API COALITION ANNOUNCES FIRST COALITION DIRECTOR AND NEW GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The San Diego Asian Pacific Islander (API) Coalition announced their new Coalition Director and their inaugural San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Empowerment Grant.

The San Diego API Coalition welcomed Mark Leo as their first full-time staff member taking on the role of Coalition Director. The Coalition Director is responsible for leading and implementing the mission and vision of the Coalition in conjunction with its leadership team and member organizations.

“After over two years of an ongoing pandemic and hate, the coalition is thrilled to bring on a full-time leader to strengthen and build our capacity,” said San Diego API Coalition Co-Chair Alex Villafuerte. “We look forward to working with members and allies as we find ways to uplift our community with projects like our API Empowerment Grant.”

Mark Leo is a former labor organizer with SEIU involved with their national API Caucus and locally managed the first coordinated campaign targeting Union and non-Union AAPI voters in San Diego in the 2012 election. Most recently, Mark worked as the Senior Community Engagement Coordinator with Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer.

"The San Diego API Coalition plays an important role in advocating for San Diego's AAPI community and also combating the litany of anti-Asian sentiment, which has grown significantly in recent years. As the new Coalition Director, Mark Leo will be instrumental in building momentum and collaborative relationships to benefit all San Diegans," said Councilmember Chris Cate. "Along with today's launch of the San Diego API Empowerment Grant, the API Coalition is taking a major, positive step in the right direction for the betterment and inclusivity of the AAPI community in San Diego."

The San Diego API Empowerment Grant opens on Tuesday, October 4 and is aimed to further the San Diego API Coalition’s mission of facilitating conversations with API communities and advocating for representation of voices by amplifying and cultivating leadership, acting as a hub for API organizations to collaborate, and building a more inclusive and equitable San Diego. 

Up to $2,500 in grant funding is available for eligible organizations and community groups. Deadline is October 31, 2022.

"Asian and Pacific Islanders are a core part of our community and offer a richness in culture and diversity to our city,” said San Diego City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. “I appreciate the San Diego API Coalition for their work in providing much needed representation and the important solidarity work they’ve led. I also want to congratulate new Coalition Director Mark Leo and look forward to seeing him utilize his experience in building community power to advance the AAPI community.”

“I’m looking forward to taking on the new role as the San Diego API Coalition’s Coalition Director,” said Mark Leo. “I’m ready to advocate for the Asian and Pacific Islander community together with the member organizations to build capacity for our community and region.”

Learn more and apply to the San Diego API Empowerment Grant here: www.sdapicoalition.org/giveback