View our sponsorship packet and select the package that aligns best with your needs! Contact our team for more information.
The deadline for sponsorship acknowledgement is June 30th, 2026.
SCHEDULE AND PROGRAMMING
2026 HONOREES
INDIVIDUAL AWARD
HEIDI CHARGUALAF-QUENGA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT
KUTTURAN CHAMORU
Heidi Quenga is a proud CHamoru cultural advocate and tenured Executive Director of the Kutturan CHamoru Foundation. A graduate of San Francisco State University, she has led numerous cultural and educational initiatives, including founding the Kutturan CHamoru Foundation.
-
Heidi has been bestowed the title of Fafa’någue for her dedication as a CHamoru cultural practitioner, a title less than a handful have been given from the Continental US. Her work spans the arts, health, and community engagement, with leadership roles in several Pacific Islander organizations across the U.S.
COMMUNITY AWARD
SOUTH ASIAN NETWORK (SAN)
ACCEPTANCE | HINA AHMAD, DEPUTY DIRECTOR
South Asian Network (SAN) is a 36-year-old community-rooted organization advancing the health, emotional, and mental well-being, and civil rights of South Asians in Southern California.
-
SAN believes in self-sustaining communities who actively raise their voices, take leadership and challenge social injustices. We provide culturally competent direct services, education/outreach, and advocacy for the underserved immigrant community. Our programs include immigration legal services, civic engagement, Know Your Rights education, voter registration, public benefits application assistance, gender-based violence case management, mental health therapy, small business support, health fairs, and youth and senior programs. Our work centers dignity, cultural understanding, and long-term relationships.
ABOUT HINA AHMAD
Hina Ahmad is the Deputy Director of the South Asian Network (SAN), where she is dedicated to strengthening and uplifting South Asian communities across Southern California. She began her journey with SAN as a volunteer in 2016 and has since grown into a senior leadership role, overseeing organizational strategy, grant development, partnerships, and long-term vision. Hina leads SAN’s grant writing and financial reporting, securing and managing funding from public and private sources to sustain and expand SAN’s programs. She has been instrumental in rebuilding SAN’s infrastructure post-pandemic, significantly increasing its budget, expanding staff, and strengthening internal systems. At the core of her work is a deep commitment to ensuring South Asian families feel seen, supported, and connected to the resources they need to thrive.
DAVID R. BARCLAY ALUMNI AWARD
SEYRON FOO
CHIEF ENGAGEMENT AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS OFFICER
LOS ANGELES COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS AGENCY
Seyron Foo (LEAP LIA'08) has spent his career at the intersection of philanthropy, government, and the nonprofit sector, connecting people and ideas to achieve better outcomes for communities in Los Angeles.
-
He currently serves as Chief Engagement and Intergovernmental Relations Officer at the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), where he oversees the agency's technical assistance grantmaking, regional partnerships, and intergovernmental relations in support of expanding affordable housing production and preservation, renter protection, and homelessness prevention across the county.
MARGARET ASHIDA LEADERSHIP AWARDS
NIRA SINGH, PSY.D
CLINICAL DIRECTOR
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND WELLNESS CENTER OF AURORA MENTAL HEALTH AND RECOVERY
Nira Singh, PsyD, Clinical Director of the Cultural Development and Wellness Center (CDWC) of Aurora Mental Health and Recovery (AMHR), is a second generation, South Asian, licensed psychologist, health equity advocate and behavioral health leader.
-
Dr. Singh has served for over 33 years in community based, non-profit settings, working with and advocating for underserved and marginalized populations with a strong focus on programs for immigrant and refugee populations. She began her career in Colorado, in the field of domestic violence in shelter settings, experiencing and addressing barriers to needed services. She has worked within agencies and on several coalitions to address cultural responsiveness and humility in the training of service providers and models of service delivery and has been involved in developing and implementing trauma informed and strengths-based services at various agencies in Colorado and the California Bay Area. She has served as the Director of Behavioral Health and member of the Executive Leadership at Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), Director of Children Youth and Family Services at Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS) and as the Director of Refugee Foster Care Services at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County (CCSCC), where she also developed client councils to inform services and lift the voices of community members. She has served as Adjunct Faculty at CSPP-Alameda, as faculty for RAMS Peer Certificate program, as a dissertation committee member, and has enjoyed teaching, supervising and mentoring multidisciplinary providers and teams for the last 20 years.
Dr. Singh is an alumna of the American Psychological Association (APA) accredited National Asian American Psychology Training Center and has served as both faculty and Director of APA internship programs. She is also a Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) and Leadership Education for Asian Pacific (LEAP) alumna. She has worked to develop and lead comprehensive, collaborative, and integrated services that serve the whole health needs of diverse community members and recognize the many paths to wellness that honor cultural beliefs. She has served on key committees and forums at the local, state, national and international levels such as Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Contractors Association, California Behavioral Health Association, SAMHSA’s Office of Behavioral Health Equity to develop a more culturally and linguistically responsive 988 program, the White House Initiative On Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Behavioral Health Convenings, and International Asian Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Conferences.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
PRESENTING SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
WORKSHOP SPONSOR
IN-KIND SPONSORS
COMMUNITY TABLE SPONSOR
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
This website will be updated regularly with relevant information, so be sure to check back for updates!
We highly encourage individuals to begin booking travel. Our venue will be in the Little Tokyo, Los Angeles community, and we are thrilled to share further details with you soon. Check-in on day one will start at 8:30am and LEC 2026 will end with a celebratory gala on day two.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
EVENT BASICS
-
Your registration includes access to all Leadership Experience sessions, workshops, and the Celebration Gala.
-
Yes, tickets are transferable. Please reach out to Celine Hoang at choang@leap.org for assistance with transferring your registration.
-
All registrations are final and non-refundable. We are unable to offer refunds or cancellations for this event. If you are unable to attend, your registration may be converted into a tax-deductible contribution to support LEAP’s programs. We appreciate your understanding, as commitments made for this event directly support program planning and community impact.
-
A detailed program guide will be shared with attendees closer to the event date to help you navigate sessions and plan your experience.
-
To foster a safe and engaging environment where participants feel comfortable sharing openly, sessions will not be recorded or distributed after the event.
-
Yes. By attending the event, you consent to being photographed and recorded for promotional and documentation purposes.
-
Yes, meals and refreshments are included with your registration and will be available throughout the event. Registration ticket includes:
July 15: lunch buffet and light reception; assorted hot tea and brewed coffee throughout the day
July 16: brunch buffet and plated dinner; assorted hot tea and brewed coffee throughout the day
-
The recommended dress code is business smart. Please note that daytime temperatures may be warm, while meeting rooms can vary in temperature. The Celebration Gala will be held indoors.
HOTEL & TRANSPORTATION
-
Yes, a discounted room block is available for attendees. You can access the booking link here.
-
The deadline to reserve a room at the discounted rate is July 8, 2026.
-
Self-parking is available at the hotel starting at $25 plus tax. Additional parking details will be shared closer to the event.
-
Yes, Los Angeles offers a comprehensive and expanding public transportation system. For routes and planning, please visit the LA Metro System Maps.
VENUE
-
LEAP has been headquartered in the beautiful and culturally-rich neighborhood of Little Tokyo, Los Angeles since our founding in 1982. As such, we have a commitment to supporting the thriving community here, full of museums, public-service centers, and small businesses. Historically known as the Kyoto Grand, this hotel is located at the heart of the Little Tokyo district. This is our backyard, and we couldn’t think of a better place to celebrate LEAP’s achievements in the place where we found belonging and community!
-
Hosting LEC in Little Tokyo is a deliberate choice that reflects LEAP’s commitment to the community. By gathering here, we support local businesses and contribute to the neighborhood’s continued vibrancy and economic vitality. Attendees will also have opportunities to explore and engage with Little Tokyo, making the event not just in the community, but connected to it.
-
Attendees can continue supporting Little Tokyo by visiting and patronizing local `businesses, restaurants, and shops in the neighborhood. Ongoing support for community-based organizations and cultural spaces also helps sustain the vibrancy and legacy of Little Tokyo beyond the event. Please visit Little Tokyo Community Council’s website to help you plan and explore.
-
The DoubleTree by Hilton and LEAP are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all attendees. Our team is working closely with hotel staff and security to implement a comprehensive safety plan. The venue maintains 24/7 on-site security, and all event activities will take place in private, secured spaces. We are also in communication with the venue to ensure the privacy and protection of all attendees.
-
One of LEAP’s core values is belonging. We recognize the current climate may bring concerns, and we approach this with care and intention.
We are working closely with our venue and Little Tokyo partners to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all attendees. LEAP will establish shared community guidelines that center on respect, care and accountability among all participants.
To support privacy and comfort, sessions will not be recorded , and all event activities will take place in private, secured space.
LEAP staff will be present throughout the event and are prepared to support attendees as needed. We are also coordinated with venue staff and security to ensure clear protocols are in place to protect the privacy and well-being of all participants.
Our goal is to create a space where everyone feels safe, respected and able to fully engage in the experience.
-
Our team is undergoing event safety training with Mazorca Facilitation, covering areas such as risk management, communication, security planning, de-escalation, first-aid, and emergency response. LEAP staff will be present throughout the event to support attendees and respond to any needs that arise.