Asian Americans and the Democratic Process

Mable F. Yee

Mable F. Yee is an entrepreneur, filmmaker, activist and organizer. Her documentary "Engage Her: Getting Minority Women to Lead and Vote" highlights why a large percentage of multicultural women failed to vote in the 2004 election. Mable is the founder and CEO of EngageHer.org, an organization that educates and empowers multicultural women on how to mobilize politically, which will have its first Multicultural Women's Leadership Conference in April. Mable is also a cofounder of the Asian Business League in San Francisco, a member of Progressive Women's Voices at the Women's Media Center, and a member of the Shesource.org media expert community.



Brian Wang

Brian began his legal career as a plaintiff side civil rights attorney at Minami Tamaki LLP, where he worked as a summer associate in 2005. He is currently employed as corporate counsel for Next Internet, an internet incubator in San Francisco.

Brian currently serves on the Hastings Alumni Board of Governors and as a Co-Chair of the Community Services Committee for the Asian American Bar Association. In 2008, Brian was also honored to serve as an elected Delegate for Barack Obama, representing San Francisco at the Democratic National Convention.

Brian's leadership experience began at UC Irvine, as a resident advisor, summer orientation counselor, and founder of the school's first multicultural performance troupe. He was also a columnist and photographer for the school newspaper. During college, Brian worked part-time as a tutor for children with autism, as a counselor for formerly incarcerated people afflicted with HIV, and as a life skills coach for adults with mental and developmental disabilities.

Upon graduation, Brian served as Head Counselor for the Chinese Youth Leadership Camp in Dallas. He also worked for a year as Program Coordinator for an English-Language boarding school in Shanghai, where he recruited and trained instructors and counselors. Brian also developed the ESL curriculum for an after-school program in Los Angeles and has taught several classes in China and the U.S. ranging in size from 15 to 100 students.

At UC Hastings, Brian resumed his extracurricular activities as President of the APA Law Students Association (APALSA) and the Associated Student Body (ASUCH). He was also editor of the Hastings Independent newsmagazine, and a volunteer for the Asian Law Caucus and Hastings Tenderloin Tutoring Program.

An avid actor, Brian has performed onstage with artists from Asian American Theater Company (AATC), Bindlestiff, and Lodestone.


Rob Bonta

Rob Bonta is a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney's Office and serves in elected office as a member of the City of Alameda Health Care District Board. He is the Board President of the Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County where he has actively worked to (1) increase civic engagement within the API community, (2) influence Democratic policy on issues of importance to Asian communities, and (3) promote Asian Americans for electoral office and leadership positions within the Democratic Party. He also serves as the Co-President of the City of Alameda Democratic Club and is on the board of directors of Filipinos for Affirmative Action.