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June 16, 2006
Dear supporters, volunteers, partners, and friends of the
agency:
After having the privilege of serving our communities as Asian
& Pacific Islander Wellness Center’s executive director
for the last 10 years, I’ve decided to leave this position
as of October 20. While I don’t yet have my immediate
next steps laid out, I’m looking forward to explore
other passions and to continue my social justice work in new
ways.
As we enter our 20th Year, A&PI Wellness Center, the oldest
and largest organization of its kind in North America, remains
a strong community institution, our mission as relevant as
ever to a rapidly evolving epidemic. I’m fiercely proud
of our ongoing local, regional, statewide and national impact
in fighting HIV-related stigma, influencing public policy,
and most importantly, focusing on the wellness of A&PIs
living with, or at-risk for, HIV/AIDS and their families.
I’m confident that this work will continue to grow and
innovate under the agency’s future leadership.
A joint board-staff Transition Committee, led by Board Chair,
Jan Masaoka, will work to identify the next executive director.
As this process unfolds, you can count on us to ensure the
continuity of our high quality services and maintain the organization’s
programmatic and financial strength.
I will miss working day to day with and learning from all
of my very talented staff and board colleagues. And I know
that between our visionary Organizational Leadership Team
– Deputy Director Lance Toma, Director of HIV Care Services
Rachel Matillano, Director of Research & Technical Assistance
Lina Sheth, Director of Health Education Max Rocha, Director
of Human Resources Laverne Matias, and Director of Finance
Rob Pascual – together with a committed and generous
board led by Jan and fellow Officers Stephen Huey, Galen Leung,
Mike Rabanal and Cecilia Chung, the agency is in extraordinarily
capable hands.
It’s been a humbling and fortifying journey since my
first assignment as an AIDS hotline volunteer in 1985. In
2006, as a gay man of color, I am grateful to still be alive,
and I can’t begin to convey here how transformative
an experience my time at A&PI Wellness Center has been.
But it doesn’t end here. There is much to do in the
next few months, through our 20th Year and beyond. Thank you
for walking this journey with me.
In solidarity,
John
John Manzon-Santos
Executive Director
December 2003
For 17 years, we have demonstrated national leadership in
articulating the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis on A&PI
communities in the U.S. Our programs fill critical gaps in
HIV care, treatment and prevention that have been recognized
and replicated across the country; our programs benefit individuals,
families, and communities regardless of immigration status
or ability to pay; our programs embrace sex as a healthy form
of communication and expression.
How we do our work is as important as what we accomplish.
We are guided by justice and compassion.
We strive to create safe community spaces to express what
we feel, identify what we need, and be who we are, in all
our human complexities.
We strive to meet the needs of people who are often distanced
from family. We help individuals forge new relationships with
both families of origin and chosen families, which are built
on trust, respect and caring.
We strive to promote wellness—not just prevent illness—as
our primary goal and our core value.
We thank all of you for your interest, investment, partnership
and friendship over the last 17 years.
John Manzon-Santos
Executive Director
Welmín Militante
Chair, Board of Directors |
