About Our Team and Process

Nicole joined Options in 2016 as a volunteer and is now a cultural broker, facilitator, translator, and interpreter. She immigrated to Canada from China in 2011. She likes to make friends with people of all ages, and thinks that she can learn more from them than she knows. She likes reading, traveling and cooking.

Marielle is a designer and illustrator from Vancouver with a love for all things community. They identify as 4th generation Chinese Canadian with roots in Vancouver’s Chinatown and the Canton province. Most of their work is centered around designing for good and the creation of joy. In their free time, they are very involved in Vancouver’s Chinatown, pottery, and spending quality time with their family.

Lucas joined Options in 2019 and is working as a coordinator to help the community with translations/interpretations. He was born in the vibrant city of Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada when he was 5. Outside of work, he enjoys playing any sport with a racquet, watching food videos on Youtube (but doesn’t cook), and Japanese culture and food (Matcha, soba, udon 😋). 

Grace is new to Canada, originally from South Korea. She has lived as an international social worker in NGOs. She has managed projects in Tanzania, Malawi, Burundi and Cambodia to enhance community development, including empowering women and children, reducing death and disability rates caused by preventable diseases, and strengthening overseas volunteer programs.

Grace has an M.A. in International Development Cooperation. As a new immigrant, she knows and understands life as a stranger and hopes her knowledge and experience can benefit the Korean community in Canada.

MingJi is a support worker who has helped immigrants and refugees on English classes placement in non-profit organizations since 2012. She was borned and raised in Northeast China until college graduation, and migrated to Vancouver to study in 2000. She enjoys baking, cooking, and playing jigsaw puzzles besides badminton. MingJi holds a bachelor degree in Human Geography from Simon Fraser University.

Alysha Baratta is a learner, educator, facilitator, researcher, and community builder who works with the Social Innovations Hub at Options. Over the past 10 years, she's worked with immigrants and refugees in the U.S. and Canada on community-engaged projects guided by power-sharing, reciprocity, and cultural humility. Her work is informed by an anti-racist and equity pedagogy. Alysha holds a Master's degree in Human Geography from the University of South Carolina. She loves baking and being a busy puppy mom.

Stacey is a passionate volunteer and collaborator who spends her time engaged in community building work: organizing community events, leading workshops with newcomers, being a voice for equality and anti-racism work. She currently sits on the Board of the Triple A Senior Housing Society in Langley and is also a member of the Langley Human Dignity Coalition. A passionate volunteer, Stacey has been a volunteer at Options, leading arts and crafts classes with clients. A Township of Langley resident, Stacey helps operate her family's small business in Langley. Whether it is through volunteering or engagement in local politics as a candidate or involvement in a local riding association, Stacey believes that people have the power to create change in their communities.

Cindy is from Guangzhou, China. She loves delicious food and likes to help others. She is proud of being a volunteer at Options.

Daniela joined Options in July 2021 as a volunteer and is now a Psychology and Cognitive Science graduate looking to find her place in a world she wants to help create. Daniela enjoys silent walks, sunny days, painting, and photography.

Ece is a newcomer, facilitator, researcher, and the Project Lead of the Anti-Racism project at Options, dedicated to understanding the structural barriers that stop newcomers from fully reaching out to their potential. They hold a Master’s degree in Sociology from SFU. Their interests are policy analysis, cultural diplomacy, global immigration, as well as hiking, and cooking.

Geonsik Park studied social work and worked in South Korea. He immigrated to Canada in 2017. He currently teaches different subjects and wants to continue learning in depth for his career. He loves watching soccer and riding his bike. In his free time, he loves cooking for his family.

Jagpreet believes that serving her community is her passion and purpose. Her motivation to stand for others is respect and inclusion for everyone. She wants to pursue her passion for helping others and that's why she is studying for a Bachelor of Applied Psychology at Douglas College.

Janice joined Options in 2021. She works as a facilitator, facilitating international students to pursue their studies and success in Canada. Coming to Canada originally as an international student, Janice would like to assist newcomers to embrace the diversity in Canada.

Lin was born and raised in China. As a former radio journalist, she has a strong passion and curiosity for the world, and would never stop on her dedication to help others. Working as a freelance translator primarily on environmental protection, Lin believes every step counts in promoting social equality and justice. She feels herself empowered and enriched by being part of this campaign.

Lucy is an immigrant and has been in Canada for two and a half years. She loves communicating with people from different countries and helping newcomers. She joined the project as a volunteer last year and has been supporting the project through translation and facilitation for the Mandarin-speaking community.

Marseel joined Options in June 2021 as a volunteer. He immigrated to Canada from Iraq in 2013. He enjoys helping newcomers and making friends and connections. In his free time, he likes to go for walks by the beach, discover new parks and hidden gems of the city.

Nancy is new to Canada from China. Aligning her passion for human rights, equality, and helping others with her studies and career, Nancy studied International Law and worked as a lawyer and social worker. She also volunteered to give back to the community, through different projects as well as providing legal support. Nancy believes that every tiny action can create the betterment of the community.

Paniz is an international medical graduate who moved from Iran to Canada in 2020. She enjoys meeting new people, finding new friends, listening to their stories and understanding their beliefs and their wonderful cultures. Helping people to enjoy their lives and watching their smiles come above all for her. In her free time, she makes handcrafts, reads books, or tries new foods.

Poonam joined Options in 2021. She has been volunteering with a couple of non-profit organizations on various projects as a facilitator, translator, interpreter, and assistant teacher. She loves socializing and getting to know the traditions of diverse cultures closely. She believes in a non-judgmental attitude, empathy, and is always ready to get surprised by new learning and new ideas.

Soroosh immigrated to Vancouver less than a year ago to pursue his dream of becoming a family physician in Canada. He loves to know about nearly everything, from gaming, to sports, and even politics. He is passionate about finding the root causes of complicated issues; and through following this passion, he aspires to improve the quality of life in the society he lives in, both for himself and the generations to come.

Ted is new to Canada, and he joined Options as a volunteer in 2021. He likes to make friends with people, and learn more from them. He likes reading, cooking, and spending quality time with his family.