About OCAPIA

Our vision:

We serve the people of Oregon to empower and support Asian and Pacific Islanders through our special roles as policy advisors to Oregon state policy makers and leaders. The OCAPIA is a catalyst that empowers partnerships between state government and our communities in rural and urban areas to ensure success for all Asian and Pacific Islander Oregonians by addressing issues at the policy level.

Our mission:

The mission of the OCAPIA is to work for the implementation and establishment of economic, social, legal, and political equality for Asian and Pacific Islanders in Oregon and to maintain a continuing assessment of the issues and needs confronting Asian and Pacific Islanders.

Our principles and Values:

Equity for Asian and Pacific Islander Oregonians in jobs and the economy, education, health, safety, family stability, environment, and civic engagement.
Equal treatment and protection against discrimination.
Access to helpful information on services and available resources.
Working in partnership on research and policy analysis of longstanding issues and barriers to success within the API community statewide.
Inclusion of Asian and Pacific Islanders’ viewpoints in policy making at the state level.
Celebration of and education about the contributions and achievements of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Oregon.

Our Statutory Goals and Strategic Priorities

Advocate for equitable policies assuring the success of Asian and Pacific Islander Oregonians at the state level.
Engage community and state partners to promote equity for Asian and Pacific Islanders across Oregon.
Study and analyze issues affecting the Asian and Pacific Islander community statewide and recommend policy remedies to state policy makers.
Grow and develop leaders among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at the state level in all branches.
Increase the viability and visibility of the contributions and achievements of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Oregon.

OCAPIA is actively engaged in its statutory work focused on 7 Strategic Priorities each biennium:

Education
Jobs and the economy
Healthcare
Justice, safety and policing
Stable families and housing
Environmental Justice/Equity
Civic engagement

Meet the Commissioners

Hussein Al-Baiaty

Co-Chair

Hillsboro

I came to the United States in 1994 from Saudi Arabia; which is in itself a true miracle. My parents, six siblings, and I left the regime of Saddam in 1991 for a desert refugee camp in Saudi Arabia that we spent the next 3 years enduring. This unforgettable experience became the fuel to my desire to take advantage of every positive opportunity I can. The United States has allowed my family and I to live in peace and prosper. I was able to attend Portland State University, study Architecture and Graphic Design, and begin to pursue my passion.

In 2005, I began with only one screen printing press and a vision to create art on tshirts. It was a learning process as I progressed through my college years and constantly working at my passions. This was a humbling time in my life as I decided creating my own path through screen printing and designing after receiving my degree. It was inevitable with the lack of jobs and downturned economy in 2008 being an entrepreneur would become a career. The opportunity within my community and ability to be creative allowed me a path to grow my small printing operation. We have now expanded to a multipress operation employing 4-10 people in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Working with nonprofit organizations such as APANO, SEI, Boys and Girls Club, Boys Scouts of America, the Miracle League in Vancouver, The Black Fatherhood Project and many local schools such as Aloha High school, Life Christian, MSB and more has been a milestone in my career.

I hope to inspire people with everything I do. I speak to kids at local schools as often as I can to empower them and get them to see their own potential. I love sharing my personal story as it shows that anyone can get through any struggle. Being connected within the local community is paramount for me to be able to offer support to those around me and to offer my screen printing as a way to unify the community.

Mohamed Alyajouri

Co-Chair

Portland

Mohamed Alyajouri is currently a healthcare administrator, managing two Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) Primary Care clinics. Mohamed serves on the leadership team of OHSU’s growing primary care team, which has expanded to Washington County over the past two years. With over 15 years in the Healthcare field, his experience includes Program Development work for Oregon’s Community Health Centers, Project Management for Multnomah County Health dept. and other Quality Improvement work. Additionally, Mohamed has international experience working with the World Health Organization.

Mohamed has always had a passion for positive civic engagement and to better the community. For most of his adult life, his professional and community involvement has been around community building, social justice initiatives, interfaith outreach and partnerships and public health promotion. As a proud Oregonian, a Yemeni-American, and a first-generation Muslim immigrant, he decided to run for local public office. In the Spring of 2017, Mohamed was elected to the 7-member Portland Community College Board of Directors, serving residents of Washington and Yamhill counties. Mohamed was the first and only Muslim-immigrant to be elected to any public office in Oregon.

