Assemblymember Alex Lee Celebrates 2025 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Assemblymember Alex Lee celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by honoring 6 community leaders and an organization in Assembly District 24. The celebration was co-hosted by Milpitas Unified School District Board Member Robert Jung, and recognized the contributions of AAPI community members in the district. Assembly District 24 is the most Asian majority district in California, where AAPI community members account for roughly 60% of the population.
Honorees:
Leslie Marie Legacion Campos
Leslie Marie Legacion Campos is a music teacher at St. Victor Catholic School and the music director at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Leslie seeks to create a supportive and welcoming environment that encourages others to grow creatively and spiritually. She has been widely recognized for her leadership and heartfelt devotion to education and ministry.
Rachelle Currie
Rachelle Currie is the Senior Executive Assistant to the City Manager of Milpitas, and her efforts are foundational to the smooth operations of Milpitas. Rachelle’s tireless work for the city is wide-ranging, from planning staff events, drafting annual budgets, and managing the City Manager and Assistant City Manager’s complex calendars. During COVID, her collaboration with public health officials was crucial in keeping residents safe. Rachelle’s work in coordinating with community nonprofits has also been instrumental in providing quality services to our community’s most vulnerable members.
Afia Laiq
Afia Laiq has been devoted to serving our community and school districts. She has been a part of numerous PTAs including the North Valley Council of PTAs, Morrill Middle School PTA, and the Sixth District PTA. Afia has also offered valuable guidance on community developments as a Neighborhood Commissioner in San Jose. In 2018, she was honored as a “Community Honoree” by the Mayor of San Jose for her contributions to our community.
Joy Kippum Lee
Joy Kippum Lee is a senior at Newark Memorial High School who is actively involved in community service, athletics, and civic engagement. She has served on the Newark Unified School District Board as Student Board Member for two terms. Joy is also an active volunteer in her community, volunteering at the yearly Blood Drive and Special Olympics. She often represents Newark Memorial High School while competing in Varsity Girls Tennis, Track & Field, and Badminton. She is also the President of the Environment Club, the Co-President of the Interact Club, and often performs with the Filipino Student Union.
Tonichi Lorenzana
Tonichi Lorenzana is an educator who has spent his entire eleven-year teaching career in the Milpitas Unified School District. He currently serves as an English teacher and the English department Co-Chair at Milpitas High School. Outside of the classroom, Tonichi supports his students as the advisor for several student clubs including the Teen Way, the Southeast Asian Student Association, and the Pilipino United Student Organization.
Swati Shah
Swati Shah serves as a Business Development Executive at SourceIN, where she leads efforts to expand their presence across Northern California. Over the past 15+ years, she’s worked in the fields of business and nonprofit. In 2014, she co-founded Bay Area Gurukul — an afterschool learning center offering academic support and cultural enrichment for children. Swati is also the Co-President of the Milpitas Community Education Foundation, where she helps run the Milpitas Unified School District’s annual STEAM Showcase.
Ismaili Council’s Academic Coaching Program (ACP) Volunteers
The Ismaili Council’s Academic Coaching Program (ACP) has transformed the lives of newly arrived Afghan students in our community by providing them with academic support and closing the educational gap. ACP’s dedicated team of volunteer coaches, tutors, and mentors work one-on-one with students to ensure their success in pursuing higher education.