Lydia Faitalia

Commissioner Faitalia is a first-generation Tongan-Samoan, born and raised in California. She recently settled in Covington, WA from Los Angeles, CA. She is the owner of Modern Blueprint Construction LLC and works for United Indians of All Tribes Foundation as the Ina Maka On Track Program Manager. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, Ms. Faitalia served her Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community in various capacities including working for the UCLA Center for Community College Partnership and Tribal Learning Community & Educational Exchange Program (TLCEE). Commissioner Faitalia joins CAPAA Commission with fifteen years of community service and advocacy experience. She completed both her Undergraduate and Graduate education from the University [...]

By |2019-08-13T09:09:54-07:00August 13th, 2019|

Tyati Tufono-Chaussee

Commissioner Tufono-Chaussee is a first generation Samoan, born and raised in Carson, California. She began her work in 1979 as a Samoan community youth activist through the Office of Samoan Affairs, where she learned the importance of civic engagement in the Samoan community and advocacy for the disaggregation of Asian and Pacific Islander populations on all government documents. She followed in the footsteps of her late parents, Reverend Alatina and Siva Tufono, by serving her community through various grassroots youth and senior programs throughout Carson and San Diego, California. She also participated in many California based organizations such as Omai Fa’atasi (Come Together) and Samoan Athletes in Action, which recognized the [...]

By |2018-03-08T10:22:22-08:00June 23rd, 2014|

Lisa Dickinson

Commissioner Dickinson resides in Spokane, Washington. She is the owner of Dickinson Law Firm, PLLC, where she currently works as an attorney and serves as a tribal court appellate court and pro tem judge as well as a pro tem Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Administrative Hearings.  .Prior to this, Ms. Dickinson served as a law clerk in the Western District of Washington U.S. Attorney’s Office, Office of the Washington State Attorney General, and as an attorney other law offices. Commissioner Dickinson is active in her community and has served as a legal advisor to the Japanese American Citizens League – Spokane Chapter. She has served as a [...]

By |2018-08-30T12:43:00-07:00July 2nd, 2014|

Nam Nguyen

Nam Nguyen is an Assistant Attorney General currently representing the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems.  Prior to working at the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Nguyen worked in private practice in Bellevue, WA, and Houston, TX.  He graduated from Boston University School of Law in 2010. Mr. Nguyen has a history of serving his community.  After law school, Mr. Nguyen volunteered in Bayou La Batre, AL (where Forrest Gump started the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company) to help address the economic and social problems caused by the BP Oil Spill. There, he developed, managed, and implemented youth development programs, social service programs for those with limited English proficiency, and work training/retraining [...]

By |2018-11-06T10:20:31-08:00July 11th, 2016|

Dr. Tam Dinh

Dr. Tam Dinh is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Social Work Program at Saint Martin’s University. Her teaching and research interests are in the areas of diversity, cross-cultural mental health, and religion/spirituality. Dr. Dinh has over 25 years of working in the community as a social worker, educator, and community advocate. As a social worker, she has worked with gang-involved youth and their families at SafeFutures Youth Center, with elders in home health care at Asian Counseling and Referral Services, and with individuals experiencing severe mental illness at Special Service for Groups. Her last nonacademic position was at the City of Seattle Human Services Department where she [...]

By |2019-07-23T15:19:45-07:00August 4th, 2015|

Lori Wada

Commissioner Wada, currently serving her second term as Commissioner, immigrated to Washington from Seoul, South Korea when she was 18 years old. She has been a state government employee for over 25 years and has been an active and ardent supporter of grass root organizations. Through the 20 plus years as a career state employee, she was able to actively support and participate in affordable housing and healthcare equity initiatives. Commissioner Wada was selected as a representative for the 23 member US delegation to Russia during the World Women’s conference, 1991 and in Beijing, China, 1993. She also served on various boards of higher education, low income housing, and community-based [...]

By |2018-06-28T13:06:28-07:00July 7th, 2014|

Mohan Gurung

Mohan Gurung was born in Nepal and migrated to the United States in 1993. Prior to his move, he worked at Bir Hospital (the oldest hospital in Nepal) in their Emergency/Trauma, Orthopedic and Dental department for over 13 years. He has volunteered in numerous medical camps and health clinics throughout Nepal including with the Red Cross. He founded the Nepal Seattle Society with the goal to unite all Nepali in the state of Washington to preserve and promote Nepali culture and share it with other communities. In 2004, he established the Everest Kitchen Restaurant to introduce the taste of the Himalayas with a motto of “Eat well, feel well and [...]

By |2017-07-11T22:26:27-07:00July 10th, 2014|

Ekkarath Sisavatdy

First Term Ends 6/30/2020 Lao American by chance, love by choice, and Lao’d by necessity; Commissioner Sisavatdy was the last in his family of 10 to be born in Vientiane, Laos and a refugee immigrant to the US in 1978.  Known to many as simply Ekk, he has built a home and community in Des Moines, WA.  Ekk has worked over 13 years in higher education and is currently the Project Director for the Asian American, Native American Pacific Islander, Serving Institution (AANAPISI) at Highline College.  He graduated from Western Washington University with his Bachelors in Social & Political Effects on Southeast Asians in the US  – Go Vikings!  Ekk [...]

By |2018-04-12T18:29:45-07:00July 11th, 2017|

Lynette Finau

Commissioner Lynette Suliana Sikahema Finau was raised in Mesa, Arizona after her family’s immigration from the Island Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific. An Educator, Lynette holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies on Culture, Literature & the Arts from University of Washington.  She has a dual Master’s Degree both in Education and in Leadership & Change. She is currently a PhD Candidate at Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership & Change Program. With teaching endorsements in English Composition, Literature and History, Commissioner Finau is one of very few certificated Pacific Islander teachers in WA State. She has taught in the Marysville and Tukwila school districts and is currently teaching [...]

By |2018-08-27T15:16:57-07:00July 7th, 2014|

Lalita Uppala

Commissioner Lalita Uppala moved to Seattle, WA in 1990 pursuing a degree in public health (environmental toxicology) at the University of Washington. Lalita and her husband, with their two children, have made Bellevue, WA their home for the past 28 years. Following a short stint in toxicology consulting, Lalita stayed home to raise her children, volunteered in school PTSAs and the Asian Indian community organizations before joining the India Association of Western Washington board in 2007. Lalita has served on the IAWW board in several capacities as a volunteer, Secretary, Youth Program Director, President, and currently Community Program Director and Vice President for the organization. As an IAWW board member, [...]

By |2018-07-13T13:36:02-07:00July 13th, 2018|
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