Our Team
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California is comprised of staff, attorneys, legal and policy advocates, researchers, leadership trainers, and more. Together with our advisory councils, board of directors, and vast network of pro-bono attorneys, we are dedicated to advocating for and supporting our community of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, including the low-income and everyone in need.
Aileen Louie
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Aileen Louie is the interim CEO and Chief of Staff at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, working closely with program staff and a wide range of institutional partners to secure the resources necessary to support the organization’s work.
Aileen has over 20 years of nonprofit fundraising and management experience, gained primarily from her work at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. Over the course of her career she has held several positions within the organization. She was its first Development Director and has also served as the Vice President of Program Administration as well as the Leadership Development Strategy Director. After stepping away from the organization to focus on her family, she returned to resume her work in supporting its ongoing development. In addition to her work with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, she has also served on numerous non-profit boards including Search to Involve Pilipino Americans and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, where she was one of its founding sisters. Aileen is a graduate of UCLA where she was a student advocate for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Email: alouie@ajsocal.org
Phone: 213-977-7500 x859
Clara Chiu-Torres
Vice President of Development
Clara Chiu-Torres, our Vice President of Development, will lead our efforts in identifying fundraising opportunities and securing essential resources to advance equity and justice for the AAPI community. She will also serve as a vital member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), actively shaping the strategic and operational trajectory of AJSOCAL.
Previously, Clara served as Chief Development Director at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), where she managed over $22 million in funding from various sources, amplifying the organization’s impact. Before LAFLA, she held key roles at AARP Foundation and played an instrumental role in major fundraising campaigns. She served as AJSOCAL’s Development Officer for 5 years from 2012 to 2017. In those short five years, she successfully spearheaded one of the organization’s largest fundraising campaigns, orchestrating the raising of $20 million for a $30 million match campaign. Clara’s expertise in fundraising, strategic leadership, and dedication to serving underserved communities make her an invaluable asset to our mission. We are confident that her leadership will drive meaningful change and further our collective goals.
Email: cchiu-torres@ajsocal.org
Phone: 213-977-7500 x202
Ronnette Ramos
Vice President of Programs
Ronnette Ramos, our Vice President of Programs, brings nearly three decades of experience in legal services and the public sector to AJSOCAL. She leads the strategic direction and execution of AJSOCAL’s direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, community engagement, and demographic research. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), she plays a central role in advancing our mission and ensuring our programs are community-centered, responsive, and impactful.
Previously, Ronnette served as Deputy Director at LA County’s Justice, Care, and Opportunities Department, the first of its kind in the nation, where she helped coordinate services for individuals impacted by the justice system. She also held leadership roles at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, managing the county’s first Right to Counsel pilot and overseeing award-winning Medical-Legal Partnerships, including initiatives focused on API communities and Black women’s health. Earlier in her career, she launched LA County’s first AAPI-focused legal self-help center at the Pasadena Courthouse.
Ronnette’s deep commitment to equity, cultural humility, and systems change, make her an invaluable leader in shaping AJSOCAL’s programmatic impact across Southern California.
Email: rramos@ajsocal.org
Ash Alvandi
Vice President of Orange County
Ash Alvandi, our Vice President of Orange County, leads AJSOCAL’s regional efforts to expand programs, cultivate partnerships, and amplify resources that champion equity and justice for the AAPI community. As a member of AJSOCAL’s Executive Leadership Team, Ash plays a critical role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and operational growth.
Previously, Ash served as District Director and Interim Chief of Staff for State Senator Dave Min, where he oversaw a constituency of over 1.1 million in the heart of Orange County. During his tenure, his team secured millions of dollars in aid for local families, to address core problems such as unemployment, housing, and small-business relief. In addition to his work in the community, Ash supported the Senator’s vision in bolstering language access, educational equity, and AAPI hate prevention. As well as working to help secure more than $100 million in funding through earmarks, AAPI equity initiatives, and state grants for Orange County.
He brings extensive experience in government relations, coalition-building, and campaign consulting, and was recognized as one of the Orange County Register’s “Top 125 Most Influential People” and the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs’ “40 Under 40,” Ash has established himself as a dynamic force for change.
Ash’s proven leadership, dedication to underserved communities, and vision for transformative change make him a driving force in advancing AJSOCAL’s mission in Orange County and beyond. Ash holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from California State University Fullerton and lives in Lake Forest with his wife and daughter.
