Catalyst SGV History
Catalyst San Gabriel Valley started previously as Kingdom Causes Alhambra in 2005, a non-profit that was part of a network of city faith leaders who wanted to see local congregations loving their city in practical ways. Over time, that practical way of support was focused on serving under resourced youth and families and schools in the San Gabriel Valley. In 2018, Catalyst SGV became its own separate 501(c)3 non-profit organization and has continued and expanded the work of supporting our youth, families, and schools as well as its network of community partners, especially in the faith community.
The Staff Team
Meet the dedicated professionals driving positive change in our community. Empowering communities, enriching futures.
Jesse Chang
Executive Director
Jesse grew up on the East Coast and got an art degree in college, then moved to attend Fuller Seminary and after serving in a local church moved to the non-profit world. Jesse loves to create new things, whether it be designing a garden or putting together a new program to better serve our schools and families. His wonderful spouse and kids tolerate their vacation forays into the rich diversity of our natural heritage in California.
Rosi Pichardo
Project Rise Lead
Rosi works directly with youth and parents by facilitating an evidence-based curriculum to adolescents across Los Angeles and neighboring communities. She has obtained her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Cal State Los Angeles and is pursuing her Master’s Degree. Rosi was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and has a passion for social work and giving back to communities like her own.
Nikolai Prokopiev
Youth Coach
Nikolai has a background in education, working as a student interventionist, as well as a background in conservation and agriculture. A notable project he has worked on is the farm located at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park. Nikolai is currently working towards obtaining a degree in biology. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others through recreational activities and gardening. In his free time he likes writing, playing music, drawing, and playing video games.
Amy Kwan-Garcia
Community Connector Volunteer
Amy recently joined Catalyst SGV as a volunteer with the Adopt-A-School program at Ynez Elementary. She developed a curriculum for Ynez’s pilot after school cooking club. Amy retired early in 2025 and is busier than ever with her volunteer work at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Ynez Elementary and church, River of Life Monterey Park. In her free time, Amy enjoys hiking, reading and good food with friends.
Wenonie Ling
Administrator
Wenonie is an organizational creative who has served in support roles for various nonprofits and faith-based organizations. With a Bachelors in Theater from UC Irvine, and a Masters in Worship, Theology, and the Arts from Fuller Seminary, she utilizes her skills to streamline productivity and efficiency of organizational processes and procedures. A fan of Disney experiences, she has lived in Southern California, Hong Kong, and Hawaii, and enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures through their food, clothing, visual and performing arts.
Michael Piña
Garden Educator
Michael grew up in the East LA and San Gabriel Valley areas and received a B.S. in Biology from Loyola Marymount University. As he wraps up his time at the University of California, Riverside for graduate school in Plant Biology, he is focusing on plant education and outreach efforts. Michael also serves as part-time faculty at Cal Poly Pomona in the Plant Science Department. When not doing something plant-related, he likes to cook, do yoga, and play pinball.
Lucas Lin
Garden Educator Intern
Lucas’ passion in conservation began at his time in Alhambra High School’s Environmental Resource Awareness Society club. He graduated from Alhambra High School in 2025 and is currently a student majoring in physiology at Pasadena City College. Lucas hopes to become a physical therapist in the near future. He also enjoys travelling, watching baseball and video gaming in his free time.