Karen currently serves as Coordinator for the Justice Reinvestment Coalition at the Urban Strategies Council. With +5 years of experience in the non-profit sector, they worked with youth and young adults on college and career readiness with an emphasis on leadership and civic engagement. Karen collaborated with San Mateo County on outreach efforts for The 2020 Census, on voter engagement, and with The U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Covid-19 Vaccine Confidence in Youth and Families in marginalized communities. Karen’s organizational and project management skills make them proficient in executing and facilitating strategic program development in the community. 

 

Karen identifies as a queer artist, educator, and lifelong learner. In their free time, Karen serves as a Board Member for The Organization for Asian Pan American Advocacy (OCA), San Francisco Chapter where they support the development and implementation of educational and professional development activities in the Asian American community. 

 

Karen is the child of immigrant refugees from Laos, with family originating from Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, and mainland China. They earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from The University of Kansas, where they received the David Shulenburger Award for her active involvement in The Office of Multicultural Affairs.