Inaugural Cohort
Greater Boston, April - June 2026
Community Researchers
Rehat Thussu
is a nonprofit professional based in Boston, currently working in reproductive health and serving as Marketing Officer for CW Taekwondo Boston. A South Asian immigrant from India who has lived in the U.S. for nearly a decade, she identifies as Sikh and draws from a rich intersection of Kashmiri and Punjabi heritage.
Emily Kwong
is a North Shore-based artist, muralist, and community arts practitioner active with Boston Canto and Arts Collaborative Medford. Born and raised in Peabody, MA, she is a first-generation college graduate from a working-class background with roots in Hong Kong and Beverly. A bisexual artist, Emily creates work in response to her lived experience and the world around her.
Gahna Adaval
is a public health practitioner, organizer, and advocate serving as Regional Relationship Manager at Women’s Money Matters, Founding Director of Thbrwnbgprjct, and SOSWorcester organizer. A first-generation Indian American living in Central MA, she centers immigrant and underserved commune experiences in her behavioral and preventative health work.
Olly Nguyen
is a Social Media Specialist at 1975: Vietnamese Diaspora Memorial Initiative in Dorchester, MA, with a background in architectural history, project management, and affordable housing. A genderqueer, Vietnamese American and first-generation college graduate, their work reflects a deep interest in community, place, and storytelling.
Huiying “Hui” Chin
is a licensed acupuncturist from Malaysia who practices in downtown Boston. She loves cooking, traveling and volunteering in her free time. She devotes most of her time advocating for holistic and preventative healthcare for women and frontline workers. When we can care for the caregivers in our community, especially the women, we can all pour generously into our own cups before pouring out into the world.
Edith Philip
is an researcher & organizer at Community Labor United, with past experience at the Tufts Asian American Center, Saheli, and the Asian American Resource Workshop. A genderqueer Tamil American raised in Louisiana, they are passionate about democratizing research and uplifting underrepresented voices.
Kiwa Shinoda
is a recent graduate of Brandeis University, where she studied Sociology and Environmental Studies. A queer Japanese American, she is passionate about amplifying marginalized voices, with a long-term goal of working at the intersection of AAPI advocacy and environmental justice.