Staff
Staff
Akeela
Senior Associate, Youth Programs
Akeela is the daughter and granddaughter of Lao Refugees. She is a third-generation Lao Texan. Since she was a child, she has taken great pride in her Lao heritage and community. She often refers to the African Proverb that “it takes a village to raise a child”- attributing her passion and ambitions to her community at home (Amarillo) and the greater Lao diaspora. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Political Communication and a BA in Asian American Studies. Akeela is passionate about the power of storytelling and oral histories. She had the opportunity to collect oral histories of Lao Americans from all over the country and to advocate for Lao Americans. Her passion topics are educational equity, intersectionality, and reproductive justice. In her free time, she enjoys attending sporting events and live concerts!
Alice
Co-Founder & Senior Strategy Consultant
Alice has been mobilizing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in Austin for 30 years. In 2013, she co-founded the Austin chapter of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA). She founded and led the Austin Asian Community Civic Coalition in 2019 to engage AAPI communities with the Census GOTC and GOTV 2020 projects from Austin to San Antonio. She is one of the co-founder of ATJ, she is also the Asian American Community Liaison to Congressman Lloyd Doggett. Alice came to the U.S. from China over 43 years ago and has a BS degree from University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She's worked for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and led family businesses in the restaurant and real estate sectors.
Averie
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications
Averie is a first generation law school graduate, digital strategist, and former Texas House candidate whose mission is to build a more inclusive, equitable future—online and off. As the first Asian American woman to be crowned Miss Texas, Averie used her platform to champion education, reproductive freedom, and anti-hate initiatives. From grassroots organizing to consulting for global brands like Google and Microsoft, she merges storytelling with strategy to drive impact. In 2023, she ran a groundbreaking Gen Z-led campaign that raised over $1.5 million and mobilized 80,000+ voters across Texas. A proud daughter of immigrants, she’s passionate about dismantling barriers in politics and inspiring the next generation of leaders to speak up, show up, and change the game. Whether mentoring young professionals or crafting digital campaigns that ignite civic engagement, Averie’s work is powered by purpose—and a little bit of WiFi and espresso!
Isabella
Senior Associate, Communications
Isabella is the Social Media Coordinator for Asian Texans for Justice, but she’s no stranger to ATJ – you just might remember her from the Summer 2022 Civic Engagement Fellowship! Born and raised in Killeen, Texas, she’s a proud daughter of Mexican and Korean-American heritage. She’s currently residing in San Antonio and building up political brands all across Bexar County, from graphic design to social media management. She has earned her BA in Politics and Law from the University of Texas in San Antonio and is continuing her education at UTSA to obtain her Master's in Public Administration. She's determined to use her experience and skills to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive Texas for all. When she is not behind her laptop, Isabella enjoys watching anime, listening to visual kei, and hunting for the best sundubu-jjigae in her local area.
Lily
Co-Founder & Co-Executive Director
Lily is the Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice, a statewide nonprofit with a mission to connect Asian Texans of all identities to meaningful civic action to build personal and political power for future generations. Lily is passionate about equity and access to quality education as a means for personal and economic empowerment. In 2019, she worked in the Texas House of Representatives on the House Committee on Public Education in the 86th Legislative Session and in 2018, Lily was a Graduate Fellow at The Archer Center for Public Policy. Prior to her political and advocacy work, Lily spent over ten years in the private sector with a focus on strategy, relationship management, and project management. She has a BBA in Marketing and BA in Asian Studies from The University of Texas Austin as well as an MBA with a concentration in Public and Governmental Affairs from the McCombs School of Business, completing a Portfolio Studies in Nonprofit Management.
Lou
Design Consultant
Lou is a Filipina-American creative producer and visual designer operating at the intersection of arts, advocacy, and entertainment. With an unyielding passion for cultivating narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, Lou aims to develop stories that explore folklore, heritage, multifaceted identity, and femininity. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Dallas with a B.A. in Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communications with a focus in Design & Production. She has a background in production management, art direction, and activism. Armed with her stylus and spreadsheets, Lou brings a unique blend of artistic flair and strategic acumen to every project she undertakes. When she isn’t creating she loves to collect stickers, experiment with new recipes, and ice skate. She takes her chai with oat milk and a pump of lavender syrup.
Nabila
Co-Executive Director
Nabila has spent the last several years working to improve political awareness in underrepresented communities. She is currently the Co-Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice and Rise Action Fund, two civic engagement organizations committed to uniting, organizing, and supporting the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community in Texas. Nabila is also past President of Asian American Democrats of Texas and President of the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition. She was the first Executive Director of Emgage’s Texas chapter and led ECI’s (Empowering Communities Initiative) 2020 Census initiative to ensure a full count of Houston’s AAPI population. She currently serves on the Board of Municipal Utility District (MUD) 137. Nabila has spent much of her professional and personal life in activating citizenship across differing groups of people. She has a background in community organizing, leadership development and strategic planning. She holds a law degree from University of Houston Law Center.
Nicolette
Programs Manager
Nicolette may not be a native Texan, but she officially became a proud Texan in 2012. Originally from the NY/NJ area, San Antonio became her home alongside her lovable cat, Butters. She graduated from NJ’s Seton Hall University with her BS in IR and Diplomacy with a minor in French. A daughter of immigrants, Nicolette is an activist, organizer and advocate for the San Antonio community. Fueled by progress and commitment to community, Nicolette is the Community Engagement Manager for Asian Texans for Justice; she is also the President of Bexar County Young Democrats and serves on the Board for New Leaders Council San Antonio #2022Fellow. Nicolette is thrilled to amplify AAPI voices alongside many other community advocates and leaders who care about making a difference for the AAPI Texan community!
