Fernando Cardenas

Fernando Cardenas has spent a majority of his life in Southern California. He originally came to Los Angeles from Peru when he was 10 years old. Since then, he has completed his BA in psychology at UC Riverside, and is going for his MA in psychology at Cal State University, Los Angeles. Fernando is also pursuing certification as a translator and interpreter in Spanish at UCLA.
Fernando is currently working as a research associate at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles, where he conducts research on issues such as telemedicine, school-based vision screening and cultural values related to participation in research opportunities. He is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology within the next few years. His goal is to continue researching identity development in American ethnic minorities.

This is Fernando’s second year as a Project Bridge group leader, and he is very excited to be a part of the effort. He feels very fortunate to work with such a talented and dedicated group of young people. He feels this will be a great opportunity to learn more about the role of ethnicity in the way that people from diverse backgrounds interact, and to see how young people push themselves to overcome the challenges that a culturally diverse society poses. Lastly, he is looking forward to learning from his fellow group leaders, and from the Youth Ambassadors (in LA and NY) as they go through this amazing opportunity together.

Christine Fryer

Christine Fryer is originally from New Haven, Connecticut. She attended Bates College where she majored in comparative political science and minored in Spanish. Upon graduation from Bates she moved to New York and began a career in social justice, working at the Legal Aid Society’s juvenile rights division.

Continuing her commitment to social justice, Christine attended Rutgers Law School in Newark and subsequently worked as a criminal defense attorney at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem. Switching gears, Christine became a New York City teaching fellow in 2002, completed her master’s degree in 2005, and has been teaching at Louis D. Brandeis High School for the past four years.
Christine is thrilled to a group leader for Project Bridge. She has had a love of traveling since she took her first trip to France when she was in high school. Her most recent trip was to Japan with the Japan Society Educators Tour. She is excited to teach her students about Korea following her trip.

Grace Yoo

Grace Yoo was born in Incheon, South Korea and at age three immigrated with her family to the United States, settling in Los Angeles.  She is the executive director of the Korean American Coalition in Los Angeles (KAC-LA), a nonprofit community-based organization representing the interests of Korean Americans. As executive director of KAC-LA, Grace works with members of the media and political figures to promote the interests of the Korean American community. Throughout her career, Grace has been a tireless advocate for justice. Grace earned her BA in political science from the University of California at Riverside, where she received the Davis Commencement Award. Grace also graduated from Seton Hall Law School, receiving both the Juvenile Justice Commencement Award and the Center for Social Justice Commencement Award. After graduating from law school, Grace was appointed by the California court system to represent abused and neglected children.

Grace has served as Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), based in Washington, D.C, the nation’s only bar association representing Asian Pacific American attorneys.

When she has time, Grace spends it with family and friends; mostly enjoying delicious food, but every once in awhile taking a walk with a good friend or relieving stress at a shopping outlet.