Early Life
Christy’s past informs her values of love and community care.
Though Chinese-Vietnamese refugees themselves new to the U.S., Christy’s family opened their home to those in need, and several members of Christy’s family pursued careers in the armed forces and first responders.
Even though Christy grew up living below the poverty line, through revolutionary love Christy’s family built a strong social safety net to support their community in all stages of life.
Christy knows and believes when all communities are seen and heard, we all thrive.
Labor Organizer
Christy walks the talk in fighting for fairness for everyday people.
While working full time in customer service and earning her Business Degree, Christy joined the local hospitality union, Unite HERE, and as one the youngest shop stewards, led the way for a unionized downtown San Jose, CA achieving a livable wage and maintained health benefits in Monterey, CA.
Christy is currently a dues-paying member of SEIU 2015 - the largest union for long term health providers.
Mama Bear & Community Advocate
Christy advocates for justice and belonging in every aspect of her life.
After having her son, Christy was selected to be on a post-partum advisory board and advocated for more equitable care for mothers of color, cluster after-birth care, and alternate methods of communication between staff and families.
As her son started school in 2021, she learned about gaps in immigrant resources (translating legal documents, navigating the system for support, finding food pantries, and dealing with being othered) and stepped up to help.
Christy has a proven track record leading community change for the historically marginalized, and practicing kindness in action.
She founded East Bay United Against Hate in 2021, a people-powered movement to stand up against hate by hosting multicultural celebrations, community closet drives, and being the trusted messengers for resources. Christy hosted the first Lunar New Year celebration in the city and school district. She also led as former PTA president for Shannon Elementary.
Christy also established the nonprofit, Lam-Julian Foundation, to support community-led initiatives through fiscal sponsorship, leadership development, and technical support, bridging the social safety net gaps for the people of Pinole and Contra Costa County.
Community Leader
Christy walks the talk of leadership in Pinole and the county, advocating for the interests of every day people.
Christy currently serves as an appointed Pinole Planning Commissioner, advocating for the community. As Planning Commissioner with the support of her fellow Commissioners, Christy successfully advocated for the ad-hoc Community Engagement Committee to add a 2nd Public Comment portion to increase equitable civic engagement, recommending ways the commission can be more public facing and transparent.
Christy currently serves on Contra Costa Women and Girls Commission advising the Board of Supervisors on issues impacting our communities. As Contra Costa Women and Girls Commissioner, with the support of her fellow Commissioners organized the inaugural SHEroes panel to celebrate women in our community who have HErStory made history.
Christy serves on the Contra Costa Developmental Disabilities Council advocating for those with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD). There, she successfully advocated for the first ever working group for school-aged children to focus on the issues for these children and families and create ways to help address these issues.
Christy advocates and co-leads through the Contra Costa Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition (AAPI). She is an alum of the Lift Up Contra Costa Justice Leadership 2024 cohort, the Barbara Jordan – Delores Huerta Fellowship, and New American Leaders - Ready to Lead Training®.
As the first Vietnamese-Chinese Commissioner in Pinole, Christy was appointed in 2022 to the Community Service Commission. She partnered with civic organizations to strengthen the social safety net.
Christy is a former Rotarian of Pinole Rotary, and served as Interact Advisor because she understands how life changing seeing someone who looks like her in a leadership position can be. She was named Rotarian of the Year and Rookie of the Year.