Mohamed grew up in Oregon, as a proud first-generation immigrant. He is an OSU Beaver Believer, through and through. He completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at Oregon State University, receiving his Bachelors in Healthcare Administration and his Masters in Public Health. Mohamed lives in Beaverton Oregon with his wife and 3 children.

In addition to being an elected official, Mohamed also serves on World Oregon's Advisory Board and the Muslim Educational Trust's Outreach Committee.

Bennie Moses-Mesubed

Vice-Chair

La Grande

Bennie Moses-Mesubed is currently the Multicultural Center Director at Eastern Oregon University where she works to develop comprehensive programs focused on diversity awareness, education, and to promote an inclusive educational environment that nurtures cross cultural communication and fosters the exchange of diverse perspectives and ideals. In addition, she works to advocate and provide support, resources and services for underrepresented students to enhance student learning, growth and academic success in order to meet institutional diversity strategic priorities.

Bennie earned her Master’s in Business Administration degree at Eastern Oregon University. Over the years, she has been involved with different local and state groups/organizations such as the La Grande Shelter from the Storm, La Grande Oregon Rural Action, Arts East, Community Connection Transit Advisory committee, Oregon Community Foundation Scholarship committee, APANO Leadership Institute and the CANN National Alliance Board. She is passionate about diversity work and empowering people to build skills and a comfort level that allows them to engage in safe, yet thought provoking conversations on diversity. Bennie is a native of the Republic of Palau and has lived in La Grande, OR for over 20 years with her husband Clinton and 4 daughters – Cira, Kaiya, Jennah and Keana.

Jessica Asai

Commissioner

Portland

Jessica Asai is yonsei, a fourth generation Japanese American; and was raised in Hood River, Oregon where her family has farmed for four generations. After receiving a B.A. in Politics (minor in Women’s Studies) from Willamette University, Jessica moved to Honolulu and worked in marketing and government relations. She later obtained a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and practiced corporate and employment law. In 2010, Jessica left the practice of law and joined the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department (AAEO). At OHSU, she conducts internal civil rights investigations, facilitates the reasonable accommodation interactive process, and provides advice and training to administrators, faculty, staff, and students on civil rights, equity, and Title IX issues.

Jessica has mentored law students; served on boards, including the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates; and is a founding board member of the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association (OAPABA). Jessica’s past community service has included a focus on the Japanese American community and she was a contributor to the team effort that successfully nominated attorney and civil rights activist Minoru Yasui for a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the nation’s highest civilian honor. More recently, she was the Minidoka Civil Liberties Symposium speaker for 2020.

Jacqueline Leung

Commissioner

Salem

Jackie moved to Salem, Oregon in 2011. She speaks Chinese, Spanish, and learning to speak Chuukese. She has a Masters of Science in Public Health from the University of Iowa and a Juris Doctorate from Willamette University College of Law. She is a PhD student at Oregon State University. She is an advocate for domestic violence survivors, examining legislative issues affecting the Asian and Pacific Islander community, cultural competency training programs, and organizes social justice oriented programs within the community. Jackie currently works as a Community Organizer and Community Health Worker Supervisor and assists Micronesian Islanders including COFA citizens on health issues.

Chanpone Sinlapasai-Okamura

Commissioner

Portland

Chanpone Sinlapasai-Okamura is a partner with Marandas & Sinlapasai. She represents clients regarding general immigration law matters including visas, citizenship issues, consular processing, deportation defense and appeals. Ms. Sinlapasai-Okamura focuses her practice in assisting children who have been abused, abandoned and neglected, and individuals who are survivors of domestic violence, serious crime, and human trafficking.

Ms. Sinlapasai-Okamura received her J.D., from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, 2002 and is a member of the Cornelius Honor Society. She has her B.A. (English & Philosophy), from Santa Clara University, 1998. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA Oregon) and currently serves as the co-liaison for Immigration Custom’s Enforcement. Her volunteer work includes chairing the DOJ’s Immigrant Crime Victim’s Rights Enforcement subcommittee, member of the Victims of Crime Act Advisory Committee for the State of Oregon, DOJ’s Immigrant Crime Victim’s Right Compliance Project Advisory Committee, F.B.I. Citizen’s Alumni Board (Oregon FBI Council on Community Outreach), Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Oregon Minority Lawyer’s Association, and Oregon Women’s Lawyer’s Association.

Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie

Commissioner

Portland

Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie has over 20 years of experience working with and advocating for refugees and immigrants. As a 1.5 generation refugee, she brings a unique perspective for understanding the strengths and complexities of working with refugees and immigrants. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology/Sociology from Eastern Oregon University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Both her undergraduate and graduate research comprised of the use of participatory action framework to explore and address the disparities in meaningful language access for limited English proficient individuals in healthcare and the U.S. Naturalization process.

Ms. Soneoulay-Gillespie has substantial experience advocating for systemic change related to the needs of refugees and immigrants in both direct practice, program management capacities, policy, and community advocacy. Having served as an interpreter, consultant, and trainer, she is also passionate about the development and professionalism of the interpreting field. In partnership with the Alaska State Refugee Coordinator, she developed a 16-hour curriculum that trains providers and interpreters on the fundamentals of interpreting to ensure they are working from the same platform of expectations and ethics. The curriculum was initially implemented in a refugee resettlement setting and later expanded to social service agencies, universities, new employee orientations, volunteer trainings, primary care clinics, and advocacy groups. It has been implemented for over 15 years in Alaska, Northern California, and Oregon. Her previous role as Director of Refugee Resettlement at Catholic Charities gave her a invaluable platform for elevating this training on a county level. In her current role as the Social Services Manager for Population Health at CareOregon, she continues to be a fierce advocate, raising awareness in the healthcare network on the role of interpreters, the role of service providers, and how to work alongside one another to ultimately honor the strong and compelling voices that often go unheard.

She credits her deep commitment to language access from the courage and sacrifices made by her refugee parents Soulideth and Phouvong, and the limited English proficient community who is continuously overlooked, misunderstood, and left out of conversations.

She speaks often of her privilege of meeting incredible people who have taken the time to offer wisdom and guidance and through that, she has a profound appreciation for those who came before her and is committed to giving back in ways that let others know they matter, and in ways that keep her grounded. When she’s not working, she finds joy and rejuvenation from spending time with her husband Virgil, nine year old daughter Sanaa, and seven year old son Myles.

Susan Soonkeum Cox (Hong Soon Keum)

Commissioner

Eugene, adopted from Korea in 1956

Susan is Vice President Policy & External Affairs at Holt International and is an internationally recognized expert and presenter on child welfare and adoption. She testifies regularly before Congress on these issues and has attended numerous White House briefings on public policy regarding adoption and child welfare; was instrumental in passing legislation providing automatic citizenship for children adopted abroad and to ratify the Hague Convention on Intercountry adoption in the U.S.

Ms. Cox has published numerous articles and papers; is editor of the anthologies, Voices from Another Place; More Voices; and founder of the Gathering for Korean Adoptees in 1999 in Washington D.C. and the Reunion of Vietnamese Adoptees.

Ms. Cox is a member of the Hague Special Commission on Intercountry Adoption; and was appointed by President Clinton to the White House Commission on Asian and Pacific Islanders. She was invited as a special guest to attend South Korea’s 60th Anniversary Celebration; and was awarded an Honorary Citizen of Seoul in 2005 by President elect Lee Myung-bak.

In 2013, Susan was appointed as Honorary Consul for the State of Oregon in Eugene, by the Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

David Yuen Tam

Commissioner

Eugene

David Yuen Tam is the President of Tam Global Consultants a Eugene, Oregon based company. He is a professional consultant specializing in renewable energy technologies, sustainable business development, sustainable real estate consultant and investor who possess over 20 years of experience helping U.S. and international firms grow and expand their business. Tam Global Consultants help provide relevant and up-to-date information pertaining to the various aspects of business development and market information for global companies.

Mr. Tam has been consulting businesses since 1995 on a variety of different levels such as real estate development projects, manufacturing, marketing, government contracts, investor identification, merger and acquisition, grant funding, management of cross cultural and cross border teams, performance improvement, business restructure, global market entry and expansion as well as many other global business challenges that business face.

Mr. Tam along with his son, Liam are long-time residents of Eugene. He is passionate about many organizations and is a member of:

City of Eugene Sustainability Commission
Advisory Chair CEO Network – University of Oregon Business School Diversity Program
Past President of the Eugene/Springfield Asian Council
Past President of the Eugene/Springfield Chinese American Benevolent Association
Advisory Chair to Willamette University Center for Asian Studies
Chairman of the Oregon Asian Celebration
Advisory Board of Directors for Committed Partners for Youth/Big Brother Big Sister of Lane County
Relief Nursery
Past Advisory for DisOrient Film Festival

Senator Michael Dembrow

Commissioner

Portland, District 23

Michael Dembrow is the state senator for District 23, covering portions of NE and SE Portland and the city of Maywood Park. First elected by voters in 2008 to the state house, he is serving his first term in the senate after being appointed to the seat in November 2013. Voters re-elected Michael to the senate in November 2014.

