Washington Leadership Program

This session will revolve around the meaning of DEI initatives, as well as the impact on the AANHPI community and intersectional communities.

Moderator

Jackii Wang | Senior Legislative Analyst, National Women’s Law Center 

Jackii Wang is a Senior Legislative Analyst for the Reproductive Rights and Health Team at the National Women’s Law Center. She previously worked at an anti-sexual violence organization advocating for reforms at the state and federal levels. Prior to that role, she served as a Legislative Assistant for Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and supported the Congresswoman’s women’s issues, health care, and education policy portfolio, and as a Women’s Congressional Policy Institute Legislative Fellow for Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

Jackii completed her master’s degree in public administration (MPA) with a focus on women’s issues and social policy at The George Washington University where she was also MPA President of the Trachtenberg Student Organization. A native New Yorker, she has worked for the New York City Department of Education and a boutique lobbying firm, where she was involved in state and local politics. Jackii received her bachelor’s degree in political science from New York University. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) which provides public service opportunities to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander youth.

Panelists 

Zack Heng | Strategic Advisor for Corporate Partnerships, Ascend 

Zach Heng is a visionary HR leader, entrepreneur, and dedicated community advocate, committed to transforming organizations through executive coaching and fostering inclusive workplaces. With nearly two decades of experience, Zach has driven large-scale digital transformations and impactful people & culture strategies for global firms like Vanguard and Booz Allen Hamilton. His strategic approach has significantly enhanced employee engagement, strengthened equitable talent management practices, and increased organizational productivity through innovative HR solutions.

Beyond corporate roles, Zach actively champions AANHPI representation as the immediate past president of the Greater Washington, DC chapter of Ascend and as a national corporate development executive for Ascend, strengthening the organization’s partnerships and fostering community among business professionals. His multifaceted career extends into creative entrepreneurship as a Partner/Co-owner for a nationally recognized restaurant in addition to owning a professional photography business, leveraging visual storytelling to amplify brand narratives and build meaningful connections.

Zach’s unique intersection of corporate leadership, technology expertise, and community involvement empowers audiences to envision and enact transformative change. He believes passionately in the power of authenticity and innovation to inspire people, elevate diverse voices, and drive lasting impact in corporate America and beyond.

Nicholas Lepham | Co-President, National Organization for Vietnamese American Leadership (NOVAL-DC)/ Director, PIVOT – The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization

Nicholas Lepham is the Operations Analyst in the Office of Supervision Policy and Operations (OSPO) at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The Office’s primary responsibility to ensure that policy decisions for supervision are consistent with both the law and the CFPB’s mission. In 2018, he co-founded ASPIRE, the employee resource group that focuses on the recruitment, retention, learning, and advancement of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at the CFPB.

Prior to the CFPB, Lepham was the Office Manager at the Center for American Progress and conducted Asian American Outreach for the 2008 Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign. Most recently Lepham co-founded and serves as a Board Director for PIVOT – The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization, a 501(c)(4) national network of Vietnamese Americans dedicated to promoting progressive policies and candidates. He also co-founded and serves as Co-President of the National Organization for Vietnamese American Leadership (NOVAL-DC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in DC dedicated to the leadership development of young Vietnamese Americans and the promotion of Vietnamese culture.

Originally a Houston native, Lepham is a graduate of Tufts University with a degree in Political Science.

Zarana Shah-Durham | Director of Marketing, CleanChoice Energy; Board Treasurer, CAPAL

Zarana Shah Durham is a marketing leader with a passion for building thoughtful, data-driven customer experiences. As Director of Lifecycle Strategy at CleanChoice Energy, she focuses on connecting people to purpose through impactful engagement strategies. Originally from India and now based in Washington, DC, Zarana joined the board of CAPAL in October 2023, bringing with her a strategic mindset, global perspective, and a commitment to mission-driven work. She lives with her husband and their spirited cat, and enjoys reading, traveling, the occasional culinary adventure.

