Executive Director

Huy joined Viet Voices after a team of volunteers came together to form the group with the intention of increasing civic engagement in the Vietnamese community.

Professionally, he used to work in the accounting field but left in 2020 to join the non-profit sector to do community organizing work full-time. When Viet Voices became a 501c3 non-profit in 2019, Huy served as President for 3 years and has now settled into the role of Executive Director.

Huy and his parents were the last people in his clan to migrate to the U.S. in 1990. After graduating from high school, he attended UCLA, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. He has lived in San Diego for almost 20 years and considered it his home.

Huy enjoys gardening, plants, arts, books, cooking vegan food at home, and playing with his two cats.

Chair

Dr. Minh Tuyen Le Mai is the academic research coordinator at UC San Diego. She creates and directs computer science and technology learning opportunities for teachers and students across the San Diego county, especially for those from low-income and underserved backgrounds.

She was born in Saigon and raised in Milwaukee, WI. She’s proud to establish her new roots in San Diego.

She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Vice Chair

Born and raised in San Jose, Jefferey set down his roots in San Diego after graduating from UC San Diego with a degree in Economics and a minor in Theatre. Through his work with the City of San Diego, Jefferey reconnected with his Vietnamese roots, where he sees deep similarities within the Vietnamese community of San Diego with the community he grew up in. He aims to see a Vietnamese community in San Diego as strong and prominent as in his childhood.

In his free time, Jefferey enjoys traveling, exercising, and finding the best dessert places.

Board Member

Alexander Nguyen is an Emmy award-winning journalist. He is currently the North County reporter for KPBS News.

In addition, he’s been on the boards of several community organizations, such as the Mira Mesa Town Council, Mira Mesa Theatre Guild, Vietnamese American Youth Alliance, and Asian American Journalists Association - San Diego Chapter.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in journalism innovation from Syracuse University.

Board Member

May Thach is a community organizer, international development learner and practitioner. She is a proud 1.5 generation Khmer-Krom American immigrant.

She has been involved with volunteering service since she was in the 7th grade, which eventually led her to serve in the Peace Corps in Zambia in 2015. Her time working in Zambia showed her the power of grassroots and community-led organizing.

May is currently the Organizing Manager of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) in Florida.

She holds a dual bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a master’s degree in International Development/Non-profit Management from UC San Diego.

Board Member

Liza is a Vietnamese-American personal development junkie, world citizen, and daughter. Born and grazed in Stockton, CA, the migratory hub of many Southeast Asian families, she has developed a passion for addressing the major social justice issues of our time: access to educational and economic opportunities and building healthy pipelines for underserved communities, all while preserving the beautiful earth that we’ve inherited.

Liza runs LNC Consulting, a civil rights policy and strategy firm. She also provides 1:1 coaching for individuals to live in alignment and joy with their values and goals. Prior to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Liza has worked in several industries, including startup management, the California legislature, and as a lobbyist for Asian Americans Advancing Justice – California, a non-profit partnership. Her lived experiences as a first-generation college graduate and small business owner have emphasized her love for living creatively and in service to others.

Consultant

Britt Pham has been supporting facilitation of Viet Voices events at the Mingei International Museum and continues to work with us as a consultant.

Britt is a first generation Vietnamese-Lao-American, a child of refugees, and a lover of all things disco. Their work lies at the intersection of healing, culture, and liberation work. As a facilitator, multidisciplinary artist, and much more, Britt guides people in slowing down, listening, and connecting the individual with the collective.

She holds a BFA in Recorded Music from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and is currently residing upon Kumeyaay land (known post-colonially as San Diego).

Advisory Board Member

Alexis Villanueva, MS is the Interim Executive Director of City Heights CDC. Alexis has 11+ years of workforce and business development experience. Alexis obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Chicano/a Studies from San Diego State University and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from National University. Alexis was raised in the City Heights community into the dynamic leader she is today. She currently serves on Board of Directors for Viet Voices, Mohuman, and Business for Good. She also serves the community by participating on the Advance Advisory Committee with Mission Driven Finance. The advisory committee makes a determination of future impact funding and how to contribute funding to communities that are historically underserved.

When she is not serving the community, she loves to travel, spend time with her family and dog, Mr. Darcy.

Community Organizer

Nicole grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and came to the Kumeyaay territory known as “San Diego” for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, Social Inequalities. They minored in General Education and Ethnic Studies. Nicole worked at the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) organizing renters in Imperial Beach for stronger protection laws against unfair no-fault evictions. They were involved in the first cohort of the Banana Leaves Fellowship in 2025 for community organizing. There, they have learned to build their first get-out-the-vote campaign for Prop 50.

Nicole is passionate to learn and practice solidarity, fighting for our collective liberation from connected systems of oppression. They have been tending to the compost and garden at the Mat Ichech Collective at Centro Cultural de La Raza located in Balboa Park. They love to DJ, mixing genres like Chicago House and Detroit Techno, and highlighting music rooted in Black culture and art. Other hobbies are going to the beach, reading, and gaming.

Community Organizer

Bio: Amy Huynh is a City Heights native who started working with VietVoices after graduating from UC San Diego with a BA in Psychology and minor in Public Service Specializing in Education. As a first generation student, she recognized the hurdles that prevented low-income and first generation students from accessing and pursuing higher education. She also recognized larger systems that contributed to these educational disparities that affect not just youth but their families and communities. Amy joined VietVoices as part of the first Banana Leaves Fellowship cohort, where they learned how to build a GOTV campaign. 

Using her lived and working experiences, she strives to become a community counselor who can serve the Vietnamese community and larger AAPI communities through a communal and decolonial lens. They hope to provide direct health services for the City Heights community while building a stronger community.

In her free time, Amy likes to explore new cafes, read, spend time with loved ones and take long naps with her cat Cheeseball.