
2025 SPARC Leadership Program
The 2025 SPARC Leadership Program has concluded! The 3 month long program focused on the continuation of community capacity building during the unique time of APPEAL’s 30th Anniversary. This cohort continued the movement in addressing tobacco control and health advocacy within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) communities.
This cohort was comprised of 12 fellows from across California. Fellows were exposed to critical information regarding the impact of commercial tobacco and key discussions of the importance of data disaggregation to better represent AANHPI community needs. California fellows were joined by 13 fellows from across the United States providing the unique opportunity to interact with national partners. Our 2025 fellows spent a total of three days focused on leadership and capacity building from June 23rd-June 25th. Fellows were then invited to join the APPEAL 30th Gala and APPEAL National Conference from June 26th-27th.
Fellows will continue their policy building work within the three follow up zoom sessions scheduled at the end of July, August and September.
2019-2020 SPARC Leadership Program
The 2019-2020 SPARC Leadership Program has concluded! The year-long program focused on building a vibrant movement in tobacco control and health advocacy in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) communities.
Over the year, 27 fellows from across California came together to hold critical discussions about health-related tobacco issues facing AA & NH/PIs and participate in leadership building activities. On May 6 and 7 we came together online to celebrate our collective and personal successes, closing out this year’s cohort.
Key Dates
SPARC Core Leadership Summit
June 20-22, 2019
San Diego, CA
SPARC Capstone Summit
May 6-7, 2020
Virtual
Blog Feed
Check out what our fellows have been up to!




The Fellows
Bay Area Team
From left to right: Lawrence Yu, Owen Wise-Pierik, Angel Halafihi, Nafiza Khan, Akinchita Kumar
Not pictured: Beemy Nguyen (Coach), Mariah Santiago
Central Valley Team
From left to right: Debbie Xiong, Baolia Xiong (Coach), Ethan Thao, Millenia Yang, Triazon Vang, Sue Emanivong
Gold Country Team
From left to right: Andersen Yang, Sherrie Calibo (Coach), Hurjessica Virk, Reener Balingit
South Coast Team
From left to right: Tana Lepule (Coach), Christy Innouvong, CJ Hattori, Mele Halalilo, Lolofi Soakai, Harold Custodio
Los Angeles Team
From left to right: Karina Quiroz, Claudia Pinedo, Sambo Sak (Coach), Shenazar Esmundo, PJ Quiroz
Southern California Students Team
From left to right: Rod Carlo “Cody” Columbres, Leiana Talo Lepule, Jake Ryann Sumibcay (Coach), Vincent Basobas
Not pictured: Alana Godoy