Meet the Team
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Co-Founder | Executive Director
Steph (she/her) is a 2nd-generation Pinay-American, & proud Mama—born & raised on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone Land (SF/Daly City) , and of Ilocano & Visayan decent. Her heartwork and hustle includes over 20 years of experience in health & human services, namely a community mental health advocacy background addressing health inequities amongst hxstorically marginalized populations. As Co-chair of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Mateo County and Expressive Arts Therapist, Stephanie leans on her belief in the transformative healing power of the arts, especially as it relates to her continuous decolonial healing journey. She is the co-founder/Senior Director of Kapwa Kultural Center/Café: a social enterprise cultural center in SF/Bay Area that aims to increase access to culturally attuned mental health support and provide an intergenerationally engaging, healing & creative, gathering space for the Filipina/o/x community.
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Co-Founder | Director of Operations
Christi (she/her/hers) is a proud Pinay & neurodivergent. She is also an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, who is passionate about helping others achieve wellness which is why she pursued a career in mental health after being a journalist for almost a decade. She wants to help community members break the cycle and heal wounds of unspoken intergenerational trauma. Born on occupied Karankawa Land (Corpus Christi, Texas) in 1977, she and her family moved to the Philippines in 1991, where she graduated from high school and studied at UP Los Banos for two years. Throughout this period, she recognized the legacy of colonialism, and its impact on her mental health and her family members. She splits her time between providing therapy to youth, co-creating KKC, and advocating for equitable mental health services for the Filipinx community as a Co-chair of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Mateo County. She is also a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor: training others to identify signs of mental health or substance use challenges and how to encourage folx to seek appropriate help.
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Kapwa Café Manager
Mindy brings a rich bicultural background to her work, identifying as a fifth-generation Chinese American San Franciscan and a second-generation Filipina American from Bicol. She holds a degree in Environmental Design and initially dedicated six years to the architectural field. Seeking a more fulfilling purpose, she transitioned to entrepreneurship, establishing Jade Chocolates. This internationally recognized company, inspired by her Chinese "paper son" grandfather, skillfully narrated the Asian American experience through its unique chocolates and confections. While she developed a strong cultural foundation in her Chinese American identity while growing up in San Francisco’s Richmond district, the closure of her business prompted her to actively pursue a deeper connection to her Filipino heritage. She eagerly joined Kapwa as the Café Manager, embracing the opportunity to immerse herself in her island culture and proudly uphold her cultural legacy through its offerings of food and drinks.
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Business Development Associate
BRIDGE Advisory
Building, Restoring, Innovating our Dedication to Generational Enrichment
The BRIDGE Advisory Group, established in 2018, is KKC’s community advisory team. It brings together members of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Mateo County, students, local business owners, educators, cultural organizations, health and wellness providers, and civic leaders.
Working side by side, this group ensures KKC stays rooted in community needs. By combining expertise, resources, and lived experiences, BRIDGE helps guide our programs and services to reflect the cultural, social, and linguistic strengths of our community.
Through regular collaboration and open communication, the group helps KKC remain a space where community members feel seen, supported, and empowered to engage in healing and growth.
Fernando Montanes, KAYA Wellness Ambassador 2023
“KAYA showed me the humanity and nurturing I didn’t know I needed — an open, vulnerable space that made me a stronger leader and advocate for my community.”
Justine Acosta, KAYA Wellness Ambassador 2023
“As a woman of color, as a Filipino woman, we’ve constantly been told that we are not allowed in such spaces. For me to be a part of the KAYA team shows how we are where we belong. We’re leaders and we’re capable of changing the world.”
KAYA ᜃᜌ
KApwa Youth Advisory
KAYA, established in 2021, is KKC’s Youth Advisory Board — created to ensure that young voices are at the center of our mission and vision.
With a core group of 8 members, KAYA provides input on programming, decision-making, and even café offerings and evaluation tools. They don’t just advise — they actively help bring ideas to life, from piloting youth programs to leading events and workshops.
Since 2022, KAYA members have been involved in leadership retreats, outreach efforts, organizing youth-focused seminars on entrepreneurship and skill-building and served as a peer support network.
Through KAYA, youth are not only shaping the future of KKC — they’re shaping the future of their community.