Erika was appointed by President Joe Biden in April 2021 to serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and AA (Asian American) and NHPI (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander) Senior Liaison. At the White House, Erika supports the Administration on a wide array of the President’s priorities and engages with AA and NHPI communities and leaders on important issues such as advancing safety, justice, inclusion, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through a whole-of-government approach to racial justice.

Her past government service includes serving as the Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations at the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the leadership of Secretary Julián Castro in the Obama Administration and was the first-ever Senate Deputy Legislative Director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

On Capitol Hill, she was a senior representative of Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. Senator Daniel K. Akaka of Hawai’i, and at the Senate Democratic Policy Committee under Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

In the non-profit sector, Erika managed two teams the National Partnership for Women & Families for economic justice and congressional relations advancing workforce and health policies focused through a gender equity and race equity lens. Erika has also led the Government Relations, Advocacy and Community Engagement team at the Anti-Defamation League, a leading anti-hate organization.

Kota Mizutani is a Senior Advisor for Public Engagement where he serves as the Office of Public Engagement’s primary liaison to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. He previously served in several positions on Capitol Hill, including Staff Assistant for Representative Don Beyer (VA-08) and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Fellow for Representative Mark Takano (CA-39). Most recently, he served as the Deputy Communications Director for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce under Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03). Kota was born and raised in Northern California and is a graduate of Brown University.

Senator Sheikh Rahman is the first Asian American to serve in the Georgia State Senate. He is also the first Muslim Georgia Legislator. Elected in 2018, he represents the 5th Senate District in Gwinnett—Georgia’s most diverse county.

In the Georgia State Senate. Sen. Rahman serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations, Economic Development and Tourism, Government Oversight, Natural Resources and the Environment and Urban Affairs.

In 2019 Georgia Asia Times named Sen. Rahman 25th Most Influential Asian American in Georgia. In 2020 he was named 100 Most Influential Georgia Muslim by Islamic Speakers Bureau of Georgia.

In 2022 and 2023, Atlanta Magazine named him as one of the City’s Most Powerful Leaders in Government and Infrastructure.

Long Tran is a dynamic leader poised to represent Georgia’s District 80 in the State House. A Dunwoody resident for 12 years, Long is a successful small business owner of Peachy Corners Café and an experienced IT professional turned actor and stunt driver in the Georgia film industry.

His diverse background—from network security consulting to mobile app development—reflects a deep understanding of technological and economic landscapes crucial for our district’s growth. Long’s engagement as a board member in local schools and his work on Dunwoody’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board demonstrate his commitment to education and community prosperity.

Long’s advocacy extends beyond business and education. He has dedicated years to empowering immigrant and disadvantaged families along Buford Highway through nonprofit work. His journey from being an extra on the set of ANT MAN to becoming a SAG/AFTRA actor and stunt driver showcases his adaptability, determination, and deep ties to Georgia’s vibrant film industry.

With Long Tran, District 80 gains a passionate representative who can bridge industries, champion economic growth, foster educational excellence, and advocate for diverse communities.

State Representative Sam Park is a native Georgian born and raised by a single mother who instilled in him the importance of faith, family and hard work. Sam’s grandparents were refugees from the Korean War who moved to the US in the early 1980’s in pursuit of the “American Dream.” Through their sacrifice, Sam had an opportunity to earn a BA in Political Science and BS in Economics from Georgia State University in 2009. He was then accepted to Georgia State University College of Law, where he received his JD in 2013. After receiving a Fellowship in Civil Rights and Constitutional Law from American University Washington College of Law, Sam earned his Masters in Law in 2014 with a specialization in law, politics and legislation.

In December 2014, Sam’s mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Through her fight against cancer, Sam learned firsthand the importance of having access to healthcare. On a platform of expanding Medicaid to ensure access to healthcare for all Georgians, Sam ran for office as a first-time candidate in 2016 and unseated a three-term Republican chairwoman with a grassroots campaign to become the first Asian American Democrat and first openly gay man elected to the Georgia State Legislature.

Sam’s commitment to serving others and passion for good public policy have been driving forces in his professional and political career. During law school, Sam spent two years with the Health Law Partnership, a medical-legal partnership that provides pro bono civil legal services to low-income families with children who are seen at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Sam also worked as a bankruptcy litigator helping families in financial hardship fight foreclosure, repossession and garnishment. During his first term as a legislator, Sam introduced comprehensive civil rights legislation, co-sponsored legislation to expand Medicaid in Georgia and defeated discriminatory legislation targeted at minority communities. Sam currently serves as a deputy whip in the Georgia House Democratic Caucus and as vice-chair for the Gwinnett State House Delegation.

Christine Chen is a co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), the nation’s leading national, nonpartisan organization to engage, educate, and empower Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to strengthen their voices and create impact. APIAVote’s mission is to work with local and state community based organizations (CBOs) to mobilize AAPI communities in electoral and civic engagement. Since 2007, APIAVote has been building power in AAPI communities by investing in their capacity and infrastructure to mobilize voters. This investment, as well as, proactively training and resourcing community leaders across the country, paid off in the 2020 election cycle and Census.

Christine Chen has had over three decades of experience in organizing, mobilizing and advocacy. Under Chen’s leadership, APIAVote strengthened and expanded APIAVote’s partners into 29 states and made two historical milestones; attracted, then candidate Joe Biden to speak directly to the AAPI electorate, a first in history for a Presidential nominee, and second, contributed to the groundwork that led to the highest AAPI voter turnout in history.