Email: aalvandi@ajsocal.org
Phone: 213-977-7500 x220
Richard Crowe
Vice President of Finance
Richard Crowe is the Vice President of Finance at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. He has over 25 years of experience in the Accounting and Financial arenas. After graduating from Florida A & M University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Accounting and Finance and passing the Certified Public Account examination, Richard began working for Chase Bank as a finance specialist evaluating complex loan transactions in overseas markets. After a multi-year stint at Chase, he then earned a Master’s in Finance from the prestigious University of Chicago. After the University of Chicago, Richard moved to Los Angeles and worked several years in finance in the entertainment space at both Twentieth Century Fox and The Post Group. Richard then joined Columbia College Hollywood in 2003 as Chief Financial and Operating Officer when the school’s enrollment was at an all-time low. Richard was instrumental in turning around the college and increasing its enrollment to record levels.
Email: rcrowe@ajsocal.org
Phone: 213-977-7500 x221
Christina Yang
General Counsel & Pro Bono Director
Christina Yang is General Counsel & Pro Bono Director for social justice and legal services nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (“AJSOCAL”). Christina provides in-house legal support and advice to the executive leadership team, and cultivates opportunities for attorneys and non-attorneys to expand the reach of the organization’s services through pro bono and volunteerism. Immediately after law school, she spent a year with AJSOCAL’s impact litigation unit, on a deferral fellowship funded by Mayer Brown LLP, and returned to the firm’s Los Angeles office to practice with the general litigation group after that. Christina is a past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, and chaired its Judicial Endorsements and Public Appointments committee for many years. She also serves as a member of the Pro Bono Coordinating Committee for the California Commission on Access to Justice.
Email: cyang@ajsocal.org
Phone: 213-977-7500 x850
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Paul Chan, Esq |Chair, Litigation Committee, Bird Marella
Jade Leung, Esq | Chair, The Walt Disney Company
Phillip Lee, Esq | Vice Chair, Building Committee, Jamison Services, Inc.
Thomas Lee, Esq | Secretary, Capital Group
Christine Song, CFA | Treasurer & Chair, Finance Committee, Capital Group
San San Lee, Esq | Chair, Audit Committee, Law Office of San San Lee, Inc.
Olivia Samad, Esq | Chair, Governance Committee, Southern California Edison
Jack S. Yeh, Esq | Co-Chair, Development Committee, Sidley Austin LLP
Gloria Chang Yip, CFA | Co-Chair, Development Committee, Managing Director, Head of Asian Wealth, JPMorgan Private Bank
Members at Large
Genevieve Cabanilla, MS | Real Estate Investor
Weihua Cheng | Bank of America
Camilla Eng, Esq | Fractional General Counsel
Hon. Mike Eng, Esq | California Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board
Peter Huh | Pacific American Fish Company, Inc.
Karen Huoth, Esq | TikTok
Jennifer Ishiguro, Esq | StepStone Group
Jacqueline Jackson | Echo Global Logistics
Joseph K. Kim, Esq | O’Melveny & Myers LLP
John K. Ly, Esq | Liang Ly LLP
Tracy Pham, MS | Red Boat Fish Sauce
Ken Ren, MBA | Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
Fern Shaw, MBA | United Parcel Service
Nita Song | IW Group, Inc.
Vanna Tran | Nielsen
Don Widjaja, MBA | Southern California Gas Company
Affiliates & Associated Groups
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California is part of a national affiliation of five civil rights nonprofit organizations that joined together under one name in 2013. The other member organizations are:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (formerly Asian American Justice Center) is a national organization that advances the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and builds and promotes a fair and equitable society for all through public education, policy analysis and research, policy advocacy, litigation and community capacity and coalition building.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta (formerly Asian American Legal Advocacy Center or AALAC) is the first non-profit law center dedicated to Asian immigrants and refugees in the Southeast.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago (formerly Asian American Institute) is the leading pan-Asian organization in the Midwest dedicated to empowering the Asian American community through advocacy, research, education, leadership development and coalition-building.
Our mission is to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities. www.advancingjustice.org
OC Community Advisory Councils
In 2016, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California launched an additional leadership group in Orange County — the Orange County Community Advisory Council (OC CAC), whose main focus is to build a strong coalition of AAPI community leaders and groups in order to raise the visibility and voice of the AAPI community in Orange County. The OC CAC is comprised of key leaders from the OC AAPI and nonprofit organizations, law schools and universities, the judiciary and local Asian bar associations.
Co-Chairs
Mary Anne Foo | M.P.H., OCAPICA
Dr. Linda Trinh Vo | University of California, Irvine
Members
Ellen Ahn | J.D., M.S.W., Korean Community Services
Hussam Ayloush | MBA, Council on American-Islamic Relations – LA
Katie Brazer | CHIRLA
Jury Candelario | APAIT
Ellen Chen | ENO
Susie Park Dickman, Esq. | Chapman Law School
The Honorable Judge Halim Dhanidina | The LA County Superior Court
Nathaniel F. Epstein, Esq.
