to pass legislation recognizing Asian American Pacific Islander Month in the state for the first time. Devin also serves as Vice President of the Delaware Chinese American Association (DCAA), whose members include thousands of Chinese Americans residing in Delaware and its immediate vicinity. In his free time, he indulges in hot pot, basketball, tennis, and running.

Y.F. (楼云飞 he/him/his) is a 1.5 generation Chinese American who grew up in Lewes, Delaware.  He is currently a Johns Hopkins trained epidemiologist working in the Delaware Health Department improving health care quality through patient safety initiatives.  In May of 2023, Y.F. became the first Chinese American to be elected to a Delaware Board of Education (Christina School District).  He’s a volunteer firefighter/EMT in Newark, an active advocate for healthcare equity for Asian Americans, and serves on the special education council in his district.

Ina (Indriani) is an English teacher in an ELL (English Language Learning) classroom in Portland, Maine.  Born in Indonesia with Chinese ancestry, she was named Ko Ien Nio, before changing it to her current Indonesian name Indriani, which keeps her original 'Ien.'  Ina earned her first BA from a Teaching Institute in Semarang, Indonesia, and her second BA and first Master's degree from the University of Southern Maine (USM).  She studied English Literature and Teaching & Learning with a focus on Elementary Education and Teaching respectively.  An active member of her local labor union, Ina immigrated to Maine in 1974 and, at the age of 73, still teaches at the Elementary school level.  Ina currently lives with her adult daughter, who does all the housework, except for taking out the trash: that's Ina's job.  In her free time, Ina enjoys folding and building her modular origami stars, cooking, eating, and meeting new people.  Ina hopes through her advocacy that she can help make her Asian immigrant students in Portland more visible.

Yuki (she/her) is an undergraduate University College London (UCL) student studying International Social and Political Studies in London, England. Born and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts to Japanese and British parents, Yuki's multicultural background has a heavy influence on her interests and hobbies. She has been practicing karate since the age of 9 and has competed for both the US and English National Japanese Karate Association (JKA) teams. As a senior in high school, Yuki successfully co-led a team of students, teachers, and administrators looking to implement Asian American and Pacific Islander narratives and history into their English and History curriculums. Between her classes and writing emails, Yuki spends most of her time at karate practice, cafe hopping around London, or playing video games with friends.

Joshua (he/siya) is a government relations executive, elections expert, and voting rights advocate based out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Josh was born in rural Arkansas to a Chinese-Filipino mother from the Philippines. Josh currently serves as the Deputy Director of Arkansas United, Arkansas’s only statewide immigrant rights advocacy group. 

Josh is a former election commissioner in Arkansas’s most populous county and former candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State, during which he won a TOFA (The Outstanding Filipinos in America) Award and was endorsed by the Reverend Jesse Jackson for his work in protecting voting rights. Josh has nearly 10 years of experience serving with the federal government, including senior leadership roles with the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Arkansas District Office during the pandemic.

Josh earned his B.S. in Sociology and Public Administration from the University of Central Arkansas. Josh also has a second-degree black belt in taekwondo. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, archery, dancing, and karaoke.

Vivian is a dual board-certified physician and medical epidemiologist, specializing in internal medicine and preventive medicine/public health. As a first-generation Chinese American, Vivian deeply honors both of her parents’ painstaking and devoted efforts to instill strong cultural and ancestral values in her upbringing. Vivian’s work with Doctors Without Borders and Partners In Health has taken her around the world and her humanitarian work has been featured in the Moth story titled, “Triage on a

Syrian Chicken Farm” and in the documentary, “TB Unmasked.” While Vivian excelled in her medical and public health studies, she often felt invisible, different, and that she did not belong among her peers. She has spent a large part of her career and life aspirations on advancing and improving the Asian immigrant experience here in the United States. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and enjoys the great outdoors and birding with her loving partner and Shiba Inu doggie.

Yining is a theatre administrator and educator based in Cleveland and North Canton, Ohio. She works for Cleveland Play House as the Manager of Partnerships and organizes programming for over students in Cleveland. She also works with playwrights all over the country for CPH’s Family Theatre program, which creates new plays for children and their families based on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). Yining is also a mom to two young boys and two very large Newfoundland dogs who dominate her world. She is a Chinese theatre scholar who specializes in Traditional Chinese and AAPI Theatre. She has also worked all over the country as a freelance dramaturg, specializing in AAPI Theatre. In her spare time, she loves sewing, reading, hanging out with her boys (ask her anything about Paw Patrol), and exploring the wonders of NE Ohio.

