Our Staff

Executive Leadership

Rev. Deborah Lee
Co-Executive Director

Since 2009, Rev. Deborah Lee has played an integral role in the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity.  With over 30 years dedicated to the intersection of faith and social justice, Rev. Deborah Lee brings expertise devoted to popular education, community organizing, and advocacy in issues such as race, gender, economic justice, anti-militarism, LGBTQ inclusion, immigrant rights and abolition.

Under Rev. Lee’s leadership since 2018, the organization has doubled in both size and impact. Accomplishments range from closing detention centers and preventing deportations to responding to the needs of arriving immigrant youth and families. IM4HI has established a strong Sanctuary congregations network and initiated efforts to divest from prisons and other carceral systems of harm, investing instead in thriving and healthy communities. The organization envisions a world without harm, advocating for a world where every person is considered sacred across bars and borders.

Rev. Lee is ordained in the United Church of Christ and is a compelling preacher and speaker on immigration, human rights, and the prophetic role of faith communities in today’s social movements.  As the daughter of immigrants, Rev. Lee is part of the Chinese diaspora. This journey has taken her family through Southeast Asia, Mexico,  and to the United States. Beyond her professional commitments, she cherishes time with her family, playing soccer,  practicing tai chi,  and being in the beauty of Ohlone Territory in the SF Bay Area.

You can learn more about Rev. Lee in this Silicon Valley Community Foundation video Portraits of Community Action and the Yuri Kochiyama Impact Honoree video by the Advancing Justice Asian Law Caucus Rev. Deborah Lee – Impactful Journey

Contact: dlee@im4humanintegrity.org

Gala King
Co-Executive Director

Gala King (she/her) has been with IM4HI since 2018, and is currently the Co-Executive Director engaged in faith rooted organizing and movement building. In tandem with Rev Deborah, Gala will co-lead the organization in achieving its mission and vision, ensuring organizational sustainability, and fostering a culture of collaboration, equity, and impact.

For the past 20 years, Gala has been working with communities and organizations focused on social justice, cultural resilience, community building, and faith-rooted organizing, locally and globally. With a background in public health, she has experience engaging environmental justice communities to build capacity to protect their personal and community health. Gala was a founding member of a transnational environmental justice organization, Filipino Americans for Environmental Solidarity (FACES), which led U.S.-based campaigns pushing for accountability among the U.S. government and corporations for environmental destruction in the Philippines.

As a 2nd generation Filipina-American, Gala and her family are actively involved in Sama Sama Cooperative, a Filipinx-community space that builds community through youth programming, ecology, culture, art, and solidarity. They are also members of Buena Vista United Methodist Church in Alameda, and Gala helped lead BVUMC to declare itself a “Sanctuary Congregation” in 2017. Gala and her partner enjoy raising their two boys, in a multicultural, politically-active community in Oakland. Gala also enjoys spending time in nature, visiting family, connecting with community, yoga, dancing, and creating art.

Contact: gking@im4humanintegrity.org

Organizing & Program Team

Danny Thongsy
Faith Campaign Manager

As the Faith Campaign Manager, Danny engages the community and people of faith as a part of a statewide effort to advocate for immigrant rights and to end mass incarceration. He had advocated with the Human Rights Watch in passing Assembly Bill 1308 Youth Offender Parole Hearing Up to the age of 25. He mentors and supports directly impacted community members through advocacy and their reintegration. He graduated with a Sociology degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and his biography has been profiled in the Berkeley News.

Danny loves to celebrate the richness of his Lao culture and roots by cooking traditional Lao food. He loves the outdoors, drawing, and teaching origami folding.

Jose Ruben Hernandez Gomez Freedom Campaign Coordinator

Jose Ruben Hernandez Gomez is a formerly detained leader. While in detention, Jose advocated for his rights and the rights of others by providing interpretation, filing medical requests, and grievances of the mistreatment that he and his peers experienced, and spoke to multiple media outlets and state representatives. In 2022 he co-organized a labor strike with his detained peers and in 2023 he co-organized a collective hunger strike. Weeks after being violently transferred to Texas, he was released on April 14, 2023 on a bond hearing. 

