Lead Filipino Meet and Greet
Last month, the Filipino American Community at Stanford (FACS) welcomed representatives from LEAD Filipino for an informal lunch at the School of Medicine. The gathering was a chance to connect across organizations, share values, and explore ways to build stronger community ties among Filipino Americans at Stanford and beyond.
LEAD Filipino, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a nonprofit based in San Jose dedicated to civic engagement, leadership development, and health equity in Filipina/x/o communities. Over the past decade, the organization has launched programs that foster civic participation and cultural pride, including its Awareness in Action civic engagement curriculum, the Fly Pinays Leadership Summit and Future Filipino Boards & Commissions Training for emerging leaders, the Queer Lakbay Summit uplifting LGBTQ+ Filipinx voices, health-focused initiatives such as the Kalusugan Health Advocacy Program and the FilAm Cancer Study in partnership with Stanford Cancer Institute. Together, these initiatives have positioned LEAD Filipino as a vital force in advancing civil discourse, advocacy, and equity for the community.
This fall, LEAD Filipino will mark its milestone year with a special 10th Anniversary Gala, “Live ⭐ Lead ⭐ Legacy: Weaving Our Futures Together.” The celebration will bring together community leaders, students, and advocates to honor the organization’s decade of service and to envision the work ahead. Those interested in learning more about LEAD Filipino’s programs or ways to get involved can visit leadfilipino.org.
During the lunch, FACS and LEAD Filipino members reflected on their shared missions and discussed future collaborations. Ideas included co-hosting educational workshops, engaging in health equity projects, and creating mentorship opportunities for emerging Filipino American leaders. The conversation was enriched by the presence of FACS leaders Ernesto Moya, Eunice Delumen, Lanelle Neumann, Melanie Biton II, and Curie Sevilla, together with LEAD Filipino’s leadership team led by Founder & CEO Dr. Angelica Cortez, Board Chair Dr. Jennifer Briscoe, Health Equity & Outreach Coordinator Marnelli Canosa, and Senior Program Manager & Lead Designer Camille Valerio, who shared insights about their ongoing programs and initiatives.
This meaningful gathering was made possible through the initiative of Rod Galindo, CAPE Simulation Lab Manager and Operations Specialist at Stanford Pediatrics – Neonatology and brother of Dr. Jennifer Briscoe, who first proposed the idea of bringing the two groups together. Thanks to his vision, the lunch became a space for connection, dialogue, and partnership.
FACS looks forward to building on this new relationship with LEAD Filipino, working together to uplift our shared community, amplify Filipino American voices, and create meaningful opportunities for connection and growth in the years ahead.
