Staff
CACF's has dynamic and well-versed staff members, and throughout the year, CACF welcomes interns from high school, community programs, social work graduate schools, and law firms to the staff.
Click here to learn about becoming an intern or volunteer, or click on a name to view a staff member's full biography.
Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, MPH, Manager, Health Policy
Queen Golder, development Coordinator
NYASHA Griffith, policy manager, education & child Welfare
Wayne Ho, MPP, Executive Director
Bora Lee, Project PACT Americorps VISTA leader
Elizabeth Lee, EdM, Program COORDINATOR
Vanessa Leung, MA, Deputy Director
Marissa Martin, Policy Associate
Sheebani Patel, ESQ, Policy Coordinator
Hana Sun, Program Associate
Kim To, MSW, Development director
Andrea Wu, Program COORdinator
Mitchel Wu, MA, Site COORDINATOR
Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza,
MPH
Manager, Health Policy
namendoza@cacf.org
Noilyn joined CACF in March 2008. She leads health advocacy initiatives to improve language access, cultural competence, and health care affordability. Among her major responsibilities is Project CHARGE (Coalition for Health Access to Reach Greater Equity), a pan-Asian network of 14 partners aiming to expand access to health care. Additionally, Noilyn oversees the APA HEALIN’ collaborative (Healthy Eating and Active Living in our Neighborhoods) to foster healthier lifestyle choices through increasing access to healthy food as well as safe places to play, work, and worship. Previously, Noilyn was the Deputy Director of Outreach and Programs for the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH). In 2004, Noilyn co-founded the Kalusugan Coalition, a Filipino health collaborative, where she currently serves as the Board Chair. Noilyn has also served as a board member or advisor for: the API Caucus of APHA, CACF's Action Council, Peace of Heart Choir, NIH/NHLBI Filipino Healthy Heart, Healthy Family Initiative, and St. Peter's College Center for Personal Development. She was a recipient of the New American Leaders Fellowship Program and the United Way of NYC Nonprofit Leadership Development Institute's Senior Fellow Program. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Analysis & Design from the University of California, Irvine, and an Master in Public Health, Sociomedical Sciences from the Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health.
Queen Golder
Development Coordinator
qgolder@cacf.org
Queen joined CACF as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member in August 2010. She provides vital support to our development efforts in order to expand and sustain CACF’s policy and program initiatives. She is responsible for conducting grant research and writing grant proposals. She oversees fundraising and special events and cultivates new and existing donors. Previously, she interned at South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, helping to promote financial literacy among young people, and served as president of the Asian Student Organization and president/founder of the Hindu Student Organization at Bard College. Queen received the Andrew Golkin Memorial Scholarship and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Bard College.
Nyasha Griffith, JD, MSSW
Policy Manager, Education & Child Welfare
ngriffith@cacf.org
Nayasha joined CACF in July 2011. As a Policy Manager, she is responsible for leading CACF's city and state policy advocacy on Education and Child Welfare in order to improve educational and child welfare policies, funding, and services for Asian Pacific American children and families. She will also be fostering collaboration with other advocates, community based organizations, and communities of color to conduct joint advocacy campaigns. Nyasha has over five years of experience in policy advocacy, human rights, and community development. Prior to joining CACF, she worked at the Neighborhood Family Services Coalition where she spearheaded the Preventive Services Action Network, securing a funding increase of $4.2 million for preventive services. She has also worked at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, the South African Human Rights Commission, the Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University, and the Social Development Commission in Kingston, Jamaica. Nyasha received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Georgetown University, her Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University, and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.
