FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT &
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear CPAF Community,

As Board President, it is my charge to share that, after more than 22 years of serving as CPAF’s Executive Director, Debra Suh will transition out of her role at the end of this calendar year. Since 1999, Debra has led CPAF to become the innovative organization it is today, nationally recognized for its pioneering work in providing culturally responsive intervention services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and prevention efforts in the broader community.

Debra helped to shape CPAF’s vision, mission, and values. And, in two decades, CPAF's operating budget strategically grew sixfold to help build a movement addressing the root causes and consequences of violence.

Debra has expanded CPAF’s capacity to respond to the consequences of violence, especially for marginalized survivors. She oversaw capacity-building renovations at CPAF's flagship emergency and transitional shelters, as well as the integration with Asian Pacific Women’s Center’s transitional shelter in 2017, over time doubling the annual number of families sheltered. CPAF also established a Community Center in 2010 to make culturally responsive services more accessible to survivors in the community.
Debra has intensified CPAF’s focus on addressing the root causes of violence. CPAF grew its prevention programs to break the cycles of violence. Understanding the challenges API youth face in discussing relationships and sexuality, leaving them vulnerable to violence, Debra envisioned youth empowered to lead in their respective communities to break cycles of violence. This paved the way for the launch of CPAF’s prevention curriculum in 2009, which has been implemented with community partners and local high schools. CPAF has also pioneered efforts to equip API parents and caregivers with culturally relevant skills in parenting with nonviolence.
Debra has extended CPAF’s influence, evolving CPAF into a leader in the movement, with a seat at important tables where the organization could speak up and advocate for marginalized survivors. CPAF has been committed to a culture of collaboration, building the capacity of community partners for culturally responsive services to survivors, and working with them to build a healthier and safer API community by replicating CPAF’s violence prevention strategies.

During Debra’s tenure, CPAF has connected with hundreds of thousands of survivors and their children, young leaders, community members, supporters, volunteers, and allies to join our vision to end violence in API and all communities. CPAF services remained intact throughout the recent pandemic and the 2008 economic recession, because the organization embraced opportunities to pivot and reimagine service delivery. Please join me in congratulating Debra on 22+ years of dedication to progressing the nonviolence movement.

The Board of Directors has formed a Transition Committee to guide the organization through the leadership transition process. Once a position description is finalized, we will share it publicly. In the meantime, we have important work to do alongside you. I look forward to what is next for CPAF and for Debra. There is plenty to come, and we will continue to share updates with the CPAF community.