2020 IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans Cohort Profiles
Given the current public health situation, the group conducted their orientation in a virtual format from June 1-5, and interned remotely for their respective organizations throughout the Summer.
Isabelle Belleza
Isabelle Belleza is a rising senior at Brown University, majoring in Public Policy with interests in urban policy and Asian American issues. On campus, she serves as the social chair for Filipino Alliance and is a leader of the Southeast Asian Studies Initiative, a student organization campaigning the university for increased academic representation of Southeast Asia and its diasporas. She is also interested in international affairs, and currently co-hosts the Asia Unscripted podcast series for the US-Asia Institute.
Program Placement: US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC)
Clarissa Cabil
Clarissa Cabil is a second-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), majoring in the highly selective Bachelor of Science Nursing Prelicensure program. Clarissa was also hired as a Research Assistant in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Clarissa is deeply passionate about advocacy and hopes to improve the healthcare system in her community and around the world by increasing access to medicine for underrepresented and overlooked communities.
Program Placement: Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project
Shekinah Deocares
Shekinah Deocares is a graduate of California Polytechnic University-San Luis Obispo where she received a B.A. in Political science with a minor in Ethics, Public Policy, Science, and Technology. There, her involvement in Mock Trial and Phi Alpha Delta developed her interest in law. After graduating, she moved back to Los Angeles, where she was born and raised, to do Asian American Pacific Islander advocacy work at the City of Los Angeles and local non-profit, Pilipino Workers Center. Her work has further developed her interest in labor rights, language access, voter empowerment, and youth advocacy.
Program Placement: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA 28)
Tiffany Garnace
Tiffany Garnace is an Atlanta native who obtained her degrees in BS in Psychology and a BA in Anthropology. While in college, she served as social coordinator of the Filipino Student Association (FSA) where she educated on the Filipino-American experience. Tiffany also volunteered in after school programs geared towards the immigrant and low-income community in Athens, Georgia. Tiffany serves with City Year Jacksonville in Florida as an Americorps Member where she teaches at an elementary school in the Urban Core, and is a student success coach for 4th grade ELA and Mathematics. Tiffany is a part of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and serves as the Florida Secretary for the state chapter. Tiffany’s career aspiration is in immigration law.
Program Placement: OCA Asian American Advocates
Kathleen Mallari
Kathleen Mallari is a graduating Senior from Cedar Crest College, majoring in Global Studies and triple minoring in Political Science, Religious Studies, and Biology. Kathleen has been recognized for these achievements by receiving the Outstanding Student Involvement Award for 2019 and the Susan Everitt Hudgins Prize for academic excellence and leadership in 2018. Kathleen has served as Class President for four consecutive years and serves as the founding President of the College’s first pan-Asian student organization. Kathleen is a first-generation college student and aspires to become a Foreign Service officer.
Program Placement: Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL)
Sam Solemnidad
Sam Solemnidad is a second year at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) double majoring in Political Science and Asian American Studies. At UCLA, she is an active member on campus where she has been involved in leadership for organizations like Samahang Pilipino (UCLA’s Pilipino cultural organization) as well as student government. Sam is passionate about politics and government and has done work at and outside of UCLA to further her passion, for example, working at an internship in LA Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office. Having spent her whole life living in California, first growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area then moving to LA, Sam is excited to broaden her horizons in Washington DC and gain an understanding of government on a federal and even an international level.
Program Placement: Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)
The IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans is made possible by a generous donation in honor of Mario Young, father of our Chairman Emeritus Marlon Young.