Rio
Design Consultant
Rio is a second-generation Filipina-American multidisciplinary designer. She earned her BFA in Design at the University of Texas at Austin, and has since been working in the creative and political scene in Central Texas. Specializing in branding, website design, and illustration, Rio is passionate about purpose-driven issues and feels her skillset is best utilized when amplifying causes that matter. She’s worked alongside many nonprofits and advocacy groups including Deeds Not Words, Planned Parenthood, and AMAZE.org. Outside working from home, you can catch Rio taking Pia for walks, watching video essays, leveling up her Animal Crossing town, planning her next WFH staycation, or maintaining her 1000+ day DuoLingo streak.
Board
Board
Bianca
Secretary & Board Member
Bianca is a scholar-activist, currently completing her PhD and conducting research in the Sociology department at Rice University. Her research examines how religious socialization shapes the racial attitudes and political engagement of Asian Americans. She also serves on the city of Houston’s AAPI Advisory Board. Previous to her work in Houston, Bianca served Asian American youth and taught Ethnic Studies in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly 10 years. She received her B.A. in Public Policy from Mills College and M.A. in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University. Bianca’s public scholarship has been featured on CNN, TIME, Elle, ABC7, LA Times, Cheddar News, USA Today, among other outlets. She is writing her first book, UNASSIMILABLE, with Harper Collins.
Ashley
Co-Founder & Board Member
Ashley grew up in Austin, slinging egg rolls at her parents’ Chinese restaurants. Today, she’s a communications strategist, creative activist, and marketer for movements. Recent client causes have included clean air, reproductive rights, Medicaid expansion, and the statewide rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Ashley took a non-traditional path to activism, involving stops as an ice cream entrepreneur, yoga therapist, and a 15-year stint as a corporate PR pro. She is the co-founder and board president of the nonpartisan nonprofit Asian Texans for Justice. Named a 2022 Austin Under 40 winner for civic and government affairs and 2020 Tribeza Magazine Person of the Year, she has a master’s in social work from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s in communication from Boston University. She serves as a Democratic National Committee member, dog mom to Eleanor Roooosevelt, and human mom to Cash.
Janelle
Board Member
Janelle, a first-generation Filipina immigrant, spent her formative years watching her parents don their nurses’ scrubs to help as many people as they could – the patients in the hospital, the family they sent money to back home, and their bright-eyed kid. Janelle built on her parents’ dreams of attaining a better education and received her B.A. in Political Science from Texas A&M University. Now, following in her parents’ footsteps, she aims to dedicate her life to helping others by working with fellow Texans to build a better Texas. During the weekdays, you can find Janelle serving in her role as both union steward and Senior Data Associate at MOVE Texas, a nonprofit dedicated to building youth power through civic engagement all around the state.
Sarah
President & Board Member
Sarah is a voting rights attorney and Skadden Fellow at the Texas Civil Rights Project based in Austin. Her voter suppression and redistricting litigation is firmly rooted in movement lawyering and supporting access to the ballot particularly for people of color, people with disabilities, and people in poverty. Although originally from California, Sarah has previously lived and worked in Fort Worth and San Antonio, including on Wendy Davis’s 2014 gubernatorial race. She attended Princeton University and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.
Selena
Board Member
Selena is the the President of the Austin EMS Association, an active Paramedic for Austin Travis County EMS, and a nurse at Dell Seton Medical Center's Surgical ICU. She attended Amherst College where she majored in Economics and Political Science. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas Tech.
Shivani
Treasurer & Board Member
Shivani is a skilled fundraiser, storyteller, and partnerships builder who is passionate about gender equity and fostering an inclusive, non-extractive economy. She has a diverse professional background, having worked across the nonprofit, for-profit, and government sectors. Her career includes community stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation, supporting the implementation of wraparound services for at-risk students, strategic planning for nonprofits, and nonprofit fundraising. She is currently Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Kiva, a nonprofit creating a more financially inclusive world. Shivani holds bachelor's degrees in Government and History from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management, where she specialized in social entrepreneurship. Shivani is a vegetarian and an ice cream lover. She is one of three sisters and the daughter of immigrants from India. Originally from Louisiana and Texas, Shivani spent several years on the East Coast before settling in Houston. When it’s not too hot, she enjoys exploring Memorial Park with her husband and dog.
Soudary
Board Member
Soudary has spent her career helping organizations power their missions through community-centric strategies with equity at the core. Proud 1st generation Lao American, Soudary channels her passion for refugee and immigrant rights, children youth + families, and social justice into engaging supporters to address systemic issues that touch upon equity, education and public health. Soudary is a nonprofit philanthropy executive with more than 25 years in the field. Most recently she served as Vice President, Development at a children’s health and wellness nonprofit—leading a team to build partnerships to fuel its work across the nation. She previously worked in strategic marketing and fundraising as a consultant, and served as head of fundraising and external relations for social justice, health and educational nonprofits. Soudary holds a Masters in Public Service from DePaul University, and a Bachelors in Asian American Studies and Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Soudary values connecting small, community-based organizations typically left out of funding and access–with partners who can amplify their work, and is a member of the Orchid Giving Circle of the Communities Foundation of Texas.