Murtaza Khwaja is a civil rights attorney and advocate. Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, Murtaza has been a resident of Atlanta since 1994, where his early life experiences instilled in him a profound dedication to civil rights causes.

During his time at GSU College of Law, Murtaza engaged in a year-long commitment at the Capital Defenders Clinic, providing legal assistance to Georgia Capital Defender attorneys in constructing robust cases for life during trials.

In 2017, Murtaza assumed the role of the first staff attorney and lobbyist at CAIR Georgia, where he provided direct legal services to clients facing anti-Muslim discrimination, educated Georgia Muslims about their legal rights, and addressed Islamophobia through both the judicial system and public discourse.

As the Executive Director of CAIR Georgia, Murtaza effectively managed and supervised the organization’s expansion efforts, employing creative legal strategies and grassroots advocacy to combat discrimination and bigotry prevailing within the state.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Murtaza enjoys outdoor activities, sports, and traveling, as well as the shared experience of meals and a quintessential cup of chai. Murtaza’s passion for cricket and appreciation of Pakistani music form significant aspects of his cultural identity.

Murtaza’s philosophy centers around the collective liberation of all communities. Murtaza ardently advocates for transformative, disruptive measures to confront white supremacy and institutional racism, highlighting his commitment to fostering a more equitable society.”

Sam Hyun joined The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) as Director of Government Relations. He previously served as Director of Federal Relations for the City of Boston and at the Office of Mayor Michelle Wu. Prior to his time at the City, he was a political director for a gubernatorial candidate, Chairperson of the Asian American Commission for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and aide to former Massachusetts House Speaker, Bob DeLeo. He was also named one of The Boston Globe’s 2021 Bostonians of the Year.

Sam also co-founded 1587 Sneakers which is the first Asian-American owned luxury sneaker brand. Sam speaks regularly nationwide on AAPI topics, DEI, and leadership. He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Allegheny College and a master’s degree in business administration and public policy from Brandeis University.

Victoria Huynh is a Founder and Community Organizer with over 19 years of experience working with international, immigrant, and refugee communities in Georgia. In her most recent role, Huynh served as Senior Vice President/Chief Officer of External Affairs at one of the largest Asian American and Pacific Islander nonprofits in the Southeast. In October 2022, she founded the Georgia AAPI Hub, a nonprofit focused on supporting the capacity building of AAPI nonprofits in Georgia. Huynh also serves as Chief Programs Officer (CPO) of the Asian American Women’s Political Initiative (AAWPI), a non-partisan organization.

Mrs. Huynh’s experiences growing up in a limited English proficient (LEP) Vietnamese refugee household fuel her passion for community building, strategic planning, and policy work within immigrant spaces. She actively advocates for equitable language access, civic engagement, immigrant rights protections, and enhancements to social safety net services. Between 2016 and 2022, Huynh was instrumental in founding the Georgia Immigrant Alliance for Civic Engagement Coalition, the AAPI Census Coalition, and the Georgia Stop AAPI Hate Coalition. She raised over $1,000,000 in 2021-2022 to support grassroots AAPI initiatives in Georgia.

From 2013-2018, Huynh served as an appointed member of the National Regional Health Equity Council. The Georgia Asian Times honored her in 2015, 2017, 2022, and 2023 as one of the 25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia. In 2020, she was named an outstanding AAPI in the Southeast by the Southeast U.S. Pan Asian Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as a sHERO by the Center for Asian Pacific American Women and OCA at a National AAPI Womxn’s Conference. Huynh recently completed her three-year federal appointment with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel. She now serves as a federal appointee with the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (PACAANHPI).

Grace Choi is the Founder and CEO of Karis Consulting Group, a national consulting firm that provides community organizing, strategic advising, and coalition building support for AANHPI organizations to empower the voice and capacity of the community. Grace is a community strategist and political leader with over 15 years of experience in community organizing, policy, advocacy, diplomacy, international development, and politics, where she has worked closely with high-level government, United Nations, non-profit, and private sector officials in the U.S. and around the world.

She is also the Founder of the New York Coalition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Churches, which is part of a national organization formed out of the tragedy of the shootings of Asian American women in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16, 2021 and the rise of anti-Asian racism. The goal of the Coalition is for the Asian American and Pacific Islander church to build partnerships with the local government and communities.

Grace is the former Director of Policy in the New York City Mayor’s Office, where she led the policy and legislative priorities on mental health, gender equity, and racial inclusion and equity throughout the height of the pandemic. Previously, she served as the Constituency Director for Asian American & Pacific Islander Outreach for the Stacey Abrams for Governor Campaign. She was the Associate Director for Global Gender Policy and Advocacy at Save the Children. She served in President Obama’s Administration as Policy Advisor in the Secretary of State’s Office on Global Women’s Issues and as Staff Assistant in the White House Liaison’s Office at the U.S. Department of State.

Rebecca brings more than 15 years of experience in strategy, outreach, and communications as Founder and Principal of Dot Movement, a public affairs and marketing agency working to turn ideas into movements. Rebecca served as Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the Biden-Harris Administration. In that role, she coordinated and implemented federal programs and initiatives to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities. During her tenure, she led the launch of the first-ever national strategy to advance equity for AA and NHPIs, a regional economic summit series, and the historic White House Forum on AA and NHPIs featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.

Rebecca was previously Communications Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders under the Obama-Biden Administration. She also held public affairs roles at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after joining the federal government as a Presidential Management Fellow.

Rebecca co-founded national anti-bullying organization Act To Change and served as Chair of the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership. Rebecca received her master’s degree from Columbia University and bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where she led a diverse coalition to found the Asian & Asian-American Center.