Reader. Writer. Eater.
Hello, I'm Christine!
I'm passionate about people, places, food, and stories that connect us all.
My diverse background in education, food justice, communities, and policy has taken me across the country and around the globe.
I'm an intersectional leader, scholar, and multimedia storyteller. I aspire to create narratives to deepen our understanding of each other, the food we eat, and the world we share. My work centers lived experiences in order to achieve a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive society.
I am of Vietnamese & Teochew descent, born and raised in Monterey Park and South El Monte, in Los Angeles County (unceded territory of the Gabrielino-Tongva, Chumash, and Kizh peoples).
-
Read about me in Womanly Magazine & Voyage LA
-
Listen to my interviews on KCRW Good Food & KPCC AirTalk
Being a foodie is easy, but being a good foodie takes empathy and action. How can we call ourselves 'foodies,' when we’ve reduced fruit to a flavor as grape varietals go extinct?
Some of my selected writings:
Word.
The Hidden Histories of Broken Rice
From Dumplings to Sriracha: The (In)Visibility of Teochew Food and Culture
Asian American Studies: Made in California
Multifaceted: The Cultural Diversity of Asian America
Lunch Ladies and the Fight for School Food Justice: A Superhero Origin Story
The Challenges of Feeding Hungry School Kids in a Time of Crisis
I Didn’t Know I Was Poor Until I Applied to College
Re-connecting With Our Food: The Power of Good Food Policymaking
Keeping A Tasty Lunar New Year Tradition Alive with The Bánh Chưng Collective
Beyond the Cut: Hidden Harvest Rescues Food, Feeds Families
Seeds of Change: The Value of School Gardens in Education and Community Health
Eating with Empathy (or How to be a Good Foodie)
Oh, snap!
Some of my visual narratives via Instagram:
