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Dr. Angelica Cortez
Founder & Executive Director at LEAD Filipino and Senior Vice President of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Pacific Clinics
Dr. Angelica Cortez, a notable public policy professional and nonprofit executive, is a recognized figure in Silicon Valley and beyond for her contributions to civic and health equity initiatives.
As the founder and executive director of LEAD Filipino, a prominent civic organization with a focus on community development and systems change, Dr. Cortez has spearheaded impactful projects such as the first Filipino Cancer Study in Santa Clara County and the establishment of Delano Manongs Park.
With a strong background in DEI efforts, she has held executive roles in various policy and advocacy organizations, including serving as the Senior Vice President for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Pacific Clinics.
Dr. Cortez is actively involved in multiple boards and advisory committees, such as the National Board of Trustees for the Filipino American National Historical Society and the Board of Directors for Sacred Heart Community Service.
Her educational accomplishments include a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California, a Master of Public Administration from the University of San Francisco, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from San Jose State University.
Her diverse professional experience spans across organizations like FancyHeadz, Uplift Family Services, and Silicon Valley Leadership Group, where she has contributed in roles ranging from Founder & Executive Director to Senior Vice President, showcasing her expertise in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Dr. Cortez is a sought-after speaker on topics like LGBTQ+ leadership, Asian American political engagement, social infrastructure, and economic empowerment.
Follow Dr. Cortez's work on social media at @fancygelz to stay updated on her impactful initiatives and engagements.
Highlights
I’m delighted to be representing Pacific Clinics as I join my colleagues Drs. Linda Henderson-Smith and Mari Aceves in a national dialogue with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing on Promoting Social Equity for Underrepresented Individuals in the Workforce on July 18th.
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, where we raise awareness about serious issues concerning wellbeing, mental illness, substance abuse and addiction among minority groups.
This discussion will focus our attention on supporting underrepresented groups in the mental health and substance use treatment workforce.
#MinorityMentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealth #BehavioralHealth #JEDI
It’s Asian American Pacific Islander [AAPI] Heritage Month!
For the past 3 years, I’ve had the absolute honor of serving on the Advisory Committee for the AAPI Oral History Project, a joint initiative between San José State University’s Asian American Studies Department and Santa Clara County to capture local AAPI activist histories, combat Asian hate, and provide public educational resources for schools, universities, neighborhood groups, CBOs, and more.
On June 1st, I’ll be co-emceeing the official launch of the AAPI Oral History Project as the Japanese American Museum of San José publishes this collection of 33 recorded interviews featuring community beacons (Triple OGs) like Manong Robert Ragsac, Manang Cora Tomalinas, Connie Young Yu, and PJ and Roy Hirabayashi, to name a handful.
Come join this celebratory reception, meet the distinguished leaders that are featured, and shake hands with the indomitable team that was led by Dr. Yvonne Kwan, Ellina Yin, Vickie Taketa, Nina Chuang, Howard and several others. These folks poured hundreds of hours of time, talent, and treasure to bring this invaluable gift to our broader community [and future generations].
Register at: www.jamsj.org
#AAPIHeritageMonth #AAPI #AsianAmericanPacificIslander #SanJose #SanJoseState #AsianAmericanStudies #SantaClaraCounty
