GALA CO-CHAIRS
GALA CO-CHAIRS
CEO AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR
OAKLANDISH
A pioneering retailer of civic pride apparel based in Oakland, Oaklandish was the first company in the United States to launch mobile retail and has since continued to be a retail trailblazer setting business standards in social responsibility and community engagement. Oaklandish is a certified B Corp, and the Oaklandish mission prioritizes the good of the local community and the company’s employees over maximizing financial gain. With deep experience on both the East Bay scene and brand engagement, Angela has spearheaded many local projects, from indie shopping initiatives, branding for the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, tee designs for the Oakland Athletics and the Golden State Warriors, to numerous designs and websites for independent Oakland businesses. Oaklandish has made Fortune‘s Inner City 100 list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses for the last five years running, as well as the Inc. 5000 in 2015 and 2017.
PARTNER
LOH REALTY AND WELLINGTON PROPERTY COMPAN
Currently serving his second term as Board President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Rick da Silva has been actively involved in the Oakland civic and business communities for over 25 years. The son of Asian immigrants, Rick is a partner in his family’s two Oakland-based real estate companies, LOH Realty and Wellington Property Company, which own and manage a portfolio of commercial, multi-family, industrial and parking properties throughout the East Bay.
In addition to his role on the Advisory Council for the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Rick also serves on the Board of Girls, Inc. of Alameda County, the East Bay Regional Advisory Council for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area and the Friends of Lincoln Square Park Steering Committee.
HONOREES
COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 2
CITY OF OAKLAND
For two decades, Councilmember Nikki Fortunato Bas been an advocate for working people, leading the passage of policies in Oakland to create the building blocks for regional, state, and national change. A resident of District 2 for over 20 years and a lifelong community organizer, Councilmember Bas started out in Chinatown organizing Chinese immigrant garment workers to win their wages back. She also worked in coalitions to raise Oakland’s minimum wage with paid sick leave, create living wage jobs on the old Oakland Army Base, and reduce diesel truck pollution at the Port of Oakland.
COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT 4
CITY OF OAKLAND
Sheng Thao won a competitive seven-person race and is the first Hmong American woman to be elected to the City Council in the State of California and the first Hmong to be elected in the City of Oakland.
Sheng Thao is the daughter of Hmong refugee parents from Laos. Sheng was born and raised in Stockton and is the 7th of 10 children. As a single mother, Sheng put herself through college while working and raising her son. She graduated as Valedictorian from Merritt College and transferred to U.C. Berkeley, where she earned her degree in Legal Studies. During her time at U.C. Berkeley, she co-founded the Bear Pantry, a food access program for students with families who could not afford to buy healthy food.
Sheng has many years of experience on the Oakland City Council as a senior legislative staff member and as Chief of Staff. She managed multiple city budgets focused on balancing a transparent and responsible budget and found creative ways to fund public safety, transit, and capital improvement projects.
Sheng has been appointed by her colleagues to serve in a leadership position as the Chair of the Rules and Legislation Committee, and is a member of the Finance, Public Works, Education Partnership and City/Port Committees. Sheng has also been appointed to be a representative for the City of Oakland at the Alameda County Transportation Commission.
Sheng lives in the Laurel District and enjoys spending time with her 12-year-old son, Benedict, who is an avid classical cellist, they enjoy biking through Joaquin Miller Park in her District, and camping in the Stanislaus and El Dorado forests with her family.
EMCEE
KTSF
Mina Li is the Public Service Director, Producer and Host of Great Family and Business and Lifestyle at KTSF. She works with non-profit organizations and government agents in producing and screening Public Service Announcements, representing KTSF at events, and producing telethons. Mina was the President of Northern California Chinese Media Association (NCCMA) for 2011 and 2012, and is currently the Public Relations of NCCMA. In addition, Mina serves on Gum Moon Women’s Residence, Chinese Community Health Resource Center, and American Heart Association’s Chinese Cardiac Community Council as Board Member. In 2010, Mina was honored by the Chinese Consolidated Women’s Association and the Chinese Consolidated Family Association as an Outstanding Chinese American of the Year.
She has also emceed community and fundraising events for Miss Chinatown USA, San Francisco Chinatown Lions Club’s Teen Scholarship Charity Gala, US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, etc. Mina hosted and produced various TV programs at KPST 66, KCNS 38, CCTV and Beijing TV in the past. She earned her BA degree in Radio & Television from San Francisco State University.
AUCTIONEER
“HYPE MAN” OF THE WARRIORS
Franco Finn is best known as the “Warriors Hype Man” for the Golden State Warriors for more than 20,000 fans a night. He is also a Benefit Auctioneer Specialist/Professional Auctioneer who brings a high level of energy and excitement to galas and events for nonprofit organizations, including American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Stanford Medical Center, American Cancer Society, American Heart/Stroke Association, UCSF, and hundreds more.