APICC STAFF

Executive Director - Vinay Patel (he/him)

Patel has over a decade as an arts administrator and has been a critical factor in the growth of Asian Improv aRts’ as an arts advocate (as a co-founder and a coordinator of the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Arts Network), producer (from local to international concerts, festivals, tours, recordings) and organizational development consultant as well. Patel has been the Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center since 2009.

Artistic Director - Melanie Elvena (she/her)

An arts organizer, activist, and independent curator living and working in the SF Bay Area, she received her B.A. in Art History from the University of California Irvine with an emphasis in Modern and Contemporary Art. Melanie currently serves as Artistic Director at Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center where she is committed to the community impact and growth of its programs. Melanie also serves as Programs Manager at Asian American Women Artists Association and was the APAture Festival Coordinator for Kearny Street Workshop in the multidisciplinary arts festival’s return in 2013. She concurrently worked as co-curator for the festival’s Visual Arts and Performing Arts committees from 2013-2014, showcasing the works of local emerging Asian Pacific American artists. Melanie has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, specifically working in community arts and actively supports art that is engaging, socially conscious, and brings awareness to the community.

Office & Communications Manager - TJ Basa (she/her)

TJ Basa is a seasoned nonprofit administrator with 18 years of experience under her belt working for various grassroots and mid-sized organizations in San Francisco. She previously served as Program Manager– and subsequently Executive Director– for Kearny Street Workshop, the oldest Asian American arts organization in the country. She is a community organizer and volunteer, having deep involvement with the San Francisco Filipino American community. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of Bindlestiff Studio, where she has been a resident artist since the mid-2000s. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Program Manager - Piper Cruze Prolago (she/her)

Piper Cruze Prolago is a student in the History of Art PhD program at UC Berkeley where her research revolves around the role of the Philippines in transpacific networks of people, materials, and ideas during the 20th century. She grew up in Wichita, Kansas before moving to Oklahoma to study at the University of Tulsa. After completing her MA at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2024, Piper moved to the Bay Area where she enjoys searching for new cafes and parks to read in, playing in the Oakland Civic Orchestra, and the ever-exciting journey of engaging with amazing creative spaces throughout the area! 

APICC Board

President - Janey Madamba

Secretary - Yukiya Jerry Waki

Pamela Wu Kochiyama