MIX Academy Logo
MIX Academy Logo

What is the MIX Academy?

What is the MIX Academy?

MIX Academy is a community initiative incubated under Charitable Ventures, dedicated to serving the Santa Ana community. Our mission is to create a safe and welcoming space where individuals can be seen, known, and empowered through educational opportunities, meaningful relationships, and community development. We strive to honor the dignity of every person by embracing diverse life experiences and cultures while working together to build a stronger, more connected community.

Our vision is to cultivate a society that sees one another, cares deeply, and gives generously.

The MIX Academy is an incubated project under Charitable Ventures serving the local Santa Ana community. Our Mission is to provide a safe place to be seen, known, and empowered through learning experiences and community development; to preserve the dignity of everyone by welcoming and embracing each other’s life histories and culture; and to build a more just community, a multicultural and multigenerational family.

Our Vision is to build a new woven society that sees, cares, and gives.

Our History

Our History

MIX Academy opened its doors in 2014 after founders Maribel Toan and Lambert Lo recognized the need for a safe place where families could gather, share meals, and spend time together in the evenings.

After listening to community feedback and identifying local needs, MIX Academy began offering free enrichment programs for families, students, and individuals experiencing hardship. These programs include classes such as visual arts, tutoring, music, martial arts, Zumba, and chess—many of which are taught by dedicated volunteer instructors.

To further strengthen community connections, MIX Academy introduced a weekly community dinner that welcomes families and neighbors to share a meal together. Over the past ten years, this program has provided more than 193,000 meals to community members.

MIX Academy also emphasizes leadership development. Many participants grow into mentors and volunteers themselves, with more than 50% returning to give back and serve their community.

In addition to its weekly programs, MIX Academy partners with Scholarship Prep, the charter school located on campus, to provide additional support and resources for students and their families.

We opened our doors in 2014 after our founders Maribel Toan and Lambert Lo saw the need for a safe place for families to eat and play together in the evening.

After surveying the local community and getting input of what they would like to see, we have served hundreds of families, students, and those experiencing homelessness with free personal enrichment classes such as Visual Arts, Tutoring, Music, Martial Arts, Zumba and Chess, taught by volunteer instructors.

Additionally, as a way to facilitate the inclusion of the whole family and the connection among all attendees, we began offering a weekly community dinner. For the last 6 years, we have fed over 116,000 people.

The program further aims to foster leadership development within participants; over 50% have returned to serve the community.

Outside of and during weekly programs, the MIX Academy is in partnership with Scholarship Prep, the charter school on campus, to provide supplemental support to students and their families.

MIX team

We have a MIX Team and an Advisory Board both directed by Maribel Toan,
consisting of a group of neighbors coming from diverse journeys 
who have a heart for the misfits.

We believe in the value of sharing our stories
while connecting with the joy of life
as a way to build a loving community for all people.

MIX team

We have a MIX Team and an Advisory Board both directed by Maribel Toan, consisting of a group of neighbors coming from diverse journeys who have a heart for the immigrant and the misfit.

We believe in the value of sharing our stories while connecting with the joy of life as a way to build a loving community for all people.

Maribel Toan

Maribel Toan

Maribel Toan

executive director/co-founder

executive director/co-founder

Artist, Founder of Bohemian Rose. Mommy to Rhiannon, Tyler, Ethan and Joshua, wife to Jack Toan. When not dreaming of flowers and poetry, living out a passion for community as Executive Director of the MIX Academy.
Artist, Founder of Bohemian Rose. Mommy to Rhiannon, Tyler, Ethan and Joshua, wife to Jack Toan. When not dreaming of flowers and poetry, living out a passion for community as Executive Director of the MIX Academy.
Katie Kim-Park

Katie Kim-Park

Katie Kim-Park

project director

project director

Wanderlust/ninja mama of two vibrant boys, a loving husband, and three furbabies. When shes is not cleaning up or caring for her family, she is always looking for ways to get involved in her community. She loves giving to others.
Wanderlust/ninja mama of two vibrant boys, a loving husband, and two furbabies. When shes is not cleaning up or caring for her family, she is always looking for ways to get involved in her community. She loves giving to others. 
Ritchie Kong