Wayne Ho, MPP
Executive Director
who@cacf.org
Wayne joined CACF in August 2004. He is responsible for leading the nation’s only pan-Asian children’s advocacy organization by overseeing agency administration, program oversight, board relations, staff supervision, community partnerships, and fundraising to improve the health and well-being of Asian Pacific American children and families. He serves on the board of directors of Coro New York Leadership Center, Human Services Council, New York Foundation, and Partnership for After School Education (PASE). To ensure that Asian Pacific American needs are being represented, Wayne is a member of the NYS Governor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board, NYS Office of Children and Family Services’ Internal Review Board, NYC Citizen Review Panel, Immigration Advisory Board of the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), and Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Multicultural Audience Development Initiative. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Leonard N. Stern School of Business of New York University. Previously, Wayne was the administrator of out-of-school time programs for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), which was recognized as a model after school partnership by the California Department of Education during his tenure. He also conducted policy analysis for ACS on options for public and non-profit agencies to expand child care and worked with the Blue Ridge Foundation New York on performance management systems for start-up non-profits. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Wayne founded several volunteer-based programs to empower youth of color to pursue higher education and to become community advocates. Wayne received his Bachelor of Arts from UC Berkeley and his Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He also completed the New American Leaders Fellowship Program of the Coro New York Leadership Center and New York Immigration Coalition. Wayne received a Making a Difference Award from the Family Health Project in 2008.
Bora Lee
Project PACT AmeriCorps VISTA Leader
blee@cacf.org
Bora joined CACF in September 2011. As the Project PACT (Promoting Assets and Capacity Together) AmeriCorps VISTA Leader, she is responsible for promoting collaboration and improving organizational effectiveness and sustainability through mentoring a team of AmeriCorps VISTA members placed at six Asian Pacific American serving organizations throughout New York City. Previously, she was a civic participation intern and a community organizing intern at MinKwon Center for Community Action before she became their Development and Communications AmeriCorps VISTA. She coordinated and implemented development efforts, fundraising events, strategic social media plan, volunteer management, and internship programs for the organization. She was also a facilitator for the Center for Ethnic, Racial, & Religious Understanding (CERRU) at Queens College, a group that participates in action-oriented dialogues in order to combat intolerance, overcome stereotypes, and promote understanding. Bora received her Bachelor of Arts from Queens College of The City University of New York in Sociology and Urban Studies.
Elizabeth Lee, EdM
Program Coordinator
elee@cacf.org
Elizabeth joined CACF in December 2006. She is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating ASAP (Asian American Student Advocacy Project), CACF’s youth leadership program that empowers Asian Pacific American youth to become advocates and agents of social change within their communities. She is also responsible for POWER (Parents Organized to Work for Equal Rights), CACF’s parent education and mobilizing program that empowers immigrant Asian Pacific American parents to advocate for equity and access. Previously, Elizabeth coordinated Project ExCEL (Expanding Capacity for Effectiveness and Leadership), our program aiming to increase the capacity of Asian-led and serving community based organizations. She started at CACF as the Program Assistant, overseeing our strategic communications, special events, and administrative duties. Utilizing her school counseling expertise, Elizabeth has interned at a junior high school in Brooklyn, providing individual and group counseling to at-risk and mandated students and conducting workshops on bullying, harassment, and positive self-esteem. Working with the school’s “I Love ME” Campaign, she helped to organize youth-inspired fundraisers and activities to benefit the school and various charities. Elizabeth also led a participatory research project with middle school students exploring the gentrification of Harlem. Elizabeth continues to work with the Girl Scouts Scholars Program developing curriculum and lessons plans for their college preparation and career program. She facilitates two courses focusing on social justice and advocacy and self-esteem and confidence for girls in grades 7-12. Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College of City University of New York in Psychology and her master in psychological counseling from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College.
