2008 Serving American Community Staff Biographies

Bina Zaitsu : SAC Program Director

Hi Everyone. I am very excited to be able to direct the SAC program for it's second year. Last year's program was more touching and rewarding then I expected because of how passionate the participants were. I know that the participants this year will be just as amazing and I look forward to the deep discussions we will have about poverty and homelessness.

So, a little about me; I was born and raised in San Francisco and love this city. It has so much to offer, however, you will see a side of it that most people try to ignore. I love to dance. I am currently part of an all girl break dance group called Extra Credit Krew. Other than that, I just got married and I'm enjoying life with my new husband.

This program will bring us all close tegether becuase of our common interest to serve others. I really look forward to getting to know all of you and learning from your experiences through the SAC program.

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 : Asia 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!

Cybelle Smith : Stanford Coordinator

Hey there! I am one of the Stanford SAC Coordinators you'll be getting to know on your trip to the States. I hail from Belmont, Massachusetts, and am considering a major in Japanese or one of the Biological Sciences. Although I am only an undergraduate freshman, I have a strong background in community service, and I can't wait to tear a big, fat chunk out of Bay Area homelessness this March. My other interests include anime and playing the trombone. I am really looking forward to meeting everybody, and I hope that you're as psyched about SAC as I am!

Mia Arreola : Stanford Coordinator

Hi guys! My name is Mia Arreola and I will be one of the Stanford SAC Coordinators this spring.  I am so excited to meet each and every one of you in just a few months!  I am from the Los Angeles area and I am a junior majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Global Health Development. I just recently returned from studying abroad and came face to face with the issues of poverty and homelessness all around the world.  Get excited, because come March we are going to put all of our brains together to learn about these issues on a much deeper level and hopefully come closer to finding solutions to these pervasive problems!  See you all very soon!

Natasha Kim: Stanford Coordinator

Hi! I am lucky enough to be one of the SAC Coordinators! I grew up in a very small town in California called Albany (It's one square mile) with my two parents who I am very close with and our adorable dog. I love learning about anything and everything but am currently considering majoring in Political Science and Mass Communications. I have done a lot of service with my Church and other organizations and absolutely love helping people! In my free time I love to spend quality time with friends or family and just eat a meal and talk. I am a very friendly person and I can not wait to meet all of you! I know we're going to have a fantastic time!

Patrick Qian : Stanford Coordinator

Hi Everyone! I am sooo excited to be a part of the SAC team this year as a Stanford Coordinator. I am an undergraduate freshman hoping to major in Economics and International Relations, and am originally from Beijing, 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, and I look forward to seeing you all in The Golden State!