FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Second gen daughter of Indian immigrants, born, bred and raised in the midwest, now firmly transplanted to the left coast. Emergency room doctor by day (and night) I see firsthand the humanity that both inspires and devastates me on a daily basis. I started NINS as a way to positively channel my frustration and create something that combines my passion for food, culture and people. My hope is that this can be something that is fun, transcendent, educational and above all helpful.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tiffany (thanh nguyệt) is child of immigrants, Vietnamese American writer, artist, and inner child advocate. She has lived many lives through her career from working as an exhibit designer, weaving stories into physical space, to being a community facilitator. What she loves most is creating moments for deep conversation and belonging.

OPERATIONS & CHEF LIASON
Born in Delhi and raised in California, I'm an immigrant by definition and a blend of both the US and India.  I share the love of food and the core belief that there is goodness in all people with my fellow NINS community.  I have worked in events and the hospitality industry for a decade and now spend my days working in Clinical Operations at a Pharmaceutical Company helping bring transformative medicines one step closer to those who need them. 

PRESS & MARKETING

I love people, connection, and community. After years bouncing around the Midwest and Northeastern US, I now call Oakland home – and feel deeply fortunate to be planted in place, to have an opportunity to grow in this community, and to be part of the NINS team! 

EVENT STRATEGIST

Becca Bloom is the Founder and Lead Event Strategist at the two-time award-winning BB Events. With a heart fueled by purpose and social impact, she has been perfecting the art of gathering since 2015. Becca has a wealth of experience, having curated and executed hundreds of events that have brought together thousands of people and raised millions of dollars. She specializes in purpose-driven events for nonprofits, community organizations, and businesses across the San Francisco Bay Area, infused with vibrancy and creativity. 

Becca is an industry trailblazer, certified in Sustainable Event Strategist from Meeting Professionals International and a Virtual Event & Meeting Management expert from the Event Leadership Institute. She is an active member of organizations such as the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Women Business Owners, and currently holds a pivotal role as President of the International Live Events Association of Northern California.

COMMUNITY CONNECTOR

Manny is a self-taught culinary enthusiast with a true Californian spirit. He comes from a rich cultural heritage that includes Puerto Rican, Cuban, and African American roots. He embraces diversity and enjoys immersing himself in different cultures, especially through culinary exploration. He is a lover of community, dogs, authentic relationships, and swimming in large bodies of water.

Manny has a passion for food and loves to share it, whether it’s providing home cooked meals for his unhoused neighbors in West Oakland or making pozole for the staff at Chez Panisse. He is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world and hopes to inspire others to do the same.

See what He’s cooking up on IG @tacosandbanchan

PHOTOGRAPHER/COLLABORATOR: IMMIGRANTS EAT SERIES

Humble, hardworking, hungry & handy with a camera. Pittsburg, CA raised me, Oakland, CA made me. Always on my grind but easy to find.

Check out Scotts amazing work on generations of townfolk in Oakland and his other works.

DESIGN

Elina is a Bay Area raised and based creative. They believe a shared meal is as powerful a medium for storytelling and building connections as any piece of artwork in a museum. Through their work they hope not just to express their individual point of view but create opportunities to uplift community to tell their own stories and control their own narratives.

Currently spending their time reconnecting to hands-on crafting through embroidery, sewing, and growing pigmented plants for dyes and paints.

NINStern

I was born and raised in Oakland and have grown up in a multicultural sphere in which first and second generation immigrants have been key contributors. I have been passionate about immigrant rights for years and am so incredibly grateful to be a part of the NINS community where I can help connect people through food and love. I am involved in activism both in school and outside of it, focusing especially on DEIB and culture work. I intend to keep on expanding my passion as I go through high school, especially in fostering the crucial conversations that will lead to a more equal world.

COMMUNICATIONS

I am a humanitarian and daughter of Central American immigrants. As a writer, I believe in the transformative power of communication to advocate for humanity and empower communities. I also believe that the shared experience of food can bring people together and create welcoming spaces. My mission is to cultivate understanding, inspire action, and amplify the voices of those often excluded. Together, we can flip the narrative on immigration and celebrate the cultural richness of our communities!

EVENT SUPPORT

Ahsan is a Pakistani-American happiness facilitator, born and raised in Indonesia. He supports his Spice-Route-centric cookbook addiction by working in sustainable agriculture and bioremediation. For fun, he likes hosting gatherings (small and not-so-small) centered on food, nature, and ambient music.

CULINARY COORDINATOR

Xochitl was born and raised in the Napa Valley to immigrant parents and moved to the Bay Area in 2009 where she quickly began working in restaurants.

Her love for food and The Bay Area fuel her dedication to uplifting immigrant communities and celebrating culinary diversity. 

EXHIBITS WRITER

Carl is a Filipinx-American writer, former filmmaker, and humorist born and raised in the 408. When he's not writing about his Fil-Am experiences and interculturalism in the Bay Area, you can find him breaking bread in community, listening to stories, and hopefully sharing a laugh or two. He is currently writing his first book and co-hosting the mental health podcast Friendship Forever.