MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
May
7, 2024
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the D istrict of Columbia
John A. Wilson
Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Ch
airman M endelson:
In accordance
with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142;
D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 305 of the Office of Asian and Pacific
Islander Affairs Establishment Act of 2001, effective October 3, 2001 (D.C. Law 14-28; D.C. Official
Code § 2-1374), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms. Sina Uipi
37th
Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
(Ward 3)
f
or reappointment as a publi c voting member of the Commission on Asian and Pacific I sland er
Community Development, for a term to end April 17, 2025.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor 1
2
3 at the request
of the Mayor
4
5
6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
7
8
9
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
11
12
13
14
15 To confirm the reappointment of Sina Uipi to the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander
16 Community Development.
17
18 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
19 resolution may
be cited as the "Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Community
20 Development Sina Uipi Confirmation Resolution
of 2024".
21 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
22
23 Ms. Sina Uipi
24 37th Street, NW
25 Washington, DC 20007
26 (Ward 3)
27
28 as a public voting member of the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Community
29 Development, established by section 305 of the Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
30 Establishment Act of 2001, effective October 3, 2001 (D.C. Law 14-28; D. C. Official Code§ 2-
31 1374), for a term to end April 17, 2025.
32 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
33 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
34 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately. SINA UIPI
CORE COMPETENCIES
–Coalition building, policy analysis, strategic planning, program development
and evaluation
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Policy Associate, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) July 2019 – Present
Washington, DC
–Managing national network for census work and voter registration with
regional/state and national partners.
–Working with National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) on
education, health, and immigration policy committees, as well as the civic
engagement and communications committees.
Senior Civil Rights Fellow, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates Dec 2017 – June 2019
Washington, DC
–Managed education and immigration policy portfolios. Co-managed
technology/telecommunications policy portfolio and national efforts for 2020
Census.
–Drafted statements, press releases, fact sheets, etc. Led 2 JACL/OCA
Leadership summits, 3 Affirmative Action convenings. Supported other
organizational events.
Community Liaison, Tongan Community Service Center Sept 2016 – Aug 2017
Los Angeles, CA
–Managed volunteers and coordinated food drive with LA Food Bank.
–Provided citizenship application assistance for naturalization for Tongan
permanent residents.
–Developed curriculum and co-led youth programs for college readiness.
Certified Enrollment Counselor, Empowering PI Communities Nov 2016 – Jan 2017
Los Angeles, CA
–Led outreach and education efforts to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
families for health insurance.
–Enrolled individuals and families in Medi-Cal or Covered California.
Project Specialist, API Forward Movement Sept 2014 – Aug 2016
Los Angeles, CA
–Led a youth development program with local Pacific Islander churches.
–Developed a Tongan based health curriculum. 2
–Organized with local markets to sell Pacific Islander foods.
–Worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation to create a walking trail
and Tongan translation for signage on workout equipment at Lenox Park.
–Worked with local elected officials to support health initiatives and develop
strategic community engagement.
Outreach Assistant, Tongan Community Service Center Jan 2014 – Apr 2014
Los Angeles, CA
–Led outreach and education on health disparities caused by smoking.
–Led a smoking sensation program for Pacific Islander young adults.
Data Collector, Claremont Graduate University Jul 2013 – Nov 2013
Claremont, CA
–Developed materials and coordinated coalition meetings.
–Led outreach and education on health disparities caused by smoking.
–Led a smoking sensation program for Pacific Islander young adults.
NRFU Enumerator, U.S. Census Bureau Apr 2010 – Jul 2010
San Francisco, CA
–Completed training on how to read and collect census data.
–Collected data from residents by going door to door to homes that did not
complete the census questionnaire by April 2, 2010.
Associate, Represent2Witness Aug 2008 – Aug 2009
Berkeley, CA
–Developed programs for high school and college youth and led outreach and
education efforts.
–Organized events and facilitated workshops for college program during the
year and high school program during the summer.
Residential Assistant, Represent2Wtiness [Summer] Jun 2005 – Jul 2008
Berkeley, CA
–Managed logistics, accommodation, transport, and developed programs for
high school youth.
–Served as a mentor to participants.
EDUCATION
San Francisco State University – San Francisco, CA – Political Science
–Minor in Women and Gender Studies & Counseling
–Groups/Organizations
oActive Minds
oLegal Resource Center
oPacific Islander’s Club
oProject Rebound
oThe SAFE Place 3
o Women’s Center
LEADERSHIP
– AFL-CIO Organizing Institute (Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance)
– Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum – Program Manager Training
Certification
– Asian Pacific Islander Women, Faith & Action
– Congressional Leaders Internship
– Emerging Leaders Program (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics)
– Empowering Pacific Islander Communities
– Environmental Justice Committee
– EPIC Navigators Task Force
– Global Fund for Women
– National Council of Asian Pacific Americans
– National Pacific American Leaders Institute
– Pacific Islander Health Partnership
– Pacific Islander Leaders Of Tomorrow Institute
– Women for Genuine Security
REFERENCES
Tavae Samuelu
Executive Director, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC)
Gregg Orton
National Director, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)
Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
Sina Uipi
Ms. Sina Uipi is the District of Columbia-based Policy Associate for
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC). In this role, Ms.
Uipi leads EPIC's national policy and advocacy efforts towards the
organization's mission to advance social justice and increase the
political power of NHPI communities. She is thrilled to bring greater
awareness to Pacific Islander needs at the national level.
EPIC is a new member of the National Council of Asian Pacific
Americans (NCAPA), which allows for Ms. Uipi to work on behalf of
both organizations as a joint effort. In her capacity at NCAPA, she
works with the education, health, and immigration policy committees,
as well as the civic engagement and communications committees.
Ms. Uipi was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, a community that has helped shape the
advocate she is today. She is the first generation Tongan- American daughter to her parents.
A Ward 3 resident, Ms. Uipi earned her Bachelor of Arts in P olitical Science from San Francisco
State University.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Tomas Talamante, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: April 30, 2024
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of Resolutions nominating Sina Uipi, Niranjan Adhikari,
Jennifer Anderson, Jennifer Hara, Karen Kwok, Jeffrey Le, Artisha Naidu,
Anesha Bhat, Halaevalu Vakalahi, Mike Park, Moh Sharma, Martha Watanabe,
and Yilin Zhang as members of the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander
Community Development
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced resolutions and
found them to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Erika Satterlee, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-
724-1303, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Cavendish