More About The Washington Leadership Program

The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) provides a space for young AANHPI students interning in Washington, D.C. to come together, build community, and explore their heritage within the context of public service. Through six sessions over the summer, WLP introduces students to AANHPI public service leaders who can inform and inspire students’ own civic engagement.

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) seeks to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth by increasing access to public service opportunities and building a strong AANHPI public service pipeline. We envisions a future with equitable AANHPI representation throughout all levels of government and public service.

By registering for CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program, you give permission to be recorded or photographed during the session. Food provided at this event may contain nuts, dairy, gluten, and other allergens. Vegetarian options will be available.

This session will focus on various public policies such as: economics, immigration, and healthcare and their impact on the AANHPI community.

Moderator

June Kao | Senior Audience Strategy Manager, AARP

June Kao is the Senior Audience Strategy Manager for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) audiences at AARP. In her role, June focuses on collaborative and innovate efforts, including intersectional and intergenerational opportunities, to engage the diverse 50 and older communities on topics such as family caregiving, fraud prevention, and more. Specifically, she cultivates, curates, and communicates resources and events to support and empower the AAPI and AIAN communities as they age.

June was also the Chair of AARP’s AAPI Employee Resource Group and previously worked as the Project Manager on Family Caregiving grant work at the AARP Public Policy Institute. Her past board service included: Chair of East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU) and board member of the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL). June graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Psychology.

Panelists 

Kelvin Lum | Director of Federal Policy, Stop AAPI Hate

Kelvin Lum (he/him) is the Director of Federal Policy for Stop AAPI Hate. A Capitol Hill veteran, he previously spent 12 years as a Congressional staffer for Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), the longest serving South Asian American Member of Congress. He most recently spent the last 6 years as Congressman Bera’s Legislative Director where his portfolio included education, appropriations, civil rights, immigration, and transportation. For over a decade, Kelvin served as Rep. Bera’s liaison to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander community stakeholders. He also spent seven years in the leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA), where he focused on expanding the pipeline of AA & NH/PI congressional staff.

Kelvin graduated from Pennsylvania State University with dual BAs in International Relations and Psychology. A proud DMV native, he lives in Washington, DC with his wife Nisha.

Amanda Yuen | Legislative Correspondent, Representative Judy Chu

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Amanda Yuen serves as the Legislative Corespondent for Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) where she manages the Member’s constituent mail program and covers a portfolio of issues including AANHPI affairs, civil/voting rights, nutrition and agriculture. She previously worked for U. S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) where she supported the education, labor, and banking teams. Amanda is a Fulbright Scholar, having completed her English Teaching Assistantship in New Taipei City, Taiwan. She also currently serves as the House Vice President for the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA) and is a 2020 CAPAL Scholar alum.

Rita Kuwahara, MD, MIH | Senior Advisor for Medicine and Health Policy — Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations

Rita K. Kuwahara, MD, MIH is a Primary Care Internal Medicine Physician and Senior Advisor for Medicine and Health Policy at the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO). She previously served as Health Policy Advisor in the United States House of Representatives and Congressional Fellow in the United States Senate. Following her internal medicine residency training, she completed her primary care health policy clinical fellowship at Georgetown University, where she also served as a Fellow at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. She has held numerous national leadership positions and currently serves on Healio News’ National Primary Care Physician Peer Perspective Board. She received her M.D. as a Distinguished Medical Scholar from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Master of International Health from the University of Copenhagen, and B.A. from Wellesley College, where she majored in Chemistry and Peace and Justice Studies with a concentration in the Inequities in the Health Care System in the U.S. and Abroad.

Dr. Sheri Daniels | CEO, Papa Ola Lokahi 

Dr. Sheri-Ann Daniels is the chief executive officer of Papa Ola Lōkahi, the Hawaiian health board, which supports the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program, partners throughout Hawaii and the US and five Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems that provide direct primary, dental and mental health services, outreach, enrollment and health promotion across seven islands.