Tina Tran is the founder of APIDA Tulsa and an advocate of Asian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian and Desi American equity and representation. She is passionate about empowering women, minorities, and underrepresented individuals in business and entrepreneurship. As a DEI practitioner and an active volunteer in her community, she has worked to organize community events and create equitable spaces to facilitate meaningful dialogue and strengthen the community. She is also part of the committee that established the first Asian American Affairs Commission in Tulsa. In addition to enjoying sea salt lattes, Tina loves to travel and explore new places, especially the Amalfi coast in Italy.

Ethelyn Tumalad-Granados is an educator, sister, mother, daughter, wife, Tita, mentor, activist, first-generation immigrant, and unapologetic Pinay leader. Her family and ancestors come from Bataan, Philippines and currently, she, her husband, and daughter reside in Beaverton, Oregon. She is an English teacher at Clackamas High School along with being the advisor for the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union. She is the Oregon Teacher of the Year for 2022. In 2023, she co-founded (Re)Present: Asian American Pacific Islander Oregon Educator Collective, a state-wide affinity group and coalition for Oregon AAPI educators. Her vision for the future is that her Mexipino daughter sees her multi-ethnic identity and culture celebrated in her teachers and curriculum throughout her K-12 public education.

Andrew is a Vietnamese-Chinese American born and raised in Oregon. He is a Community Manager and youth advocate in the Portland Metro area. He has 2 degrees in Business Administration Human Resources and Business Administration Management and Leadership. Andrew has 11 years of Management experience and has focused on growing and building the next generation of leaders. Andrew enjoys cooking and exploring new places as well as working with high school youth and getting them more involved in the community.

Shayne is a multimedia storyteller, digital strategist, and Murrow Award-winning journalist. Born in San Fernando City, La Union, Philippines and raised in Alaska, she is passionate about equitable representation of Filipino Americans, along with other Asian Americans and those historically underrepresented in media. As a journalist, she laid the groundwork for “Filipinos in Alaska,” a project by KTOO Public Media and America Amplified to illuminate stories of the Filipino experience across her home state. She is a co-founder of Mana, a media collective documenting the history of Filipinos in Alaska which launched on October 2023 with a museum exhibition, “Mana: The History We Inherit,” at the Anchorage Museum. Her work has been featured in local and national outlets, including KTVA 11 News, KTOO, Alaska Public Media, and PBS Digital Studios. Shayne lives in Anchorage with her spouse, two sons, and their Maltipoo. She enjoys the outdoors in the summer and frequent trips to coffee huts in the winter.

Bill is a historian of modern Japan and a seasoned higher education administrator. He grew up in one of the two Japanese American families in a small college town in central Texas. He now considers Kansas home, having spent 17 years on the faculty of the University of Kansas and serving as chancellor of Ottawa University since 2021. Educated at Harvard, Oxford, and Princeton, Bill’s teaching and research focus on Japanese business, environmental history, and the Godzilla movies (which he has loved for more than 50 years). Deeply committed to Kansas, US-Japan relations, and the Japanese American community, he has served on the boards of the Kansas State Historical Society, the Kansas Humanities Council, the Association for Asian Studies, the Japan-US Friendship Commission, and the US-Japan Council.

Christine, a proud Filipino American mom, serves as the Asian American & Pacific Islander Program Coordinator for the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs. A Sociology & Social Science graduate of Portland State University, Christine’s passion is serving the thriving AAPI community, creating educational opportunities for families, and promoting policy transparency for citizens. It is her upbringing as an immigrant’s daughter that drives her involvement in her community, and her desire to make a meaningful social impact. When not involved in community outreach, Christine enjoys reconnecting with her Filipino culture, playing with her 7-month-old son, and being a doting wife to her husband.

Steve is a fourth-generation Japanese American technology executive and father of three children. He is a member of Gold House and serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S.-Japan Council (Japan). After a decade working in Tokyo, Steve recently returned to America and resides in North Dallas. During WW2 his great-grandfather, Kenzo, was arrested by the FBI and imprisoned in North Dakota. Steve was moved by the petition of his 20-year-old grandfather, which stated that Kenzo was "willingly ready to sacrifice his two sons to fight as American soldiers and preserve the freedom of democracy." This discovery of patriotism amid prejudice inspired Steve to ensure that the hidden history of Asian Americans be taught as a visible part of American history.

Xuan (Anson) is a student at UNC-Chapel Hill majoring in Asian Studies. Xuan immigrated to the United States at the age of 8, not knowing how to speak English, and became a US citizen at the age of 20. He has seen the hardships of Asian Americans first hand as he has helped his family manage their family business since the age of 11. In his leisure time, Xuan enjoys studying Asian history and practicing Chinese calligraphy. During his time in college, he became an International Leadership Foundation Civic Fellow,interned at the Hudson Institute with Secretary Elaine Chao, and interned at the office of US Senator Thom Tillis (NC).