An estimated 47 million immigrants, from all backgrounds, reside in the United States, and Define American empowers diverse and nuanced storytelling about immigrants across mediums and industries through research, partnerships, and storyteller engagement. In a country founded on the freedom of movement, we help storytellers––from journalists, TV and film writers and producers, to social media influencers––humanize the immigrant experience, one story at a time.Define American was born on the day the New York Times Magazine published my essay, "My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant," on June 22, 2011.

The CSU is the largest four-year public university in the country; its 23 campuses and off-campus centers enroll nearly 500,000 students—among them thousands of immigrant students and students from immigrant families of all backgrounds. Serving as the first regularly appointed Trustee who is Filipino American; also the first regularly appointed Trustee who is an undocumented immigrant.

1587 Sneakers is the first sneaker brand founded by Asian Americans. The very name, 1587, is a nod to another first: 1587 is the year that the first Asians—Filipino sailors—set foot in what is now Morro Boy, California, underscoring the reality that people of Asian descent have been in the U.S. before there was a United States of America. Sneakers are a multibillion dollar business, yet sneaker companies do not market to Asian Americans. That changes with 1587s. This is by us, for us—and for everyone else who enjoys our diverse culture and loves comfortable and stylish kicks.

Created and launched two new verticals: Technology (September 2009) and College (February 2010); wrote a blog I called "Technology as Anthropology"; served as Senior Contributing Editor.

Covered video game culture, digital life, and HIV/AIDS in Washington, among other topics, for Style; covered the 2008 campaign, specifically technology's impact on politics, as a political reporter for the National desk and Style.

Sorted mail, delivered faxes, and supported the copy editing staff; organized the paper's contest entries; covered demographics as a full-time reporter for the city desk staff.