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. 

SECRETARY

Aneesha is an immigration lawyer, an advocate and part of the inspiration of starting NINS. She works not only to support immigrants but to support NINS by keeping us on schedule and on point.

TREASURER

Roohy brings her experience in operations, supply chain management and love of spice to to help us keep those books tight!

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 TICKETING & DATA SCIENTIST

Korea-born, Iowa-bred, and now California-living, I am a first-generation immigrant and data scientist-turned-cannabis professional—passionate about intersectional & crossover allyship and co-conspiring with folks who don't necessarily look like me or identify in the same way as me. I find joy in breaking stigmas and making people scratch their heads. One of my life goals is for anyone to feel comfortable approaching me and to be that safe space for those who can't get it elsewhere.

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.