Dr. Daniels is committed to raising the health status of Native Hawaiians and the broader community through strategic partnerships, public policy and programs, workforce development and leadership, and investing in traditional knowledge and community-based initiatives.

More About The Washington Leadership Program

The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) provides a space for young AANHPI students interning in Washington, D.C. to come together, build community, and explore their heritage within the context of public service. Through six sessions over the summer, WLP introduces students to AANHPI public service leaders who can inform and inspire students’ own civic engagement.

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) seeks to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth by increasing access to public service opportunities and building a strong AANHPI public service pipeline. We envisions a future with equitable AANHPI representation throughout all levels of government and public service.

By registering for CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program, you give permission to be recorded or photographed during the session. Food provided at this event may contain nuts, dairy, gluten, and other allergens. Vegetarian options will be available.

This session will focus on finding self-care within career and current circumstances. Emphasis will focus on topics such as: burnout, finding strength/leaning on community, and how to take care of one’s mental health while navigating their career.

Moderator

Angela Belisario | Behavioral Health Coordinator, Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI)

Angela Belisario is the Behavioral Health Coordinator for the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI). She is responsible for developing behavioral and mental health programs to raise awareness and meet the needs of Montgomery County’s Asian American community. She is dedicated to addressing and overcoming cultural and systemic barriers related to mental health within the community, with a particular focus on supporting families and the immigrant population. Angela is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, a trained individual who leverages lived experience with mental health challenges to provide peer recovery support services that foster self-determination, empowerment, and help others achieve wellness. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland and is currently a Master of Social Work Candidate at George Mason University.

Panelists 

Krystle Canare | Deputy Director, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association

Krystle Canare (she/her) is a proud Filipina American, the eldest daughter of first generation immigrant parents, the descendent of Filipino farmers, fisherman, and warriors, and carries both their generational wounds and legacy as a person with lived mental health experience and as a Deputy Director of NAAPIMHA, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, a national organization dedicated to promoting and redefining the mental health of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) across the United States.

Krystle is a national health equity leader with extensive leadership and management experience in the federal government, the nonprofit sector, academia, and AANHPI-serving organizations. Prior to NAAPIMHA, Krystle served as consultant for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, an ambassador for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, steering committee member for the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health, health equity ambassador for the American Psychological Association, staff at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Georgetown University’s National Center for Cultural Competence, and founding Vice Chair of the Asian Mental Health Collective.

Currently, Krystle serves as Health Committee Co-Chair for the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Co-Founder of Tayo Trails, Mental Health Advisor and Co-Fellowship Director for the Filipino Young Leaders Program Tayo, and enjoys living as a digital nomad and way finder traveling the country, reconnecting with the land, and living full-time in her RV with her partner and puppy, Evie.

Wing Bui | Operations Manager and Lead Clinician, Wellness with Wing, LLC

Wing is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist on Piscataway Land (MD & DC). Her work centers queer people of color and adult children of immigrants navigating grief and generational wounds. She is guided by spirituality, somatic embodiment, mindfulness, trauma-informed, healing and climate justice, anti-oppressive and decolonizing values and practices. She is a queer, neurospicy, 1.5 generation Vietnamese-American, mutual aid organizer in DC, and poet.

Dr. Christina Hong-Huber, PsyD, BCB | Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Compassionate Integrative Therapy, LLC

Dr. Christina Hong-Huber (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Washington, D.C. where she runs her own private practice and also supervises and teaches doctoral level trainees. Dr. Hong-Huber has experience working in outpatient and inpatient hospitals, community mental health clinics, a private school, and other private practices and college counseling centers. She works with undergraduate and graduate students as well as working professionals in fields such as medicine, law, politics, and consulting and works with majority clients of color. Dr. Hong-Huber serves as a clinical professor of psychology at The George Washington University and as an adjunct professor at The Chicago School, both in Washington, D.C.

