PICC’s staff create and implement plans to further the issue, policy, and program goals set by PICC’s membership. See current opportunities to join PICC’s Team!
Andy Kang is PICC’s Executive Director. Andy comes to PICC with extensive experience working in the immigrant rights movement in Chicago, serving as Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago for the past 3 years. Andy was one of the lead negotiators and strategists for the Illinois TRUST Act, the VOICES Act, and Automatic Voter Registration. Andy has also advocated successfully to strengthen Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance. On language access, Andy worked on improving Chicago’s language access ordinance, helped create the State of Illinois’ Language Access to Government Services Task Force, and oversaw a poll monitoring operation to protect the rights of limited English proficient voters as required under the federal Voting Rights Act. Regionally, Andy has participated in capacity building support to AAPI community organizing groups in Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota and was co-founder of Asian American Midwest Progressives, a 501(c)(4) organization. Recently, Andy initiated the launch of Advancing Justice-Chicago’s anti-hate bystander training project in response to the rise of anti-Asian hate incidents. Andy serves as the Board President of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and has engaged in strategy formation and advocacy on federal immigration reform. He has previously served on the City of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations and the Committee on Equality, Equity, and Opportunity for Governor Pritzker’s transition team; and co-chaired the Good Governance Committee for Mayor Lightfoot’s transition team. He currently serves as the co-chair of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s immigration committee.
Contact Andy: andykang@paimmigrant.org, 215-821-8097
Anita Jo is PICC’s Operations Manager. Anita moved from Indonesia about 20 years ago. She has had a role in accounting or finance throughout her professional life with a variety of organizations and working in many industries, including small businesses, software testing and data analysis, and government. Anita has a Bachelor Degree in Accounting. Anita has always been deeply curious and passionate about social justice and equality. When not busy with numbers or being nerdy, she likes to tinker with DIY project from art, drawing, cooking, baking, and making everything from scratch when possible.
Contact Anita: anitajo@paimmigrant.org, 215-346-6760
Maria Webb is PICC’s Capacity Development Director. She was raised in Reading, PA after migrating from Mexico at the age of four. After a two-decade long journey, she become a citizen in her mid-20s. She identifies as an Americanized Mexican-taking characteristics, customs, and traditions from both cultures to live a rich and meaningful life. She has more than ten years of experience in Higher Education with Pennsylvania State University and Kutztown University of PA. She received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Kutztown University and has worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor for the Double-A affiliated baseball team of the Philadelphia Phillies since 2010. She has been a guest speaker at multiple colleges and conference forums across Pennsylvania and is an impassioned advocate for opportunities for first generation immigrant students like herself. She continues to strive through her work to provide resources, support, and to advocate for those who seek her guidance.
Contact Maria: mariatinoco@paimmigrant.org, 484-246-5471
Julio Rodriguez is PICC’s Political Director, he is the son of Mexican Immigrants; his parents are from rural towns in the southern region of Guerrero, Mexico. Julio has ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector working in education, housing, community development, and immigration. Born and raised in Chicago, He is an alumnus of the National Urban Fellow program, a graduate program aimed at uplifting people of color and women to be leaders in the public and nonprofit sector. During his time working in immigration advocacy /organizing, Julio has led immigration defense, advocated for increased funding for legal services and providers in IL, and advocated for the inclusion of non-permanent residents and ITIN holders in government, nonprofit, and university opportunities. Julio’s most notable accomplishment working with immigrants was serving as project director, finalizing the construction of a 55 million dollar new public school building and renovation of a historic field house in a majority Latino, primarily immigrant community in Chicago through securing approvals from the Park District board, Public Building Commission, Zoning, and City Council. Julio holds a MPA from Baruch College, CUNY, in NYC. In his free time he enjoys cycling, going to the gym, reading, and exploring; he has the goal of visiting all 50 states before he’s 50, and he has 23 states left to go!
Contact Julio: juliorodriguez@paimmigrant.org