ABOUT US
a community organization serving Asian and Pacific Islanders in Memphis &
West Tennessee
who we are
SunAh Laybourn
SunAh Laybourn is a Memphian by way of adoption from Korea. She has a PhD in sociology, but she doesn't just study the world around us, she seeks to create opportunities for folks to build meaningful relationships so that our community is one where everyone is seen, heard, valued, and thriving. In her spare time, SunAh enjoys a good cup of coffee, French croissants, and tending to her plants.
Randy Truong
Randy Truong is a lifelong Memphian with a background in advocacy, youth development, and local philanthropy. They work closely with nonprofits to connect them with resources that drive community impact. Outside of work, Randy enjoys exploring Memphis, spending time with their cat, Lina, and diving into niche topics on YouTube.
Maria Bui
Born and raised in Memphis, TN, Maria Bui is a Vietnamese American whose passion lies in philanthropy and community outreach. She strives to utilize her skills and lived experiences to address inequities and create opportunities that empower others and strengthen communities. In her free time, she enjoys painting, supporting local restaurants, and going on adventures with her dog, Pluto.
joseph gutierrez, executive director
Joseph is the founding executive director of API Tennessee. He is originally from Southern California and moved to Nashville in 2014. Before running API Tennessee, joseph spent time as an English teacher and worked for different education-focused nonprofit organizations. E-mail joseph at joseph@apitennessee.org.
What is API?
Asian and Pacific Islanders
We recognize that there are different terms -- none of them perfect -- that are used to encompass the multitude of Asian and Pacific Islander identities. While not everyone may identify using this term, when we use API, we refer to people with ties to the geographic regions of East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia (the Indian Subcontinent), and the Pacific Islands.
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