Honoring 3 AAPI Community Activists

Dated 7.8.2021

We’re excited to share that three activists in our community—Lorenzo Listana, Muoi Huynh (known as Tammy), and Siu Cheung—were recognized with a Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as part of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! 

Lorenzo, Tammy, and Siu have been critical in amplifying the voices of AAPI communities in the Tenderloin and SOMA. Passionate about building language access, affordable housing, food security, and a safe environment, especially in the face of anti-Asian hate, their work has impacted countless TNDC and TL residents.

All three have been part of the TNDC community for at least a decade.

A Lead Community Organizer with TNDC, Lorenzo co-founded the Tenderloin Filipino Community Association ten years ago and more recently co-founded the Tenderloin People’s Congress. Appreciating the award's recognition, Lorenzo also acknowledged how the work comes from the wider AAPI and TL community.

I am grateful for [TL resident leaders] support and for their enthusiasm, and tenacity to create real change in our neighborhood."

Tammy is a dedicated Food Justice Leader with the TNDC Healthy Corner Store Coalition and a Food Distribution Coordinator in our Health & Wellness Program. Having worked at TNDC for 11 years, Tammy has been essential across numerous efforts, including voter registration and promoting the census. She has increased language equity by providing Chinese and Vietnamese interpretation and translation services at events, meetings, and for tenants during building renovations. 

Tammy and Siu were also core to the creation of the resident-driven TNDC Tenderloin People's Garden in March 2010.

Siu has been working with TNDC to tackle the nation's most pressing challenges since 2009, coming on board as an Activities Coordinator in 2010 and moving to Community Organizing in 2014. She has been instrumental in working with TNDC tenants and neighbors to start the Tenderloin Chinese Rights Association—which now has over 280 members!

All three organizers have the incredible skill of helping others find their own power and voice. Siu describes a time when she was reaching out to tenants in TNDC’s Alexander Residence and met a Chinese woman who always stayed in her room due to health issues. Siu was able to learn about the woman’s knowledge in farming and connect her to the Tenderloin People’s Garden, where she had the opportunity to give back to the community and significantly improve her health. 

The ability to recognize that we're all connected and have the power to build a more equitable future is key to Lorenzo, Tammy, and Siu’s work. We are thankful to have them on our team, and thankful that you’ve chosen to support their work as a member of the TNDC community. 

Photo Credit: Curtis Bradford