We are Leadership, Education, Activism and Dialogue (L.E.A.D) Filipino (Inc.) is an incorporated charitable nonprofit cultural and educational organization driven by the hearts of students, adults and families out of San Jose, California.
Since 2015, we have organized at the intersection of civic innovation, culturally responsive education, grassroots leadership development and local economic development efforts. Rooted in our mission to increase the representation of FilAms in public leadership, we create an environment for our members to engage in community-based campaigns, local cultural and educational programming, and statewide civil and human rights efforts.
From curating Filipino cultural events and programs in San Jose to forming strong partnerships across California, we advance issues of civil rights, social justice and economic empowerment for FilAm communities. Through our involvement with the Filipinx Igniting Engagement for Reimagining Collective Empowerment (FIERCE) Coalition, we cultivate statewide frameworks for FilAm communities to engage in social issues around ethnic studies, housing and affordability, mental and behavioral health, and public safety. Each year, we serve thousands of community members locally, regionally and statewide.
Our Focus Areas:
Civic Engagement
We work to increase the civic literacy of our community so that they hold the confidence to see themselves serving in public leadership. Through hosting regular workshops, we aim to democratize government and civic spaces by educating our members on Public Commissions and Boards, Grassroots Campaigns, Legislative Advocacy and Elected Office.
Culturally Responsive Education
We recognize that at a population of ~1.5 million, the Filipina/x/o community’s collective impact to enact positivity and influence is great. We work to curate, cultivate, and create empowerment opportunities for all of our members. We believe that everyone should have a basis of understanding of their community’s shared identity, history, and contributions to the American tapestry. Evidence supports that a sense of one’s ethnic and racial history deepens their self-confidence, self-empowerment, and furthermore connection to leadership in our celebration of diversity and multiculturalism. Due to these guiding values, Cultural Education/Filipino Studies is one of LEAD Filipino’s major program areas. These services include our Annual Fly Pinays Leadership Summit and Spring Training.
Community Health Initiatives
We provide regular community health presentations, workshops and seminars on relevant issues to the Filipina/x/o community, including sessions on Accessing Public Systems of Care, Mental and Behavioral Health and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
Grassroots Campaigns & Leadership
We build and manage local and grassroots grassroots campaigns on issues of social wellbeing, civil rights, education and public safety. Involving our members in the coalition building, messaging and interaction with the public, we aim to deepen the capacity and confidence of our students and families to drive our mission forward.
Local Activation
We organize together with partners to bring local Filipino history, arts and cultural events to San Jose and the larger Silicon Valley Region. Every October, during Filipino American History Month (FAHM), we help produce a series of San Jose events that promote our Filipino culture, food, history and traditions to the general public.
Our Values:
We steward, raise, and promote our work through the guiding values of Social Justice. These values inform and shape our ethos, hearts, and minds, which thereby influences our programs, services, and the initiatives we participate in:
- Access
- Equity
- Participation
- Human Dignity
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