Our Leadership

The Board of Directors provides leadership and service to guide The Slants Foundation in the support of our mission to create social impact using art.

TYLER CHEN

Tyler Chen is a renowned multi-instrumentalist, recognized for his dynamic drumming and backup vocals while performing worldwide with bands such as The Slants and Silversafe. Tyler has also played key community roles, most notably serving as Advisory Chair of the Vancouver Public School’s Recording Arts and Sound Technology Career/Tech Ed Program and was involved in developing Clark College’s inaugural Diversity Plan. Retiring from full-time music in 2016, Tyler and his wife, Chanda, now invest in and renovate distressed properties and own and operate the Puget Sound destination, Chico Bay Inn.

JOE JIANG, VICE CHAIR

Joe X Jiang is a musician, filmmaker, composer and activist. As a musician, Joe has written and produced multiple albums, toured internationally, directed music videos and music documentaries, and continues to develop new projects with collaborators across genres and geographic locations. As a director, editor and DP, Joe’s films have been featured at festivals around the world. From narratives to documentaries, Joe navigates his productions with creative storytelling guiding the way. In addition to being an artist, Joe is also the Vice Chair of the Slants Foundation, and provides support to all of the organization

ZOE KIM

Zoë Kim (she/her) is a storyteller dedicated to fostering humanity, compassion, and kindness through her art. As the New Work Development Manager at The Public Theater and Founder of Seoulful Productions, she champions Korean Diaspora voices. Zoë's extensive involvement includes consulting for the 2023 National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), membership in various theater cohorts, and completion of an MFA in Acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. Her acting credits range from Pride and Prejudice to to her autobiographical solo show Did You Eat? (밥 먹었니?), alongside acclaimed writing and filmmaking endeavors, earning her awards and festival recognition.

KITTIE KONG

Raised in Mississippi as a child of immigrants, Kittie gained insights into diverse communities through her family's small business. With a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from the University of Mississippi and a Culinary Degree from Le Cordon Bleu, she managed hospitality teams nationwide, witnessing firsthand the impact of service access on individuals and communities. Transitioning to public service, Kittie advocates for community equity, labor rights, and social justice, serving on various boards and partnering with local organizations in Oregon. She believes in fostering diverse relationships for a more inclusive environment. Beyond her civic engagement, Kittie enjoys discussing food, seeing it as a catalyst for trust and connection.

SUMI KRISHNAN

Sumi Krishnan, an award-winning entrepreneur, artist, and social-justice advocate, has been featured in numerous media outlets including Inc. Magazine, CNN, and Forbes. Best known for founding K4 Solutions, Inc., a consulting firm with 200+ employees serving nine government agencies, Sumi holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. She also co-developed "Resistance School," a civic-engagement training academy, and currently merges art and activism through a media platform empowering everyday citizens. In her free time, Sumi enjoys writing music, lifting weights, and savoring good coffee.

JOE KWON

Joseph Kwon, a Nashvillian, holds a B.A. in Classical Civilizations from the University of Tennessee and a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, specializing in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution. From a family of Korean immigrants, Joseph is committed to helping clients achieve their American dream, drawing from his early experiences assisting his parents. Fluent in Korean, he prioritizes clear communication and active listening. Specializing in advocating for minority community members, Joseph is known for his approachable legal counsel.

PACYINZ LYFOUNG

Pacyinz Lyfoung is a French-born, Minnesota-raised, DC-based Hmong/Asian American public law and social justice professional, community activist, and poet-artist. Early in her career, she worked as a legal aid attorney on housing issues, co-founded an Asian women’s shelter in MN, and served in state government policy. Actively involved in Asian American arts and women’s issues, she served on multiple boards and her poems have been published widely. She works as an independent consultant and IP attorney, specializing in public interest, intellectual property, social justice, race and culture, and innovation in arts and technology.

ROY MATSUNAGA, TREASURER

Roy is a Managing Director in the Portland office of the largest professional services firm in the world, serving a variety of public SEC registrants and private companies. Roy’s experience in client service as a financial expert brings an important skillset to the board. He has worked with clients in various industries, but primarily in utilities and renewable energy.

Roy’s artistic experience is in music as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, primarily with the band Big Roy and the Twigs and a Pixies cover band.

WILL MOORE

William Perry Moore, a Filipino/Irish musician, mentor, producer, and actor from Seattle, trained in music and theatre at Middlesex University in London. He's been a multi-instrumentalist in various musical groups, notably as the lead singer of The Adarna, performing at major rock festivals and touring internationally. He also played lead guitar for Portland-based band The Slants and bass for supergroup Death by Overkill. When not performing, William teaches voice lessons in Seattle.

BAO VO

Based in Los Angeles, Bao Vo is a first-generation immigrant from Vietnam and an artist, musician, and designer whose work blends art and technology. His creations explore themes of personal and cultural identity, relationships, and mental health. In 2002, Bao co-founded the pioneering Asian American synthpop band Ming & Ping after leaving art school. The band's music has been featured in global brand ads, and their multimedia stage shows have been critically acclaimed. In 2023, he was honored with the Unsung Heroes award from the Asian Hustle Network for his contributions to the AAPI arts community.

SIMON TAM, BOARD CHAIR

Simon Tam is an author, musician, activist, and self-proclaimed troublemaker. He is best known as the founder and bassist of The Slants, the Asian American dance rock and anti-racist band that won a landmark case at the U.S Supreme Court in 2017 to help expand civil liberties for marginalized groups. Simon's work has been highlighted in over 3,000 media features across over 150 countries, including Rolling Stone, TIME, NPR, BBC and the New York Times. He is also a co-founder of The Slants Foundation.