Ritchie Kong

Ritchie Kong

Social Media Manager/Designer

Social Media Manager/Designer

He is a Graffiti Artist living in the city of Long Beach. Ritchie shares his knowledge with children and the youth as the instructor of Drawing, Mindcraft and Basketball.
He is a Graffiti Artist living in the city of Long Beach. Ritchie shares his knowledge with children and the youth as the instructor of Drawing, Mindcraft and Basketball.
Johnny Barry

Johnny Barry

Johnny Barry

Volunteer Liaison

Volunteer Liaison

Immigrated with his family from a small village in Ireland to Orange County when he was eight years old. He married his high school sweetheart Trisha and over time became a father to four, Jude, Ezra, Kieran and Karis Barry.
Immigrated with his family from a small village in Ireland to Orange County when he was eight years old. He married his high school sweetheart Trisha and over time became a father to four, Jude, Ezra, Kieran and Karis Barry.
Lillian Chan

Lillian Chan

Lillian Chan

Resident

Resident

Lillian is the most complicated simple person. She loves stories and dying to play. She feels blessed to collaborate with our community, and to be working with family and friends, dreaming to make a better world a reality.
Lillian is the most complicated simple person. She loves stories and dying to play. She feels blessed to collaborate with our community, and to be working with family and friends, dreaming to make a better world a reality.
Valerie Stuart

Dan Emmerie Hadinata

Dan Emmerie Hadinata

INITIATIVES DEVELOPER

INITIATIVES DEVELOPER

Dan is passionate about empowering creative communities to bring hope and change to their cities. He is also the founder of Saint City, a community of Hip Hop cultured creatives that includes DJs, breakdancers, graffiti muralists, and poets in Downtown Santa Ana.
Dan is passionate about empowering creative communities to bring hope and change to their cities. He is also the founder of Saint City, a community of Hip Hop cultured creatives that includes DJs, breakdancers, graffiti muralists, and poets in Downtown Santa Ana.
Valerie Stuart

María Piña

María Piña

Community and Family Outreach Liaison

COMMUNITY AND FAMILY OUTREACH LIAISON

María Piña was born in Mexico and is a proud wife and mother of 4 children. As a resident of the city of Santa Ana, she works in the community, sharing his passion for cooking, especially Mexican dishes. María continues her work and her passion for serving others grows more and more every day.

María Piña was born in Mexico and is a proud wife and mother of 4 children. As a resident of the city of Santa Ana, she works in the community, sharing his passion for cooking, especially Mexican dishes. María continues her work and her passion for serving others grows more and more every day.

Advisory Board

Advisory Board

Dave Gibbons

Dave Gibbons

Dave Gibbons

He works at the intersection of innovation, business, technology, arts and faith. Dave is a Senior Advisor at Goodwater Venture Capital, a Production Company of such movies as the Lego Movie and the Two Popes. Founder of Yohaus, as well as Newsong based in Santa Ana. He has served on the boards of Fuller Seminary and World Vision.
He works at the intersection of innovation, business, technology, arts and faith. Dave is a Senior Advisor at Goodwater Venture Capital, a Production Company of such movies as the Lego Movie and the Two Popes. Founder of Yohaus, as well as Newsong based in Santa Ana. He has served on the boards of Fuller Seminary and World Vision.
Rehana Rodriguez

Rehana Rodriguez

Rehana Rodriguez

Rehana is a seasoned professional of over 30 years with a diverse background in education, cross-cultural training, staff & volunteer development, and pastoral ministry. She is currently the Executive Pastor of Newsong Church in Orange County. Born in the US and raised in Southeast Asia, Rehana draws from her unique upbringing on the island of Bali and her lineage of prominent religious leaders in Indonesia to inform her perspective on spirituality, leadership, and cultural diversity. Her multicultural background has shaped her values of inclusion and respect for all cultures.
Rehana is a seasoned professional of over 30 years with a diverse background in education, cross-cultural training, staff & volunteer development, and pastoral ministry. She is currently the Executive Pastor of Newsong Church in Orange County. Born in the US and raised in Southeast Asia, Rehana draws from her unique upbringing on the island of Bali and her lineage of prominent religious leaders in Indonesia to inform her perspective on spirituality, leadership, and cultural diversity. Her multicultural background has shaped her values of inclusion and respect for all cultures.
Ava Steaffens