Vanessa Leung, MA
Deputy Director
vleung@cacf.org
Vanessa joined CACF in November 1999. She oversees CACF’s policy initiatives by partnering with decisionmakers and community organizations and is responsible for the development of a pan-Asian children’s advocacy agenda to improve policies, funding, and services for the Asian Pacific American community. Previously, Vanessa was CACF’s Education Policy and Program Coordinator. She authored CACF's in-depth report on the status of Asian Pacific American students in the public school system entitled Hidden in Plain View. Vanessa has worked alongside other advocates, including the New York Immigration Coalition and Advocates for Children, to call for changes to improve safety in our schools as well as equitable access for parents, winning the addition of Chancellor’s Regulations on interpretation and translation services in the public schools and an increase to $12 million for such services. She spearheaded a high school youth leadership project, the Asian American Student Advocacy Project (ASAP) that trains a diverse group of high school students to advocate for the needs of Asian Pacific American students. In February 2007, Vanessa was named to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s Middle School Taskforce to investigate and develop recommendations to improve the persistently low academic achievement of New York City’s middle school grades. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Chinatown Youth Initiative and the Parish Advisory Council for the Church of the Transfiguration. Vanessa received her Master of Arts degree in developmental psychology at Columbia University’s Teachers College and her Bachelor of Arts from NYU. She also completed the Institute for Not-for-Profit Management’s Middle Management Program of the Graduate School of Business of Columbia University and the Immigrant Civic Leadership Program of Coro New York Leadership Center.
Marissa Martin
Policy Associate
education@cacf.org
Marissa joined CACF in September 2011. As a Policy Associate, she is responsible for assisting CACF's city and state policy advocacy on Education and Child Welfare. She will also be assisting in collaboration with other advocates, community based organizations, and communities of color to conduct join advocacy campaigns. Prior to pursuing her graduate deguree, Marissa worked as an Operations Analyst at American International Gropu and volunteered at Holt Heritage Camp and KIDS (Korean Identity Development Society) Camp. Currently, Marissa is President of Also-Known-As, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to creating innovative post-adoption services, educational programs, and community building activities, serving those on their adoption life journey. She also serves as the Facilitator for All Together Now, a group for young transracial adoptees. As a social work intern, she has worked at the MinKwon Center for Community Action and Food Back for New York City. Marissa earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from American University, and is currently completing her Masters in Social Work at Hunter College School of Social Work.
Sheebani Patel, Esq.
Policy Coordinator
spatel@cacf.org
Sheebani joined CACF in February 2011. As the Policy Coordinator, she is responsible for leading CACF's New York State and City budget advocacy campaigns to increase public funding and improve equity for Asian Pacific American children and families, collaborating with the MinKwon Center for Community Action to co-lead the 12% and Growing Coalition, and coordinating CACF's advocacy agenda to improve child welfare policies, funding, and services. Prior to joining CACF, Sheebani worked as the policy organizer at the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC-NY). At ROC-NY, she developed the member-led policy committee, which focuses on organizing restaurant workers around creating legislation to improve standards in the restaurant industry. This also included work on the city, state, and federal level, such as the Paid Sick Days legislation in the New York City and the Healthy Families Act federally, and the WAGES federal legislation to increase the federal tipped minimum wage. Sheebani has lectured as an adjunct professor at Brooklyn College. In 2009 and 2010, she served as co-chair of VDAY Harlem, a performance event, which raised money and awareness for the prevention of violence against women and girls. Additionally, she has worked on various candidates' political campaigns, and served as a contributing writer to Sapna Magazine, a South Asian women's magazine. Sheebani completed her undergraduate work at the University of Texas at Austin and obtained her law degree from St. John's University School of Law.
Hana Sun
Program Associate
programs@cacf.org
Hana joined CACF in September 2011. As a social work intern, she assists in organizing and implementing the Asian American Student Advocacy Project (ASAP) and Parents Organized to Work for Equal Rights (POWER). Previously, Hana was a clinical social work intern at Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, worked as a Grants Manager for the Cricket Island Foundnation, taught creative writing to fifth graders through the Pacific Writers' Connection, and served as both AmeriCorps VISTA and an EvenStart Preschool teacher at Likelike Elementary School. As a life-long student and patron of all forms of dance, she has also been a member of such companies as Iona Contemporary Dance Theater, Te Ore Tahiti Here, and Celebrations Dance Company. Hana received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Dance Studies at Smith College, and is completing her Masters in Social Work at Columbia University.