More About The Washington Leadership Program

The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) provides a space for young AANHPI students interning in Washington, D.C. to come together, build community, and explore their heritage within the context of public service. Through six sessions over the summer, WLP introduces students to AANHPI public service leaders who can inform and inspire students’ own civic engagement.

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) seeks to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth by increasing access to public service opportunities and building a strong AANHPI public service pipeline. We envisions a future with equitable AANHPI representation throughout all levels of government and public service.

By registering for CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program, you give permission to be recorded or photographed during the session. Food provided at this event may contain nuts, dairy, gluten, and other allergens. Vegetarian options will be available.

The final session will discuss how to navigate intergenerational conversations about topics such as political identity and how it relates to voter identity, voting patterns, etc.

Moderator

Catalina Calachan | Business Technology Manager, AARP

Catalina Calachan is a Business Technology Manager within the Community, State, and National Affairs group at AARP. In her role, she leads the implementation of enterprise-wide technology projects that advance the organization’s social mission. This includes collaborating with cross-functional teams to solve problems and improve business operations within AARP’s 53 state offices. Outside of AARP, she also serves on the Arlington County (VA) Commission on Aging (COA). Through her work as the Chair of the Transportation Committee and a member of the Advisory Group for Arlington’s Transportation Future, she has the honor of engaging with and advocating for older adults in her community. Catalina has spent most of her career in the public sector, and she cares deeply about using her project management, data analysis, and strategic communications expertise to drive social impact. Catalina has a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from American University.

Panelists 

Victor Yang | Public Policy, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)

Victor Yang leads public policy at NAPCA. He is based in Washington D.C. and previously worked in the Federal Government. Victor began his career in Boston, working at nonprofits that provided healthcare and social services to Chinese immigrant families. He also worked in the Massachusetts State House for a state senator. He later moved to Washington D.C. where he served as a Congressional Staffer and as a political appointee in the Biden Administration. He also had a stint as a non-profit consultant working on issues that impact the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. Victor holds a Bachelor of Science from Syracuse University. He is originally from Lexington, Massachusetts, the site of the first shots of the American Revolutionary War.

Tuyet Duong | Chief Policy and Government Affairs Officer, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)

Tuyet Duong currently serves as the Chief Policy and Government Affairs Officer of National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF). She has spent two decades championing human rights, civil rights, immigrant rights, equity, and economic justice issues. Her stints in the Obama Administration WHIAAPI, State Department, Justice Department, and Homeland Security garnered multiple federal merit awards for her equity and civil rights initiatives. Tuyet’s movement and nonprofit work includes a decade of leading immigration legal programs for gender-based violence survivors and facilitating coalitional work on comprehensive immigration reform. As a visiting adjunct lecturer, she has taught conflict resolution and public policy at George Mason University Korea and University of Maryland College Park. She currently resides in Virginia with her partner, three children, and mother-in-law.

John C. Yang | President and Executive Director — Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)

John C. Yang is the President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC in Washington, D.C., where he leads the organization’s mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all through policy advocacy, litigation, education, and community empowerment. Because of his extensive legal experience and expertise, John has testified before Congress and appeared regularly in national media on issues of importance to the Asian American community. He has served in leadership positions for the American Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, among many others. Prior to Advancing Justice | AAJC, John had served as a political appointee in the Obama Administration, the Asia-Pacific Legal Director of a Fortune 200 company, and as a partner at a large D.C.-based law firm. He also serves on the diversity council for several Fortune 500 U.S. companies.

More About The Washington Leadership Program

The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) provides a space for young AANHPI students interning in Washington, D.C. to come together, build community, and explore their heritage within the context of public service. Through six sessions over the summer, WLP introduces students to AANHPI public service leaders who can inform and inspire students’ own civic engagement.

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) seeks to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth by increasing access to public service opportunities and building a strong AANHPI public service pipeline. We envisions a future with equitable AANHPI representation throughout all levels of government and public service.

