Board Members
Doria Qu Founder
Jihan (Doria) Qu is a compassionate social work professional who combines clinical expertise, policy leadership, and advocacy skills to create meaningful change for marginalized communities, with a particular focus on Asian women and LGBTQ+ populations.
Jihan holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Chicago with a focus on Health Administration and Policy, and is certified as both a Domestic Violence Professional (CDVP) and Partner Abuse Intervention Professional (CPAIP). Her clinical experience spans from providing culturally-responsive mental health services in Shanghai to facilitating domestic violence intervention groups in Chicago, always centering the voices and needs of underserved populations.
Jihan's advocacy work extends from grassroots organizing to international policy development. During her tenure as a Gender, Rule of Law, and Political Affairs Intern with the United Nations Department of Peace Operations, she conducted comprehensive research on gender equality initiatives, supported the "Accelerating the WPS and YPS agendas" project, and developed strategic future plans for OROLSI's gender equality work. Her UN experience included coordinating with multiple divisions, organizing network events, and leading grant writing efforts for gender equality programs, demonstrating her ability to navigate complex international frameworks while advancing women's rights and peace-building initiatives.
As Director of the Chicago Office for Against Violence to Overseas Chinese Women, she has spearheaded community empowerment initiatives and established vital partnerships with local agencies. Through her work with organizations like the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago, where she launched the Rainbow Reading program distributing banned books to over 80 schools, Jihan consistently bridges direct service with policy advocacy. Her research background in sexuality education and health promotion, combined with her leadership in Asian women's empowerment initiatives, reflects her holistic approach to community wellbeing.
Jihan channels her clinical training, policy expertise, and deep cultural understanding to create spaces where communities can access both peer support and professional resources while building the systemic changes needed for lasting impact.
Shiyu Lin Co-Founder
Shiyu Lin earned her Master of Social Work and is currently working toward her Licensed Social Worker (LSW) certification in Illinois. Before moving to the U.S., she spent several years in Mainland China working with rural children and addressing education disparities.
Shiyu has long dreamed of working closely with underserved communities and creating healing moments where even the smallest nuances are honored. She has a deep awareness of the subtle yet significant pressures faced by individuals at the intersection of Asian and LGBTQ+ identities.
She hopes to bring her passion, empathy, and lived experience into her work with this community — believing firmly that everyone deserves the right to a flourishing, dignified life.
Ryan Siew Co-Founder
Ryan Siew (he/him) is a Singaporean social worker passionate about community capacity building, mental health across ages, and LGBTQ+ care. He received his Bachelor’s in Psychology from Singapore’s Yale-NUS College in 2023 and his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Chicago in 2025. In the second year of his Master’s, he assisted in running the Black Incubator & Accelerator Project at the Chicago Center for HIV Elimination for Black-led-and-serving grassroots organizations addressing racial health equity in the South and West Sides.
He has also been a lifelong youth advocate, having been a volunteer high-school tutor and online youth mental health befriender in Singapore, as well as a Social Work & Supportive Services Master’s Intern during his first-year Master’s placement at MetroSquash in Chicago. Ryan has lived experience of the pressures that Asian LGBTQ+ community members can face, and hopes to build a more inclusive future.
In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing video and board games, exercising, and spending quality moments with his loved ones.