Leigh Ferrin, Esq. | Public Law Center
Caroline Hahn, Esq. | Law Office of Caroline Hahn
Miguel Hernandez | OC Congregation Community Organization
T. Linh Ho, Esq. | Superior Court of CA
Cecilia Hong, Esq. | Magarian & DiMercurio
Ken Inouye | CPA, Japanese American Citizens League
Isabel Kang | Korean Resource Center
Alexander C. Kim | MBA., Three Kings Public Affairs
Janine Kim, Esq. | Dale E Fowler School of Law
Jeannie Kim, Esq. | OC Asian American Bar Association
Lisa Kim, Esq. | California Department of Justice
Jennifer Lee Koh | Western State College of Law
Susan Lew
Annie Lai, Esq. | University of California, Irvine
Zhihai Li | We Irvine & The Chinese American Mutual Association
Michelle Miu, Esq. | The Myers Law Group
Becky Nguyen | Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation
Christine Nguyen | Esq.,Vietnamese American Bar Association of Southern California
Tricia Nguyen | M.P.H., Southland Integrated Services, Inc
Dr. Eliza Noh | California State University, Fullerton
Jane Ka’ala Pang | Pacific Islander Health Partnership
Ho-El Park, Esq. | Korean American Chamber of Commerce of OC
Vattana Peong, M.P.H. | The Cambodian Family Community Center
Cheryl Kang Prout, Esq. | Orange County Korean American Bar Association
Shakeel Syed | Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development
Sr. Thuy Tran | CSJ., St. Joseph Hospital
Nate Watanabe, Esq. | Orange County Asian American Bar Association
Jacob Wu | Orange County Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Justice Giving Circle
The Justice Giving Circle, formerly The Executive Advisory Council, is a major patron alliance committed to AJSOCAL’s mission. Comprised of distinguished community, business, and philanthropic leaders, their collective support drives transformative change for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
Co-Chairs
Gloria Chang Yip | JPMorgan Private Bank
Hon. Mike Eng | California Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board
Stewart Kwoh | AJSOCAL President Emeritus
Members At Large
Sherrie Carr | East West Bank
Mark Chinapen | Big Time Affairs
John Clark | Wells Fargo
Garrett Gin | Bank of America
Don Jue | AJSOCAL Board Alumni
Alissa Ko | Health Net
Chang Liu | Cathay Bank
Joseph Lumarda | The Capital Group
Noel Massie | AJSOCAL Board Alumni
Shahe Mazbanian | U.S. Bank
Leo Ramirez | UPS
Teresa Samaniego | ABC7
Jack Shu and Mary Ellen Kwoh Shu | City of La Mesa
Chantalle Wang | JMM Foundation
John Yamamoto | Kaiser Permanente
Robert Yu | R.Y. Properties, Inc.
Pro Bono Advisory Council
AJSOCAL’s Pro Bono Advisory Council is complementary to the Board of Directors and other Advisory Councils. Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California relies on the Pro Bono Advisory Council specifically for guidance in the development of its pro bono programs, turning to these members first as a resource in assisting with pro bono matters and issues. The Pro Bono Advisory Council also helps raise vital funds and resources needed to support and expand Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California’s pro bono programs. Members include attorneys from major national and international law firms, as well as in-house counsel at Fortune 100 companies.
Co-Chairs
Jonathan Shih | Latham & Watkins LLP
Steve Yoda | Walzer Melcher & Yoda LLP
Members at Large
Irene Azcarraga | Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Dyanna Castaneda | Littler Mendelson P.C.
Minnie Che | Gibson Dunn LLP
Mark Chen | Validity Finance
Steve Chiu | Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Ellia Higuchi |Mayer Brown LLP
Winston Hsiao | Skadden Arps
Jia Jia Huang | Goodwin
Helen Hwang | Covington & Burling
Christine Kim | SMBC MANUBANK
Jonathan Kim | Alston & Bird
Lauren Kim | Nixon Peabody
Charles Laconico | Amazon Web Services
Courtney Le | Troutman Pepper
Jennifer Le | Sheppard Mullin
Julianna Mather | The Walt Disney Company
Avni Mehta | Sidley Austin LLP
Aileen Ng
Jackson Pai | Crowell & Moring
Connie Pak | Loeb & Loeb
Wendy Qiu | Holland & Knight LLP
Jessica Ro | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Mariam Sarwar | Crowell & Moring
Peng Shao | R23 Law
Alicia Shen | Amazon Web Services
David Song | Orrick
Ian Tapu | Hooper Lundy & Bookman P.C.
Kevin Tsai | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Ed Tsui | Littler Mendelson P.C.
Judy Wang | Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Nalee Xiong | Ballard Spahr LLP
Wendy Yu | Amazon Web Services
