Ron Porter, PhD

Chair

Creighton Chang

Treasurer

Patricia Matsueda

Secretary

Writer, editor. Lover of the written word, publication design, cats, trees. Small-business owner. Worked at UH Manoa from 1990 to 2022, first as a technical editor at a research center and then as a managing editor for a UH Press journal. Amazed, befuddled, enchanted by life.

Garrett Sisson

Volunteer

Nicky Winter

Executive Director

Passionate advocate for those experiencing homelessness. Changemaker. Innovator. Works hard, plays harder. Spiritualist. Idealist. Shameless dreamer of impossible dreams. Mother. Pool player. Severe allergy to politics and bullshit. Social introvert. Standalone. Unrelenting warrior in the fight to end housing inequality. Problem solver. Protector. Leader. Graduate of the School of Hard Knocks, Ph.D. Values-driven survivor with a strong sense of honor, respect, and excellence who still believes that unicorns really do fart rainbows.

Keith Yabusaki, PhD

Programs Director

Local Boy. Local values. Hatched at Wahiawa General Hospital in upper Waianae Uka ahupuaa. Leilehua High School mule, not jackass. University of Hawaii alumni: Soil Physics Ph.D. Minor Hydrology. Worked 27 years for the dark side at State Departments of Agriculture, Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) & Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) before seeing the light at Achieve Zero (AZ). Did the Dance of Deceit at DLIR & OHA process engineering while procuring grants & contracts. Cold, cruel world morphed him into just one ‘ole bust-up Honey Badger (HB) that champions for the downtrodden houseless. Sneeringly, “Honey Badger don’t care!” Otherwise, HB’s just one badass. Acquires grants on behalf of AZ. Previously enjoyed every minute giving away other peoples’ money, but now thrilled even more spending other peoples’ money. But In Reality-When you work for a small non-profit, you quickly learn when you fall to suck it up buttercup, dust off your britches, and learn to run before walking. His 19 previously houseless feral cats give him permission to reside in the house with them. Favorite Color: BLACK. Has a cold BLACK Heart! Rocks to AC/DC. Song: “I’m No Angel”. Recently did a road trip that traversed Purgatory, PA. Pivot Point: Believes in AZ Executive Director “Demoness” Nicky so much that during a brief lapse in judgment, he unquestioningly followed her to hell and back. Salivates at sashimi & sushi. Treasures Hawaiian ethnic & cultural collectibles. Appreciates life, his job, helping others, & giving back to community. Two wonderful daughters. Lived life with partner Kruger over 31 years. Still visualizes Kruger happily flying with angels over rainbows. P.S. Some view & negatively think his tumultuous journey thus far as a “Life with lemons.” He likes to think that at times lemons can be the main ingredient in life, sweet & savory.

Isaac Rim, PhD

Outreach Case Manager

A humble but spiritual and knowledgeable dreamer. Pursuing right things and being equipped with righteousness. Thinking positive and being mindful of responsibilities. Growing case manager, knowledgeable life coach, impressive baseball player, admired Korean Medicine Doctor, beloved daddy, and Chosen Pastor with love. Focusing and pressing on what I like to do Knowing how to deal with stress. Expressing and sharing what I’m enjoying and learning through every step of my life.

George Sanqui

Outreach Case Manager

Tati Young, PhD

Outreach Case Manager

Beach bum at heart with a Ph.D. in Anthropology. Queer-Intellectual-& Bohemian who catwalks in Walmart. Ohana-Oriented. Likes to Finish what we start without biting off more than we can chew. Tarot-Card Reader and Healer (māhū). My PGP is “we/us.” We understand ideas about the self, community, and one an "other" as interdependent (independent and interconnected). I am because we are. In other words, we all need each other to make a difference. We stay Open-minded. Flexible. Loyal. Kind. Direct. Optimistic and yet Realistic AF. We are an ENFJ on the Myers-Briggs Personality Test and Hufflepuff/Gryffindor on the Harry Potter spectrum. That is, we are an empathetic nerd. WE love hard work, taking initiative, making improvements over initial efforts, and eating humble PIE when called in for misgivings. We are a protector of human dignity and a fighter for sosho justice. We are aloha ‘āina. That is we empower all that nourishes the higher self.