No stranger to public service, Michael is an English instructor at Portland Community College's Cascade campus in North Portland. He has been teaching writing and film studies at the college since 1981, and served as the President of the PCC faculty union for 16 years. He continues to teach one or two classes per term when the legislature is not in session.

Michael earned his undergraduate degree in English from the University of Connecticut and his Master's degree in Comparative Literature from Indiana University. Michael and his wife Kiki have lived in District 23 for over 30 years. They have a son, Nikolai and a daughter, Tatyana and two grandchildren. Michael is an avid runner and has completed the Portland Marathon multiple times. He and Kiki are proud parents of two whippets.

Representative Carla Piluso

Commissioner

Gresham, District 50

Carla Piluso grew up in Multnomah County, Oregon. As a child, she remembers her parents’ work ethic and strong sense of family. Carla’s father built the house they lived in, and her parents and three siblings rarely missed a meal together.

Carla was first in her family to finish college. She graduated from Willamette University with degrees in Political Science and Speech. When Carla completed her senior project as an intern for the Oregon State Police, she got to observe the state’s first female troopers. The challenges of being among the first female troopers stuck with Carla, until she achieved her own ‘first’ as Gresham’s first woman Chief of Police.

In 1979, Carla began working here for the Gresham Police Department, and served for 30 years. She was the first woman to be promoted through every rank, eventually serving as the Chief of Police for six years before retiring. As Chief, Carla fought to keep our children safe by funding School Safety Officers and securing $1.5 million to fund the East Metro Gang Enforcement Team, which still combats gang crime in our community. She also focused heavily on domestic violence, and was one of the first to access funds from the federal Violence Against Women Act to better serve the community. She still puts on a domestic violence vigil annually in Gresham.

Even after she retired, Carla remained involved in East County’s public schools. She spent time in classrooms across Gresham and volunteered as the announcer for our high school women’s basketball games. Carla eventually ran for the Gresham Barlow School Board, where she is still serving.

Public service matters to Carla. She was a member of the Multnomah County Commission on Children, Families, and Community for twelve years. Carla now serves as the Board President of Human Solutions. Based on her own experiences serving the community, Carla would say that public safety, education, economic development, and poverty are too often addressed separately, rather than as interconnected issues. Carla prefers a holistic approach to tackling these matters in East County and in Salem.

In 2014, Carla was elected to represent House District 50 in the Oregon Legislature. In her first term, Carla secured funding for education and afterschool programs for East County’s at-risk youth, worked with women veterans to create the state's first Oregon Women's Veteran Coordinator, and fought to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. She was sworn in for her second term in January of 2017, and hopes to protect education, serve East County’s young children and families, address affordable housing, and continue to improve public safety.

Carla has accomplished quite a bit, but she is most proud of raising a bright, kind, and intelligent daughter name Kate. Just like Carla, Kate graduated from Willamette in 2015 and is now a teacher in New Jersey, serving at-risk youth. When Kate is back in town, the two of them enjoy watching a musical together or catching a Portland Thorns game.

Just like us, Carla’s not one to shy away from rolling up her sleeves and getting to work. She is proud to call Gresham her home, and will continue to advocate for East County as our State Representative in Salem.

OCAPIA Statute

185.610 Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs; confirmation; term; officers; quorum; compensation and expenses
185.620 Duties
185.625 Additional duties

Public Records Requests (PRR)

The Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office (OACO) responds to requests for public records in the general way described in the Oregon Department of Administrative Services' (DAS) Public Records Requests policy (pdf).

The DAS Public Records Requests Fees and Charges policy outlines the fees the department charges for records, and the process the agency uses to fulfill requests.

Please choose one of the following methods to request public records from OACO:
1. Email your request to Lucy Baker, the Administrator of the OACO with "PRR" included in the subject line.

OR

2. Mail a written request to this address:

Oregon Advocacy Commissions Office

421 SW Oak St., Suite 770

Portland, OR 97204