Kim
To, MSW
Development Director
kto@cacf.org
Kim joined CACF in September 2005 as a social work intern and became full-time staff in June 2006. She oversees CACF’s fundraising, special events, individual donors, membership, and public relations. Kim develops our annual and long-term fundraising plans and cultivates ongoing relationships with foundations, corporations, government, and other funders. She is also responsible for developing a communications and marketing plan to educate and cultivate funding prospects and to recognize funders on the CACF website. As a social work intern, Kim organized our first annual Funders Recognition Breakfast to develop closer ties with our corporate, foundation, government, and individual donors. She was also responsible for assisting with CACF’s child welfare project, Project B-SAAF, and CACF’s fundraising efforts. Previously, she ran a student-initiated outreach project at UCLA called the Higher Opportunity Program for Education (HOPE), working with high school students in Westminster, California. She completed her Master in Social Work at Columbia University. She was an active student activist and organizer at UCLA, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Asian American Studies. She has also completed the Fundraising Institute of CUNY School of Professional Studies and Community Resource Exchange, the Immigrant Civic Leadership Program of Coro New York Leadership Center, and the Seminar in Field Instruction at Columbia University School of Social Work.
Andrea Wu
Program Coordinator
awu@cacf.org
Andrea returned to CACF in May 2010. She oversees Project ExCEL (Expanding Capacity for Effectiveness and Leadership), our program aiming to increase the capacity of Asian-led and serving community based organizations in New York City by providing trainings, technical assistance, and mini-grants to enhance their knowledge of public policy and to advocate for Asian Pacific American children and families. Project ExCEL is 1 of 35 grants of $500,000 awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Program. Additionally, she is responsible for overseeing CACF’s strategic communications, coordinating the production of CACF’s newsletter Progress, maintaining and updating CACF’s database, website, and promotional materials, and writing and distributing items for CACF’s advocacy efforts, including action alerts, sign-on alerts, press releases, and policy updates. She maintains regular communication with over 300 faith-based organizations and community-based organizations, and nearly 4,000 service providers, decision makers, and donors in CACF’s database. She provides vital administrative support to all CACF initiatives. Andrea previously worked at CACF from October 2003 to November 2006 as the Outreach and Education Coordinator, responsible for managing community partnerships and supporting our youth leadership program. She was also the Project Assistant for Project CORE (Children Overcoming through Resources and Education), a post-9/11 training and community education program. Previously, Andrea was the information and membership coordinator for the Asian American Arts Alliance, a non-profit multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to increasing the support, awareness, and visibility of pan-Asian American artists and arts organizations. Andrea received her Bachelor of Arts in History, with concentrations in education and Asian Pacific American studies, from Oberlin College in Ohio.
Mitchel Wu, MA
Project Coordinator
mwu@cacf.org
Mitchel joined CACF in November 2009. He is responsible for overseeing Project Collegebound, which aims to improve the school culture of Flushing International High School to promote college readiness among immigrant and English Language Learner students. He organizes students and parents, coordinates college readiness services, and conducts professional development for school staff. Mitchel is also a lecturer of Asian American Studies at CUNY Hunter College. In San Francisco, he worked at the YMCA Urban Core Program to assist in the Mandarin language program and was active in the Chol Soo Lee advisory committee to address Asian American incarceration in California. In New York, he was a supervisor at Harlem’s Riverbank State Park summer camp youth program and was the head staff supervisor of the Educational Opportunity Program/Advancement on Individual Merit (EOP/AIM) pre-freshmen program at Stony Brook University, which promotes college success for minority and economically disadvantaged first generation college students. A native of Queens, NY, Mitchel graduated from Cardozo High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Social Science Interdisciplinary and U.S. History from SUNY Stony Brook and his Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University. He has contributed work on the issue of racial profiling of Asian Americans in the 2009 edition of The Contemporary Asian American Encyclopedia. He is also a member of Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) Honor Society.