Gov. Jay Inslee recently announced the following appointments to the Commission on Asian Pacific
American Affairs (CAPAA).
Gerardine “Didi” Cabusao is Filipino-American and resides in Selah, Washington. She is a registered dietitian at Yakima Valley School, Department of Social and Health Services. She is also a consulting dietitian for the Senior Nutrition Program in Yakima County. Cabusao was also actively involved with the Yakima Valley Dietetic Association and served as the association’s president in 2003.
Cabusao is currently serving as a board member of the Filipino American Community of Yakima Valley (FACYV) and is a key player in the successful operation of the organization’s fundraising activities. She received her Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition from the Philippine Women’s University in Manila, Philippines and her Dietetic Internship from Central Washington University
Lynette Suliana Sikahema Finau was born in the Island Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific and raised in Mesa, Arizona. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies on Culture, Literature & the Arts from University of Washington and a Master of Arts in Education from Antioch University Seattle. Lynette is currently a doctoral student at Antioch University’s PhD in Leadership and Change Program.
Finau is a certified (6-12) English Language Arts, History and Reading Interventions teacher and was previously one of a few Pacific Islander classroom teachers in the state. Her community and advocacy work includes the Board of Directors for Alliance for Community Empowering (ACE), staff for the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) program at South Seattle Community College, and Seattle Public Schools Equity and Race Advisory Committee (ERAC).
At CAPAA’s September meeting, the Board elected the following Executive Committee Officers: Chair Sofia Aragon, 1st Vice Chair Ty Tufono and 2nd Vice Chair Lisa Dickinson.
The Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs was established by the state Legislature in 1974 to improve the well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) by ensuring their access to participation in the fields of government, business, education, and other areas. It has a board made up of 12-governor appointed members that represents the diverse APA communities of Washington State.