About
Meet our Board of Directors
Pearl Wong (they/them), Vice President
Pearl Wong (they/them) is a social justice advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. They are a migrant living in “Vancouver”, on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəyəm, Skxwú7mesh, and səlilwətaʔɬ peoples. Pearl currently serves on the Board of Chinatown Today, co-chairs Lunar New Year For All (NYC), and co-founded the Vancouver Queer Lunar New Year group in 2024. Their organizing approach is shaped by their work in SF Dyke March (2012-2014), NYC Dyke March (2016-2019), and Q-Wave NYC (2017-2021).
陳安琪 Amanda Chiong (she/her), Treasurer
Amanda Chiong (she/her) is a Cantonese diasporic settler raised in so-called “Vancouver” on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəyəm, Skxwú7mesh, and səlilwətaʔɬ peoples. Amanda studied finance before pursuing a career in law, and is excited to combine her educational background and passion for community towards strengthening Chinatown Today’s financial sustainability.
Vicky Jiang (she/her), Social Media Lead
Jessica Hanzelkova (she/they), Editorial Lead
Jes (she/they) is a second-generation settler of Czech-Cantonese heritage. Raised within the Haldimand Tract on the traditional territories of the Neutral, Anishinaabe, and Haudenosaunee people, she now lives on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Jes works in architecture, is passionate about living heritage, and is a student in Cantonese Opera-style watersleeve dancing. She visits Chinatown often with her partner to pick up fresh veggies and herbal teas. She is excited to support Chinatown Today and all the diasporic stories and reconnection yet to come.
Cathy Xu (they/she), Project Lead
Cathy Xu (they/she) is a second-generation Chinese settler, living on traditional and stolen Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territories. They are an emerging multidisciplinary artist and writer with focuses on plant traditions and culinary storytelling, and a background in literature and Asian migration studies. They enjoy spending their time learning new skills at community workshops, exploring local public parks, and finding more food spots for their Google Maps collection.
陳永強 Russell Chiong (he/him), President
Russell Chiong (he/him) is a Cantonese diasporic settler residing on unceded xwməθkwəyəm, Skxwú7mesh, and səlilwətaʔɬ territories. Chinatown has shaped not only his family history, but his cultural identity as well. Russell is a lawyer specializing in Aboriginal and environmental law practices law, having studied environmental law at the University of Victoria, and environmental science and Asian-Canadian and Asian migration studies at UBC. Russell joined the Chinatown Today board of directors in 2020 as Treasurer, and is excited to continue building up Chinatown Today as its President.
Previous Board Members
Immense thanks to our previous board members for their hard work and dedication in leading Chinatown Today since its inception!
- Louis Lapprend, Founder
- Dominique Bautista
- Kimberley Wong
- Katrina Nguyen
- Emily Tso
- Amanda Wong
- Kaitlyn Fung
- Angela Ho
- Kelsey Lee
- Serene Mitchell
- Brooke Xiang
- Phebe Ferrer
- Lindsay Mercado
- Jenn Xu
- Alger Liang
- Tim Lam
- Dax Heaven
Accredits
We love Chinatown and we hope you do, too.
Many thanks to our translators, both locally and in different time zones, who have so generously shared their time and linguistic talents with us to provide translations of all our website content!
- Yule Ken Lum
- Joe Chou
- Mark Lee
- Wayne Hsu
Did we accidentally forget your name? Let us know!
If you would like to share a personal story, image, community event, or if you would like to join the team, please email us at info [at] chinatown.today


