NBC Bay Area, in partnership with Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), salutes our Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Honorees:
Angelica Cortez
Angelica Cortez is the Founder of the volunteer-led LEAD Filipino program. She is a rising Filipina community leader that has mobilized the Filipino community to become engaged in civic leadership, social justice and public service, while still promoting and sharing Filipino culture. Her recent efforts have included hosting a voter outreach and engagement called Iboto Pilipino (Vote Filipino) and a well-attended Fly Pinay Summit that aimed to empower Filipinas from different work sectors.
Johnny Gogo
Johnny is a Deputy District Attorney for Santa Clara County. Committed to help others and improve the community, he works as a community prosecutor by working with parents, children, and the community in order to keep people out of the courts. As the President of the Northern California Region of the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutors Association he invests into the next generation of API prosecutors and judges. Johnny can be constantly seen around the community working to make our community stronger and healthier.
Sherry Hirota
Sherry Hirota is the Chief Executive Officer for Asian Health Services in Oakland, California. She is a fierce advocate for the health needs of Asian Americans and for grassroots efforts to ensure health care for all. While running a non-profit health clinic that serves anyone regardless of their ability to pay, under her leadership they have successfully championed the health and well-being of nail salon workers, the disaggregation of Asian American demographic data, and the rights of cosmetology workers. From grassroots organizer to CEO, Sherry remains a steadfast leader in the fight to ensure health care access for all.
Brian Wo
Brian is the Co-Founder of the Bay Area Anti-Trafficking Coalition. He was part of the coalition that trained countless airline and airport employees, restaurant and hotel workers, and other individuals to spot and report human trafficking during Super Bowl 50. From producing the largest anti-trafficking summit at Levi Stadium last year to conducting educational awareness workshops to churches, schools, and communities, Brian is committed to ensuring that human trafficking does not occur in our backyard.
