2009 SAC Staff Biographies

Ben Strong : SAC Program Director

The purpose of our program is not to go sightseeing, but to gain insight.  That is, we will be taking a closer look at our society, including the challenges it faces.  At the same time, we will try to uncover different ways that individuals and organizations can work to address these challenges.  For the issue of homelessness and poverty, we will be looking at the ways that government, academic institutions, and for-profit, not-for-profit organizations work to address the needs of this community.

Kazutoh Ishida : Senior Program Director

Hello everyone! Thank you for joining our Serving American Community (SAC) Program. I will be supporting Bina in running the 2008 program. I really hope that the SAC program will give you an opportunity to deepen your understanding about how various groups ( e.g., NPOs, government, educational institutions, and corporations) deal with the issue of poverty and homelessness in the US. I also hope that you will develop life-long lasting friendship with the Stanford Coordinators through the program.

Outside of work, I am currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Hawaii majoring in Japanese language teaching. In my spare time I like to listen to music, watch movies and travel. We are planning an exciting program for you and we are looking forward to seeing you in California!

Takahiro Koga : Asia Staff Assistant

Hello everyone! I am very much excited to join this year's SAC program.
I am currently working for Waseda University Volunteer Center (WAVOC) which supports VIA's programs since 2007. I enjoy working with students through a variety of volunteer projects. I, as a Asia Staff Assistant, really hope I can be of help for the SAC program and all the participants.

Little bit about myself. I grew up in a city called Kumamoto, located in the south of Japan. After my bachelor degree, I spent two and half years in England and had a wonderful time with friends from all over the world. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family, watch films, and go swimming.

I can't wait to learn and work with you all in March! See you soon!!

Kazuharu Omata : Japan Coordinator

Hello everyone! My name is Kazuharu Omata. I’m a sophomore at Chuo University majoring policy studies. I participated in the SAC program last year which gave me the opportunity to think about myself and the relationship between society and myself through service activities and lots of talks with other participants. The program definitely changed me: it changed me to be more aware when interacting with others, and to always try to seek out “what can I do for someone?” That’s why I decided to participate in the program as the Student Coordinator for the 2008 program. In other words, I decided to serve the program as a coordinator because the program served me last year.

Through the program, you may ask yourself “who is ‘the homeless’?”, “what is the real meaning of ‘poverty’?”, and “what can we do to serve them?” I continue to think about these questions even though I participated in the program last year. I’m looking forward to thinking about these important questions with you. Please share with me what you think!

Please do your best to prepare for a life-changing experience at Stanford and San Francisco! You will be part of creating the program and it will definitely change you. If you have any concerns about the program, please feel free to let me know. See you all soon!

Patrick Qian : Stanford Coordinator

Hey guys! I am sooo excited to be a part of the SAC team as a Stanford Coordinator. And this is my second year doing it! I am an undergraduate sophomore majoring in Economics and International Relations, and am originally from Beijing, China, but lived for the most part in Los Angeles, California. Throughout high school, I participated in numerous activities relating to poverty and homelessness from volunteering at the Midnight Mission in downtown Los Angeles to conducting local canned food drives. During my senior year, I wrote a research paper on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which furthermore stimulated my interest in pursuing a career in public service. Some of my hobbies include playing the guitar, running, swimming, and just plain socializing. I am eager to share my interest in this important issue as well as learn from each of you. SAC changed my life and reshaped my perceptions of the world and I'm sure it will change you even more! I look forward to seeing you all in The Golden State!

Amanda Le : Stanford Coordinator

Ello Everyone!
My name is Amanda and I am a second year student studying Communication at Stanford. This is my second program with VIA and I cannot wait to meet all of you. The issues of homelessness and poverty are ones that have very personal meaning for me, especially after my experience leading AUSL 2008. It is a tough subject to face, and though I've yet to meet any of you, I am very proud of you for the courage and genuine selflessness it takes to voluntarily pursue this issue. I look forward to sharing this experience with all of you.

Ming Jia: Stanford Coordinator

I am a junior at Stanford University looking to major in chemistry.  I have always been interested in serving the needy.   Since middle school, I have been involved in organizing activities such as food drives and fundraisers, in order to address the pressing issue of alleviating the pains of poverty.  Since then, my interest has been focused primarily on providing healthcare to the poor.  At Stanford, I volunteer at the Pacific Free Clinic, a free clinic in San Jose that caters to the underprivileged Asian community of that region.  I am also in the process of beginning my own project on studying the diets of the homeless in the Bay Area.   After hearing about the SAC program, I was really excited to join a team that will explore the many issues of poverty in the Bay Area in a unique and cross-cultural way.   I am looking forward to sharing my past experiences in serving the community, and working together with the SAC team to truly make a difference.  

Stephanie Parker: Stanford Coordinator

Hello everyone,  I’m Stephanie Parker!  Currently in my sophomore year at Stanford, I will probably major in Political Science, but I am also considering other options within the Social Sciences. Politics has always been a passion of mine, and I have had an amazing experience volunteering with the Barack Obama ’08 campaign this year. I’d definitely enjoy learning more about the political atmosphere in Asian countries!

I grew up in Los Angeles, where some of my friends introduced me to Japanese Rock music and Korean Dramas, and I eventually became addicted to Asian pop culture. Some of my favorite stars are RAIN (whose posters decorate my dorm room), Gackt, Lee Jun Ki (whom I wrote my first Stanford research paper about), and Jay Chou. When I’m not singing my heart out at noraebang/karaoke, I enjoy playing tennis and playing the piano; my favorite composer is Chopin, but I also play some Yiruma for fun. There is no doubt in my mind that we will have an incredible time together, and I can’t wait to meet everyone!