Announcing our New Director!

Dear APIENC Community,

After a rigorous search and hiring process, I’m proud to announce that starting in July, Sammie Ablaza Wills will be API Equality – Northern California’s next Director!

Many of you may know Sammie as our Community Organizer, a summer intern alum, and the lead on APIENC communications and our leadership development work. Outside of APIENC, Sammie has also worked in student organizing campaigns for faculty diversity and ethnic studies, in Pilipinx national democratic organizations, and in the Movement for Black Lives, as a member of Asians4BlackLives – Bay Area. Sammie has been deeply involved with APIENC since 2013. In the last three years, they have been instrumental in starting and leading our Communications Committee, growing our leadership development program, and fostering key relationships and partnerships. This organization truly would not be where it is now without Sammie’s dedication, talent, and enthusiasm.

I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside Sammie over the last three years, and I have full confidence that they have the skills, experience, and vision to lead API Equality – Northern California. From intern, to Program Assistant, to Community Organizer, Sammie has stepped into their leadership in so many ways in their time at APIENC, and I am proud and committed to supporting them in this new role.

We’re going to celebrate this transition at a special reception next Thursday, May 26th, 6:30-8:30pm, at the Bravado Lounge. This event will close out Power Our Work (POW)! Building LGBTQ API Leadership, our month-long campaign to fundraise for APIENC’s leadership development program. It’ll also be an opportunity for our community to celebrate Sammie, someone who has been shaped and supported through this work.

Please join me and fellow community members in this celebration!  Buy a ticket here or make a donation to our campaign.

In Solidarity,
Monna Wong