By registering for CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program, you give permission to be recorded or photographed during the session. Food provided at this event may contain nuts, dairy, gluten, and other allergens. Vegetarian options will be available.

This final session will invite panelists to talk about both the historical effects of creating change/disruption in the status quo, as well as avenues in which to get involved in one’s community.

Moderator

Rodney Salinas | Board of Directors, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce – DC

Based in Washington, DC, Rodney Salinas currently serves as the Market Lead for a tech startup company called Fooda. A former political staffer and activist, Rodney has been a leader in the Filipino American community since 1993 when he came to Washington to attend The George Washington University. Nowadays, he uses his role as a business leader in the hospitality & tech industry to promote Filipino American culture across all communities. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of DC.

Panelists 

Siu Cheung Rossmark | Executive Director, Asian American LEAD

Siu is the Executive Director of Asian American LEAD, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underserved Asian American youth through education, leadership, and community support. She serves on the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and is a member of Montgomery County’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Group. With over 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Siu has owned and operated multiple businesses in the restaurant, real estate, and financial services sectors. After retiring from the restaurant industry two years ago, she shifted her focus to nonprofit leadership, where she continues to drive community engagement and advocacy. Siu is a proud mother of three, grandmother of two, and enjoys golfing and boating with her family.

Ben de Guzman | Director, DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs

Ben de Guzman is the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA). He has been a leading voice at the local and national level on issues of racial equity, immigrants’ rights, veterans affairs, and LGBT justice for twenty years. He comes to MOAPIA from the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, where he served as the Community Outreach Specialist. As a co-founder and long-time Co-Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), he worked for over 10 years on behalf of over 20 locally based Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander LGBTQ organizations serving all genders on a range of issues, including domestic violence and gender justice. While serving as the National Manager for the Diverse Elders Coalition he co- authored the report “A Seat at the Table: Diverse Elders Engage the 2015 White House Conference on Aging.” He is a longtime resident of the LeDroit Park neighborhood in Washington, DC and is the proud son of Filipino immigrants.

Constancio Paranal III | Director, Grants and Innovation (City and County of Honolulu), Managing Director, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights

Constancio Paranal III is a public servant, systems innovator, and advocate for immigrant and marginalized communities. He serves as the Director of Grants and Innovation at the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Economic Revitalization, where he leads strategic initiatives in broadband infrastructure, digital equity, and inclusive economic growth. He is also the Managing Director of the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, where he advances statewide advocacy and public policy efforts to ensure that immigrant voices are centered in shaping Hawai‘i’s future. A first-generation immigrant from the Philippines and former Naval Reserve Petty Officer, Constancio brings over 15 years of leadership spanning government, education, and nonprofit sectors. His work reflects a deep commitment to building systems that work for everyone—especially those historically excluded from opportunity. He also serves on the boards of FYLPRO, the American Lung Association Hawaiʻi, and the Conference for Asian Pacific American Leadership, and mentors emerging leaders who want to make change from the inside out. Constancio believes that collective action—when rooted in lived experience and sustained solidarity—can dismantle the status quo. He joins this CAPAL panel to share how young leaders can mobilize, organize, and reimagine power together: not only to be at the table, but to redesign the table entirely.

More About The Washington Leadership Program

The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) provides a space for young AANHPI students interning in Washington, D.C. to come together, build community, and explore their heritage within the context of public service. Through six sessions over the summer, WLP introduces students to AANHPI public service leaders who can inform and inspire students’ own civic engagement.

The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) seeks to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth by increasing access to public service opportunities and building a strong AANHPI public service pipeline. We envisions a future with equitable AANHPI representation throughout all levels of government and public service.

By registering for CAPAL’s Washington Leadership Program, you give permission to be recorded or photographed during the session. Food provided at this event may contain nuts, dairy, gluten, and other allergens. Vegetarian options will be available.