Katipunero Jason Lacsamana

Jason Lacsamana is a gem in the Asian Pacific Islander community in Orange County, CA.

He devotes his time as the Program Specialist and Communications Manager at the Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA). His latest accolade includes receiving the 2002 Health Educator of the Year award by the Society of Public Health Educators. One of the programs he's involved in is the Asian Pacific Islander Men’s Health Program, where he found out that young API young men of college age engage in early riskier behavior and have little awareness of previous health issues like testicular cancer. To grab the attention of these young men, he emulated a glossy party style flyer. This flyer on testicular cancer is creating awareness and making a lasting impression on young API men in the county. His creative campaign has even been written up in The Orange County Register. He also organizes events for OC teens. He and his staff at OCAPICA hold a youth coffeehouse once a month. This serves as a hang out for teens to discuss youth issues like conflicts with parents, dating, racism, and media representation of Asian Americans.

If that is not enough, he also started a marketing company with his friends. Spotlight Communications hopes to provide marketing services for those interested in effectively and responsibly reaching the Asian and Pacific Islander communities, especially in the areas of health and social causes. He explains, “It takes more than translating a catchphrase into Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Spanish to effectively reach those markets. It takes a sustained relationship where trust can develop between you and the community.”