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Tina Tran (She/They) is the Human Resources Manager at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois, bringing a deep commitment to community empowerment and equity in the workplace. As an attorney by trade and the child of Vietnamese refugees who resettled in the U.S. in the 1970s, Tina approaches their work with a strong sense of purpose and lived understanding. She has supported underrepresented communities and partnered with non-profit and legal-aid organizations to build inclusive systems that honor cultural identity and resilience. Tina is especially motivated by the strength of refugees and immigrants, and brings a trauma-informed, culturally responsive lens to their HR leadership. At VAI, they're excited to strengthen internal systems that support the team’s wellbeing and growth. Outside of work, you can find Tina exploring Chicago’s restaurant and coffee-shop scene with family and friends, or at home snuggled on the couch in the comfiest of robes.

Seah (they use all pronouns) is a Building Maintenance Coordinator at the VAI. In 2022, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in visual arts from Columbia College Chicago with academic honors. Since then, they have worked in predominantly physical labor positions as a mover, composter, and art handler. They balance their day job with their passion for creativity by drawing energy and motivation from their hobbies. He enjoys tattooing, playing punk music with his band, and making performance art inspired by his dedication to sociopolitical activism, striving for freedom of all people to live well without harassment for their identities.

Hau Tran (He/Him) is a Case Manager for the Community Care Program of the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.
He was born in Vietnam and moved to the United States with his family in 1990.
His family missed the connecting flight to California from Vietnam and have lived in the Chicago/ O'Hare area ever since.
After serving in the military, he received his Bachelors in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
After taking care of his own elderly father and mother, he is now passionate about helping the generation of Vietnamese
that, like his own parents, left everything behind to make a better life for their children.

musa bouderdaben (he/him) is a Homecare Case Manager at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

He has been working with Chicago community-based organizations since the beginning of his undergraduate experience at the University of Chicago. A second-generation Algerian-American, he is Amazigh and is fascinated by language and cross-cultural communication. He loves art, justice, and swimming. In the summer, he can often be found floating in Lake Michigan. In the winter, he can be found dreaming about floating in Lake Michigan.

Sondra Ortiz (they/them) is the Youth Program Coordinator at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

Sondra has been involved in education for over a decade, working with underserved communities. Before joining VAI, they served as the director of community relations at a Montessori school, which significantly shaped their desire to establish a school with a liberatory approach. Sondra is passionate about creating deep connections with families and emphasizes the importance of respecting young people. Having grown up on the west side of Chicago, Sondra dreams of revitalizing the hood. They have also worked as a health educator, supporting teen parents, and have experience running programs for teenagers. In their free time, Sondra enjoys playing board games with their two children and singing karaoke.

Jenna Pollock (she/her) is the Director of Finance and Operations at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois. Social justice oriented throughout her career, Jenna previously worked in refugee resettlement and community health, before attending law school to enhance her skills as an advocate. As an attorney, Jenna represented detained immigrants in removal proceedings through her work with RAICES, the National Immigrant Justice Center, and RIAN. She is a graduate of Agnes Scott College, Northeastern University School of Law, and SOAS, University of London. In her spare time, Jenna enjoys quilting, gardening, and helping to lead services at her synagogue.

Linh Vo (she/her) is a Billing Coordinator at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

She moved to the United States in 2013 and graduated from NEIU with a bachelor's degree in accounting major in 2018. She worked as an Accountant at Swedish Hospital for 5 years before joining VAI. She is actively dedicated to research and working with autism kids. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Carolina J Gallo Caro (she/her) is the Homecare Manager at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

A graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago-UIC department of Latin American Latino Studies and Urban Planning. She is an immigrant from Mexico who grew up in Chicago. She has been providing direct services and organizing with immigrant communities for over 10 years. She is also the 40-Hour domestic violence trainer at the Network. Previously she led the Client Support Department (social work) department at a gender-based violence legal aid in the city. A member of the Shriver Center’s Community Advisory Board. Caro comes from a community organizing background and loves to read and make ceramics.

Ana Martinez (she/her) is a Community Organizer at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

Prior to her entry as staff, Ana worked with VAI as an intern through Global Asian Studies (GLAS) Off Campus Internship program at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Throughout her time at UIC, Ana was involved in student activism and was a part of the Global Asian Studies Student Board from 2022-2023. Ana is a double major in Anthropology and Global Asian Studies with a minor in Latin American and Latino Studies. She graduated from UIC in the spring of 2023 and holds a Bachelor of Arts. She can speak English, Spanish, and Korean and uses her knowledge on various languages to create interracial solidarity within different communities through her work in the Community Organizing and Immigration team.

Siyuan Ye (he/him) is the Building Maintenance Coordinator at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois. He is responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of the Chicago office. He was previously a volunteer with the organization. He joined VAI in 2023.

Elí Colón (he/him) is a Youth Program Coordinator at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology with minors in Spanish and Studio Art. Formerly a curatorial fellow at the Art Institute of Chicago and a tutor at Chicago Public Schools, Elí is passionate about helping young people from marginalized groups unlock their creativity and power. As a second-generation Salvadoran-American, Elí believes that only active solidarity with all diasporic immigrant communities will create a better future. In his free time, he enjoys making ceramics and zines, playing guitar with his band, gaming, and attending drag shows.

Duyen Tran (she/her) is an Administrative Assistant at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois. She is a friendly, sociable person who enjoys connecting with new faces. She regularly works in the front-desk office, assisting community members to appropriate services that VAI performs. Apart from day-to-day clerical operations and organizational tasks that she supports, she helps translate documents from English to target language and ensure all translations adhere to VAI policies, regulations and procedures. She has experiences in translation services when she received her Bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpretation in Vietnam and then earned a Master of Education at Depaul University in Chicago. Outside of work, she enjoys having a leisurely nature walk, biking with her 18-month-old son around Chicago and attending public performances with her loved family members.