ABOUT US

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), founded in 1996, is a coalition of 47 national Asian Pacific American organizations around the country. Based in Washington D.C., NCAPA serves to represent the interests of the greater Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for AA and NHPI issues.

National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

MISSION: We are a coalition of national Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander organizations striving for equity and justice by organizing our diverse strengths to influence policy and shape public narratives.

VISION: We envision a world where Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders work together to shape our own future as part of the broader racial justice movement and advance our communities and country towards a common purpose of progress, prosperity and well-being for all.

NCAPA is a project of Tides Center.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

John C. Yang

Co-Chair

President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC

Juliet K. Choi

President and Chief Executive Officer, Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)

Becky Belcore

Co-Director, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)

Jeffrey Caballero

Executive Director,
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)

David Inoue

Executive Director,
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)

Seema Agnani

Executive Director, National Coalition for Asian Pacific Americans Community Development (National CAPACD)

Thu Nguyen

Executive Director,
OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates National (OCA National)

STAFF

Gregg Orton

Gregg Orton

National Director

he/him

gregg@ncapaonline.org

Gregg is the National Director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans where he leads the coalition in developing policy and communications strategy and advancing a joint agenda to address the needs of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.

Gregg joins NCAPA after spending nine years working on Capitol Hill for Rep. Al Green (D-TX). As one of the few Asian American Chiefs of Staff in Congress, he served as a dedicated advocate for the community, as well as a mentor for many staffers of color in Congress.

 Originally from Arcadia, CA, he attended Vassar College where he earned his B.A. in Political Science. 

Young Noh Jung

Young Noh Jung

Policy and Programs Manager

he/they

young@ncapaonline.org

 

Sina Uipi

Sina Uipi

EPIC Policy Associate

she/her

suipi@empoweredpi.org

Sina Uipi is the Washington, DC-based Policy Associate for Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC). In this role, Sina leads EPIC’s national policy and advocacy efforts towards the organization’s mission to advance social justice and increase the political power of NHPI communities. She is thrilled to bring greater awareness to Pacific Islander needs at the national level.

Sina earned her BA at SFSU in Political Science, including two minors in Counseling and Women and Gender Studies. She was raised in the LA area, and is a first generation Tongan American daughter to her parents and a community who has helped shape the advocate she is today.

Prior to joining EPIC, Sina was a Senior Civil Rights Fellow at OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, where she focused on policy priorities such as Education, Immigration, Census, and Technology/Workforce Development. EPIC is one of NCAPA’s newest members, which allows for Sina to work on behalf of both organizations as a joint effort. In addition to leading a national network for a NHPI policy platform, she will also be supporting NCAPA’s coalition work.

Emma Shainwald

Emma Shainwald

Senior Community Engagement Associate

emma@ncapaonline.org

Emma is the Senior Community Engagement Associate at the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and works to support coalition-building between AAPI organizations.

From Princeton, NJ, Emma came to D.C. after graduating from William & Mary with a B.A. in Asian Pacific Islander American Studies. Studying in Virginia acquainted Emma with AAPI spaces in D.C. and Virginia, where Emma later moved to pursue greater work with the AAPI community.

Emma’s experience as a transnational-transracial adoptee heavily influenced a passion for immigration and AAPI issues. When given the opportunity, Emma enjoys drinking tea, sewing, and cracking jokes with friends.

Laura Carther

Laura Carther

Asian American Disinformation Table Coordinator

they/them

laura@ncapaonline.org

Laura is the Asian American Disinformation Table Coordinator at NCAPA, where they support the advancement of NCAPA’s work on disinformation targeting Asian American communities.

Laura is a third-generation Chinese American and moved to Virginia after graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Asian American Studies, where they found a passion for Asian American issues and racial justice. Before coming to NCAPA they worked in marketing and communications for KAN-WIN, an Asian American-focused domestic violence organization. Laura’s work in survivor advocacy has heavily influenced their interests in the intersections of trauma-informed practice, disability, gender, and race.

Mai-Thy Tyler

Mai-Thy Tyler

Community Engagement Director

she/her

mai@ncapaonline.org

Mai-Thy Tyler is the Director of Community Engagement at the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, where she leads civic engagement work and supports coalition building and the Disinformation Table.

Mai-Thy has a background in political campaigns and union organizing, most recently working with state and local races across the country to advance campaign finance reform and voting rights. She has helped win U.S. Senate races in both Arizona and Wisconsin. She also played an active role in the formation of two staff unions, with experience organizing and negotiating union contracts.

Mai-Thy is a Vietnamese American and is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin.

Ravi Raj

Ravi Raj

Policy Associate

he/him

ravi@ncapaonline.org

Ravi is a first-generation Indian American from the Philadelphia area. He received a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Villanova University and a J.D. from Emory University. Ravi has experience doing legal research, organizing during campaigns, and previously worked as a Legislative Aide on judiciary issues for Rep. Chrissy Houlahan. He brings a passion for elevating marginalized and vulnerable voices.

Johanna Carpio

Johanna Carpio

Communications and Digital Media Associate

she/her

johanna@ncapaonline.org

Johanna is the Communications and Digital Media Associate at the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, where she works to increase awareness of AAPI issues and advocacy by leading communications and media efforts.

Johanna is a second-generation Filipino-American hailing from the Miami/Broward area. She pursued her B.S. in Criminology and International Affairs at Florida State University, including a minor in Social Work. Before coming to NCAPA, she served on the Asian American Student Union at Florida State University, where she discovered her passion for advocating for racially marginalized communities and AAPI issues.

Committee Co-Chairs

Civil Rights

  • Marita Etcubañez, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Advancing Justice | AAJC)

Education

  • Natalie Truong, Education Program Manager, Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
  • Matthew Weisbly, Education and Communications Coordinator, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)

Health

  • Adam P. Carbullido, Director of Policy and Advocacy, The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
  • Jennifer Van der Heide, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)

Housing & Economic Justice

  • Kristina Romines, Economic Justice & Capacity Building Director, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA)

Immigration

  • Martin Kim, Assistant Director of Immigration Advocacy, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Advancing Justice | AAJC)
  • Michelle Liang, Policy & Communications Manager, NAKASEC

Civic Engagement

  • Vivian Chang, Civic Engagement & Racial Justice Director, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA)
  • Mike Messina, Field and Research Associate, Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)

Communications

  • Wendy Wong, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, APIA Scholars 
  • Amrita Kular, Communications Director, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)

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National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

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