Our MissionCut Fruit Collective is a SF Bay Area grassroots group creating art for AAPI community care. Driven by art, community, and shared love of food. We are a fiscally sponsored project of Possibility Labs 501c3.
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Our VisionWe see a colorful future where all AAPI communities thrive and feel seen, heard, and celebrated. Our Goals
Our Values
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Our Story
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Oakland based artist, Jocelyn Tsaih, first founded Save Our Chinatowns in March 2020 as a response to the devastating impact COVID-19 had on SF and Oakland Chinatown communities. Collaborating with artists, Save Our Chinatowns raised $75k+ for small businesses as well as aid organizations in the Bay Area. To move past the current climate of fear and hate and into empowerment and love, our team realized this requires us to go beyond a dynamic of “saving” one community to fully joining forces with and uplifting our fellow Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. So in May 2021, we unveiled our new name, Cut Fruit Collective. The name reflects a quiet gesture of care recognized by Asians across the world as the quintessential love language. Just as Chinatown continues to serve as both landing and launching pads for many AAPI communities to come into their own, Cut Fruit Collective will remain rooted in serving Oakland Chinatown while we shape our stepping stone to build and strengthen coalitions across communities. Thanks to your support, we continue to exist as a grassroots initiative driven by art, community, and shared love of food. |
Our Team
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Daphne WuDaphne is passionate about community building through food, drinks, and storytelling. Based in Oakland, she focuses on helping small businesses and organizations grow as a freelance web designer. Favorite Fruit: Mangosteens or cherries 🍒 |
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Maya KulkarniMaya (摩耶 / ಮಾಯಾ) is an artist and designer currently living in Berkeley, California. Born in Los Angeles to a multicultural family, much of her work focuses on the complex intersections of identity. She enjoys using art and design to foster connection, curiosity and belonging. Favorite Fruit: Strawberries 🍓 |
Contributors
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Sophie dela CruzSophie is a non-binary writer, novelist, and poet. They grew up in Texas and are currently attending the University of California, Berkeley. Inspired by their multicultural background and queer identity, they focus on uplifting marginalized voices in the work. IG: @sophieandtheirstories, Twitter: @pineappellae, TikTok, YouTube Favorite Fruit: Pineapple 🍍 |
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Paulina HoongPaulina is a visual artist and a writer. Born in Minnesota and based in the Bay Area, Paulina uses art to explore Chinese symbolism, the diasporic Asian-American experience, being a restaurant kid, and the natural world. You can find her art and her food diary on Instagram. Favorite Fruit: Persimmon |
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Amanda HyunhAmanda Hyunh is a queer, neurodivergent Vietnamese-Filipina 🇻🇳🇵🇭 clinical mental health counseling student currently interning at Cut Fruit Collective for her master’s program. She also works part-time at Inclusive Therapists, a therapist directory that centers the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ and BI&POC communities. Favorite Fruit: Mango 🥭 |
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Reg LimReg | 새아 (they/them) is a Korean-American creator based in Oakland, California. They are passionate about uplifting underrepresented voices and histories in their work. Find them on Instagram @regsaeha and Twitter @saehawon. Favorite Fruit: Asian Pears 🍐 and Kiwis 🥝 |
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Ren MarkleRen (蓮) is a Hawaiian-Taiwanese-Japanese foodie and self-proclaimed tea connoisseur born and raised on O’ahu, Hawai’i. She uses writing and art to explore the complexities and charm of diaspora and mixed identities like her own. Favorite Fruit: Strawberries 🍓 or yuzu 🍋!! |
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Jason YenJason is a Chinese-American graphic designer and artist. Originally from Los Angeles, he is currently studying Chemistry and Design at UC Berkeley. Inspired by his childhood, he is passionate about incorporating cultural nostalgia into a multitude of media like 3D art, posters, and stickers. When he’s not working on expressing his creativity, he can be found thrifting, cooking, or watching movies. Favorite Fruit: Mango 🥭 |
Advisors
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Jocelyn TsaihJocelyn is an Oakland artist by way of Taiwan and Shanghai. She is interested in utilizing art as a tool to amplify voices, raise awareness, and give back to communities. Her work is a reflection on human connection and identity. |
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Megumi TanakaMegumi is a web designer, tea enthusiast, and Bay Area native. They code handcrafted, sustainable websites using permaculture design principles. Favorite Fruit: Peaches 🍑 |
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Cynthia HuieCynthia is a small business commissioner for the City of San Francisco. Previously she founded Seedstore, a clothing shop in the Inner Richmond neighborhood. She has also served as President of the Clement Street Merchants Association. Favorite Fruit: Pluots |
