Stop AAPI Hate Resource Panel

Join Asian Business Association San Diego and AT&T for the Stop AAPI Hate Resource Panel on Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 3:30PM - 4:30PM (PST).

Register at: abasd.org/event

Take a stand and learn about key resources and organizations available to support the AAPI community!

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About the panelists:

- Ky Diep: 

University of California Riverside graduate with BS in Business Administration. Started with AT&T in December 2008 as a Retail Store Manager. Held various roles in AT&T including Retail Store Manager, Area Retail Sales Manager, Business Sales Manager in AT&T National Business Segment, Director of Sales responsible for AT&T Retail Distribution as well as Authorized Retail Distribution. Married for 12 years and have an 8 and 13 year old daughter. 

- Kirin Macapugay:

Kirin Macapugay is an Indigenous person from Kalinga, Philippines. She is a tenured faculty of Human Services at San Diego City College. She is a Trustee for Southwestern Community College and Commissioner on the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Affairs. In 2015, she formed API Community Actions, which serves/d as a nonprofit catalyst for efforts including People’s Collective for Justice and Liberation and Made in Paradise Hills. In 2016 she was awarded  “Professor of the Year” by SDSU students. In 2017, Kirin was honored as a “Present Day Civil Rights Woman Leader” by RISE San Diego. 

In February 2021, Kirin was appointed to the Southwestern College District Governing Board seat, an elected position vacated by now Judge Tim Nader. Kirin served on the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and was past Chairwoman of the Cultural Arts Commission for the City of Chula Vista. She co-founded IKAT Indigenous Knowledge, Art, and Truth, a group of Indigenous scholars and community organizers from the Philippines. She is Chair for Made in Paradise Hills; is a mentor for San Diego Leadership Alliance fellows; serves as founding board member of San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and is a core member of FIERCE–a statewide policy forum for Filipinx-Americans. She has been featured by various media outlets including NPR, KPBS, NBC, CBS, ABC, Union Tribune, Asian Journal, Filipino Press, and others.  Kirin holds a Master’s in Social Work from San Diego State University, a Certificate in Indigenous People’s Rights from Columbia University, and is a PhD student in Indigenous Health from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. 

- Kent Lee: 

Kent Lee is the Executive Director of Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts). As one of the largest media arts organizations in North America focusing on Asian American and Asian international cinema, Pac Arts is best known for presenting the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival. With nearly 15 years of non-profit experience, Kent has dedicated his life and career to serving his community and volunteers for a variety of non-profit organizations and community groups for his neighborhood, alma mater, and other causes. These include the San Diego API Coalition, UC San Diego’s Chancellor’s Community Advisory Board, Asian Business Association of San Diego, Mira Mesa Community Planning Group, and Alpha Phi Omega - a national collegiate service organization. Kent has been recognized for his leadership and service in the community with UC San Diego’s 40 Under 40 Alumni Award as well as SD Metro’s 40 Under 40 Award.Kent is a proud alumnus of the University of California, San Diego, where he received degrees in Economics and General Biology. Kent and his wife Phuong are resident of Mira Mesa - where they are raising their two young children – Alynna and Oliver – as well as their dog Lucky.

- Lauren Garces: 

From the island of Oahu, Lauren is ABASD's Marketing, Outreach and Events Manager. In addition to her role with ABASD, Lauren provides event production throughout San Diego County with a focus on community empowerment. A leader in the API community, she serves as President of the National Association of Asian American Professionals - San Diego and is a recipient of the Rising Star Award from the Asian Pacific American Coalition. Most recently, she served as the Vice President/ Creative Director of Silk Road Productions; one of the leading, award-winning event production companies in Southern California.

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Her event production passion and engagements are dedicated to providing platforms and connections for diverse communities and cultures to be highlighted, bridged, and empowered. A few of the signature projects she has worked on include: Filipino Sun Festival, Kinda Kamayan, Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair, Asian Cultural Festival, San Diego Night Market, San Diego Ramen Festival, Asian Pacific Islander Festival Day at the San Diego County Fair, San Diego Padres Filipino Heritage Night, Seaworld Lunar New Year, and Convoy Nights.