Since then he has continued to advocate, whether being part of the ACLU California Immigration Detention Grievance Database, lobbying at our state’s capitol for Immigrant Day of Action 2023 and 2024, also at the 2024 Quest For Democracy. He speaks of his experience in ICE detention to the public through the media, peaceful demonstrations, panels at universities such as UC Berkeley, University of San Francisco, University of Southern California. He co-organized our 2023 pilgrimage, joined our 22 mile Pilgrimage for Palestine, and organized financial support for people who have been deported to their country of origin. Fundraised funds for directly impacted children’s legal expenses

He was the Spiritual Activist In Residence and today he is the Freedom Campaigns Coordinator and organizer with Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Dignity Not Detention Coalition,as well as a San Joaquin Delta College Student. He enjoys spending time with family, praying, and reading his bible scripture with his mother Maria del Rosario.

Ipyani Lockert
Faith Organizer, Inland Empire

Hailing from San Bernardino, Ipyani grew up on the west side within a stable and loving home. Being one of the first crop of students to be bused to the north side of town to attend North Park Elementary school, he has always been surrounded by diversity. Interacting and learning from people from many different backgrounds, socioeconomic levels, and religious beliefs. Providing him with the ability to feel comfortable and confident regardless of his surroundings, with a sense of purpose and belonging.

After graduating from Cal State San Bernardino (“Go Yotes!”) with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, Ipyani has applied his education and lived experience into a number of fields, from campaign assistant manager, census supervisor, licensed tax preparer and many other things; but it was his years as an mental health outreach worker for the African American Mental Health Coalition (AAMHC) that gave him a greater sense of community. Later he became a full-time organizer within the Inland Valley Region for California Partnership, advocating for greater budget allocations at the state and county level to strengthen our communities and for greater investment into safety nets within Health Human Services (HHS).

Ipyani is a published author and avid poet with a love for creative expression.

Accompaniment Team

Kelly Younger Accompaniment Programs Manager

Since 2019, Kelly Younger (she/her) has coordinated and managed our direct service programs with grace and style.  She initiates and designs accompaniment programs based on what the directly impacted community is asking for.  She roots her work in valuing fellow humans and uplifts the ministry of presence over transactional “helping” models of service.

Kelly has a life-long commitment to immigrant justice work. She earned a degree in Latin American Studies and Chicano/a Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and worked as an advocate for immigrant families navigating the US education system as a high-school guidance counselor. She also worked as a medical interpreter in hospitals, which then motivated her to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Welfare with a concentration in Community Mental Health from University of California, Berkeley. She also won a research award from Berkeley for her needs-based assessment project to develop a Wellness Center at Marin Schools.  Kelly’s leadership style is to practice humility; she works to put herself in a listening position, to learn from other people and walk alongside them. 

In her free time, Kelly enjoys any form of sunshine, relaxation, and fun.  She tries to pursue creative outlets such as poetry, mosaics, crafting, and decorating and prioritizes family time with her daughter.

Contact: kyounger@im4humanintegrity.org

Nadia Tavera Medina
NEAT Program Coordinator

Nadia trains volunteer teams from congregations to accompany recently arrived immigrants in our Nueva Esperanza Accompaniment Team (NEAT) program. Nadia strives to assure that the families and individuals we accompany are supported and spiritually cared for throughout the process of reestablishing their lives here and navigating the US immigration system.

Prior to joining the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, Nadia (they/them/elle) served immigrant communities in Hayward, CA providing spiritual support, implementing educational programs for personal development, and creating strategies to improve health conditions and fight food insecurity among immigrant communities during the acute phase of the pandemic.

Nadia was born and raised in Mexico City, holds a degree in Actuarial Science from the National University of Mexico, and worked over 11 years in Business Analysis. From a young age, Nadia has had a sense of justice for marginalized populations and has been an activist for free education and LGBTQ rights. In 2011, Nadia led the first congregation of queer women in their hometown and was the first openly queer chaplain at La Comunidad Teológica de Mexico.

