Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles, CA  – Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)’s annual Youth Solidarity Conference, themed ‘Roots & Resilience’, returns for a fourth run on April 18th, from 11am to 5pm. This year’s youth-led, youth-centered conference features workshops, speakers, and wellness offerings focused on educating young people about activism, leadership, and community healing.

On March 7th, 2026, SIPA’s Leadership Development interns held the inaugural Stories of HiFi: Media Townhall, attended by 80 community members, in collaboration with Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI). The two organizations created the Community Media Lab (CML) to allow young creatives to produce projects centered around gentrification and displacement in Historic Filipinotown (HiFi). This event was held to raise awareness of gentrification and displacement by highlighting the impact of rising housing costs on longtime residents, and encouraging community dialogue on preserving Filipino heritage and supporting local businesses. In addition, the event provided an outlet for community members, activists, and local organizations to connect, share experiences, and discuss possible solutions for displacement.

Kevin Sandoval-Casasola's journey to SIPA weaves through multiple cities, educational institutions, and a deepening commitment to Filipino community service. A dual master's student in Asian American Studies and Social Welfare at UCLA, Kevin (he/they) traces his roots to Manila and Bataan.

For Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, community is not an abstract idea—it is a lived experience shaped by migration, memory, and decades of service to Filipino Americans in Los Angeles. Her story is deeply intertwined with the history of Historic Filipinotown and the evolution of SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans), an organization she has supported since its earliest days.

SIPA’s legacy spans over five decades, and there are hundreds of Filipino Americans who can say SIPA has had a lasting impact on their lives. But what about the people who have shaped SIPA and laid down the foundations for today’s Historic Filipinotown and beyond? This is the focus of our Alumni Legacy series. Let’s take a trip down memory lane with Gerald Gubatan.

SIPA’s 3rd Annual Healing Hope: Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth Solidarity Conference was created to bring together youth to build solidarity within the AAPI community and across all communities we are part of. This year, the conference focused on youth advocacy and healing. Equipping youth with practical tools to take action, and creating space to care for themselves and each other.

AANHPI orgs across the nation aim to provide necessary and direct services to the communities they serve. Similarly, here at SIPA, we want to continue the work we do within Historic Filipinotown and throughout LA county - but we can only do that through your support!

PLATO, SIPA's free garden program for Latinos and Pilipinos, returned this April with free workshops where participants get hands-on experience in growing their own food from seed to harvest. Last year, SIPA launched PLATO, a community garden program designed to teach both first-time and experienced gardeners how to cultivate fresh produce in their own neighborhood. Participants (of all ages) meet once a week, following the progress of their labor of love throughout the year — from planting season (now) to growing season (summer) and to harvest season (early summer/fall). Participants get to keep the produce they grow, like carrots, strawberries, corn, and more, in SIPA’s Heritage Garden.

Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)’s annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth Solidarity Conference returns for a third run on May 17th, from 11am to 5pm. This year’s youth-led, youth-centered conference — themed ‘Healing Hope’ — features workshops, speakers, and wellness offerings focused on educating young people about activism, leadership, and community healing while celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (APAHM). 

At the beginning of the year SIPA relaunched the Mga Gabay ng Liwanag or ‘Keepers of the Light’ donor wall campaign. We’re happy to announce we’ve reached 90% of our goal of $100,000. This campaign honors those who have embodied SIPA’s values and mission of service to Historic Filipinotown and the community of Los Angeles. We honor their legacy by contributing to SIPA in their name and pledge to keep the light going for generations to come.

We can’t believe it’s already been one year since we opened the HiFi Wellbeing Center at Lucena on Court, a space specifically for our health and wellness programs. One of our goals at the HiFi Wellbeing Center is to reduce health disparities and provide vital health resources to the neighborhood, and since March of 2024, our team has served over 400 people, and hosted dozens of free events and programs.

SIPA’s youth programming, Cultural Roots and Leadership, is in full bloom!

Kultural Kaibigian Days, Kapamilya Days, Tagalog Language Classes, and HiFi Adventure Days, bring culturally relevant programs that cultivate leaders in the next generation.

As SIPA opens up our next chapter, we are re-launching our donor wall campaign, Mga Gabay ng Liwanag or ‘Keepers of the Light’ donor wall. We invite you to honor those who have embodied SIPA’s values and mission of service to Historic Filipinotown and the community of Los Angeles. We honor their legacy by contributing to SIPA in their name and pledge to keep the light going for generations to come.

Whether it is your own name or in honor of a loved one, we invite you to be part of this extraordinary opportunity and have that person recognized on our donor wall. Here are a few compelling reasons to consider.

We’re coming together as a community in a time of crisis, and SIPA is here with resources, health and wellness services, and holding space for healing. The spirit of kapwa (interconnectedness) is what will get us through. Get personalized support for WIC, CALFresh, or Covered California. Learn about upcoming workshops at SIPA, like sound healing sessions, healthcare or housing referrals and applications.

The holiday season is for giving and putting smiles on the faces of our children, and that’s what SIPA does every year with our holiday toy giveaway. Thank you everyone that donated toys, and to our resource partners, Covered California Healthcare, Legal Aid, and Para Los Niños, for providing information and support to our community. We also are grateful for the generous donations from HiFi Kitchen and The Park’s Finest providing the community with a delicious meal.

SIPA is grateful to have so many wonderful community members that give their time, energy, and money to keep our programs thriving. This past year we’ve been lucky to have the following individuals, businesses, and organizations host fundraisers to benefit SIPA:

Brewyard Beer Company - Anniversary Festival (2023 & 2024)
GPK Fitness - FAHM Fitness Class (2023 & 2024)
Jason Lustina x Club Osa - Pickleball Tournament
Geffen Playhouse - Dragon Lady AAPINH Appreciation Night
CSUN FASA - SPAHM Showcase
Queer Liberasian: FAHM Edition

SIPA’s Bayanihan Brunch took place on Sunday, November 17, featuring bites from the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef-California: Chef Maynard of Kuya Lord and Chopped Sweets winner and owner of Cafe-86 Ginger Lim-Dimapasok. The fundraiser brought together the community for a feast and joy-filled afternoon, raising over $15,000 that will benefit SIPA’s programs in 2025.

SIPA is excited to share our newly developed “Indigenous Values” in our interactions with each other, and with all of our stakeholders, that will nurture positive and lasting change in the community.

Pakikipag-bayanihan para sa kapakanan, katarungan, karapatan ng ating kapwa-tao.
Coming together for the wellbeing, justice, and human rights of our community.

Happy Filipino American History Month! 2024 was filled with moments of joy, community and celebrating our histories, the present, and future.. SIPA’s impact in the community continues to be amplified through awards and celebrations that we’re so thankful for!