CAROLYN IGA, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH/PASTOR
Carolyn spent 7 years ministering across 40 cities in East Asia exploring multiple people groups and learning the Mandarin language. Wherever she goes, she carries the simple message that “there is a Creator who loves you very much,” along with an inner and physical healing ministry.
As founder of Assignments International, Carolyn holds a Masters in Music from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master in Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and has served as associate pastor and music minister at several mainline churches in the Los Angeles area. In 2007 she opened Neighborhood Music School in Arcadia, CA which provides professional music instruction to all ages, promoting a love for learning and an emphasis on kindness and joy.
Since ministering in skid row in the 1990s Carolyn has always prioritized the needy when ministering. She is currently focused on helping to mitigate homelessness in Arcadia and the San Gabriel Valley. In addition to serving as president for Assignments International, she services as Pastor and Outreach to the unhoused community.
EDWARD LI, BOARD MEMBER
Ed is AI’s Chief Encourager. He and his wife Vicky founded their own character-development-focused STEM company Barnabas Robotics after Ed worked for years at another technology start-up. Ed has his electrical engineering degree from UC Berkley and after working on developing hardware, transitioned into business development in the commercial robotics industry. He has extensive experience leading teams in design, operations, and business development in domestic and international markets. After founding Barnabas Robotics in 2014, Ed began teaching robotics as a way to empower youth and share a message of hope through technology and education.
He is passionate about helping kids learn more about themselves through both technical education and social and emotional learning. He has a son Bennett and a podcast called “Interconnected” which gives voice to those who have navigated strange and unusual pairings of perceivably contradictory fields that lead to a niche in calling and service to the community.
TOBI NISHIKAWA, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES
With over 20 years of experience in residential treatment and mental health, Tobi Nishikawa has a demonstrated history of working with marginalized and vulnerable persons in the social welfare industry. Prior to her role as the Director of Social Services for Assignments International, she served as Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorder Services in a non-profit serving youth and families, many who were foster youth and/or families living in poverty. Previously, she served in various clinical leadership roles at several residential treatment settings where she was primarily responsible for the implementation and oversight of mental health and supportive services. It was in these settings that Tobi had the privileged opportunity to see first-hand the systemic barriers, societal stigma and complex challenges facing the prisoners, fatherless and poor amongst us. Through her years of work, God has enlarged Tobi’s heart for the most vulnerable. Though she continues to maintain a private practice, her work with Assignments International is her heart-passion.
Tobi holds a Master’s of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
RICK AKIYAMA, DIRECTOR OF PRAYER
RICK AKIYAMA has been involved in prayer ministries for over 20 years. He began with Living Waters, a deep level inner healing ministry in Rosemead and also at Resurrected Life Ministries in Pasadena.
He led a Listening Prayer ministry at Cerritos Baptist Church and currently leads the Prayer Ministry at Catalyst Christian Community.
Rick has a heart for broken people.
God designed Rick with unique gifts and abilities which allow him to help people experience the Lord in a personal and significant way.
Rick loves to set people free from past wounds and into their destiny.
JOY CHENG, BOARD MEMBER
Joy carries a strong sense of call to the education sector. With a Masters of Education from UCLA, she taught 3rd grade for 11 years until the birth of first child when she became a stay-at-home mom and got involved with PTA. Joy has served on the executive boards of several unit PTAs as well as on the Arcadia Council PTA in numerous positions including president, executive vice president, parliamentarian, and recording secretary.
Joy served as the Missions Associate for Evergreen Baptist Church and led and participated in multiple short term missions trips to Hong Kong, Costa Rica and China. She remained an active lay leader in the church serving with outreach, children’s ministries and women’s ministries. Joy brings a wealth of experience and competence to the board at AI as secretary of the organization
Leadership Meeting 2019
Leadership Retreat 2021
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