Nadia moved to California to pursue a career in the Ministry. In 2021, they earned a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Social Transformation from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. 

Nadia believes in the power of all people and likes to invest time in the leadership development of individuals impacted by oppressive systems.

Communications & Fundraising Team

Felicia Hyde
Communications Manager

Felicia Hyde (she/her) serves as the Communications Manager for Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity, leading external communications to transform the narrative and uplift IM4HI’s impact, people, and vision. Rooted in community and solidarity journalism, Felicia’s journey led her to Mahalaya a year before joining IM4HI. Mahalaya, a SF-based publication, not only supports the rights, safety, and well-being of Filipinx Americans but also contributes to building and strengthening the Asian American social justice movement of previous generations.

Her dedication to Mahalaya involved collaboration with community organizing and social justice and cultural initiatives like Kapwa Gardens, Bayani Art, SacFilipinx, Asian Law Caucus, and NAFCON. Her commitment to solidarity journalism and amplifying Filipinx narratives, not only shaped her perspective, but led her to IM4HI. Notably, Felicia’s initiation into the IM4HI community was marked by her article on local community organizer and faith leader, Maria Legarda.

A Bay Area native with San Jose roots, Felicia holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in ethnomusicology from San Francisco State University. Embracing her multi-racial heritage of Filipino and African American roots, Felicia brings an open perspective to diverse narratives.

Passionate about community storytelling, Felicia crafts compelling narratives spanning social justice, education, arts, and cultural topics. Her work aligns seamlessly with IM4HI’s values of amplifying underrepresented voices, fostering cultural awareness, and driving positive change.

Felicia Hyde’s vibrant character reveals a multifaceted personality, where her love for cats and exploration of diverse cultures through music, languages, and food are testament to her curiosity and open-mindedness. In addition to her professional pursuits, Felicia finds joy in traveling to new destinations, expressing herself through singing and dancing, and savoring quality moments with friends and family.

Contact: fhyde@im4humanintegrity.org

Sara Fread
Development Coordinator

Sara Fread (she/her) is the development coordinator at IM4HI, managing grant writing, fundraising, and building donor relationships so our organization can continue working toward the healing and liberation of all people.

Sara is a graduate of Pacific School of Religion where she earned her Master of Arts in Social Transformation and Certificate of Spirituality and Social Change. Prior to beginning her studies at PSR, she graduated summa cum laude from Elmhurst College with a BA in Religious Studies and Intercultural Studies. While in seminary, Sara began at IM4HI as an intern supporting the NorCal advocacy campaigns and fell deeply in love with IM4HI’s uniquely powerful faith-rooted organizing. She is also trained as a Movement Chaplain through the Faith Matters Network. 

Sara has experience working in church, camp, and education settings, all with a social justice lens. Her vocational call is rooted in the flourishing of all marginalized people and engaging faith communities in addressing systemic justice work. She believes imaging and building a just future is deeply theological work and the most urgent task of people from all faiths today. 

Sara is a Bay Area transplant. She grew up in the cornfields of northeast Iowa and now calls the foggy hills of San Francisco home. When she isn’t working, you can find Sara curled up with a book, exploring the city with her partner, singing along to the latest Broadway soundtrack, or snapping a thousandth picture of her rescue cat Lyra.

Operations & Administrative Team

Ana Dominguez
Operations Coordinator

Ana Dominguez (She/her/ella) serves as the Operations Coordinator for Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI). Ana is originally from Oakland, and is the daughter of immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador. She attended UC Berkeley where she studied Gender and Women’s Studies and graduated from Mills College with a degree in Ethnic Studies. Her lived experience along with her academic journey ignited her passion for social justice and grassroots work. Within her role in IM4HI she hopes to provide the necessary support to 

Ana brings with her experience with human rights advocacy work, popular education curriculum development and grassroots organizing from her previous role at the National Network for Immigrant Rights (NNIRR).

In her free time Ana enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, hiking and exploring new places. She is a member of St. Elizabeth Parish in Oakland and also enjoys spending time with the community. 

Contact: adominguez@im4humanintegrity.org