Justin Thiang

Justin Thiang

Founder and President of LJT Trading, an international metal trading company specializing in sourcing and distributing metals across global markets.  Guided by his faith, he has nurtured a lifelong passion for serving others and supporting his community.  Justin is a proud father of three (Paige, Penelope and Levi) with his wife Thuy.
Founder and President of LJT Trading, an international metal trading company specializing in sourcing and distributing metals across global markets. Guided by his faith, he has nurtured a lifelong passion for serving others and supporting his community. Justin is a proud father of three (Paige, Penelope and Levi) with his wife Thuy.
Jack Toan

Jack Toan

As a refugee whose family relied on the kindness of strangers, Jack understands firsthand the power of a collective community who cares and actively works to uplift others. His experience drives his belief in creating social change through action. Jack is the Principal of JT Consulting Group whose mission is to create an equitable world by catalyzing and strengthening the power of nonprofit, corporate and social change initiatives to create meaningful societal impact. He currently serves as the Executive Director leading the development of the new Asian American Museum at Great Park in Irvine, a groundbreaking cultural institution celebrating Asian American stories. Jack is the former CEO of Illumination Foundation, a $50M nonprofit with over 400 employees on the mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness through an interdisciplinary approach that includes healthcare and housing. He played a critical role in stabilizing the organization post the height of the pandemic and positioned the organization for growth. Prior to that, he had an 18-year career in corporate social responsibility at Wells Fargo as the Vice President of Community Affairs. He directed a team that oversaw the company’s volunteerism, community development programs and more than $10M of the of the company’s annual charitable giving program in the Southern California Region. His vast commitments to the community have placed him in many leadership roles over his career. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Asian American Futures and the Dragon Kim Foundation. He is a Community Advisory Board member of the Change Company, a CDFI focused on mortgage lending to underserved communities, Community Advisory Board member for the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at UCI Irvine as well as the Mix Academy in Santa Ana. Jack holds an MBA from UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and is an alumnus of the Southern California Leadership Network.

Jack Toan

As a refugee whose family relied on the kindness of strangers, Jack understands firsthand the power of a collective community who cares and actively works to uplift others. His experience drives his belief in creating social change through action. Jack is the Principal of JT Consulting Group whose mission is to create an equitable world by catalyzing and strengthening the power of nonprofit, corporate and social change initiatives to create meaningful societal impact. He currently serves as the Executive Director leading the development of the new Asian American Museum at Great Park in Irvine, a groundbreaking cultural institution celebrating Asian American stories. Jack is the former CEO of Illumination Foundation, a $50M nonprofit with over 400 employees on the mission to disrupt the cycle of homelessness through an interdisciplinary approach that includes healthcare and housing. He played a critical role in stabilizing the organization post the height of the pandemic and positioned the organization for growth. Prior to that, he had an 18-year career in corporate social responsibility at Wells Fargo as the Vice President of Community Affairs. He directed a team that oversaw the company’s volunteerism, community development programs and more than $10M of the of the company’s annual charitable giving program in the Southern California Region. His vast commitments to the community have placed him in many leadership roles over his career. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Asian American Futures and the Dragon Kim Foundation. He is a Community Advisory Board member of the Change Company, a CDFI focused on mortgage lending to underserved communities, Community Advisory Board member for the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at UCI Irvine as well as the Mix Academy in Santa Ana. Jack holds an MBA from UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and is an alumnus of the Southern California Leadership Network.
Sandra Rodriguez

Sandra Rodriguez

Sandra is a Schoolhouse Rock Gen X, deeply rooted in the City of Santa Ana, where Sandra grew up and is currently a business owner with her life partner and two sons. She's an advocate, mentor, and resource parent for families experiencing vulnerability and isolation. Her passion is planting seeds for the future generation.

Sandra Rodriguez

Sandra is a Schoolhouse Rock Gen X, deeply rooted in the City of Santa Ana, where Sandra grew up and is currently a business owner with her life partner and two sons. She's an advocate, mentor, and resource parent for families experiencing vulnerability and isolation. Her passion is planting seeds for the future generation.

Vinny Zapien

Vinny Zapien

Professional auctioneer for over 33 years, bringing years of experience and creative suggestions to help organizations exceed their fundraising targets. He is highly regarded in the industry for paying close attention to all the details that lead to a successful auction. CEO and founder of Your Benefit Auction Specialist. Vinny is also an ordained minister and loves serving the homeless and currently resides in Fountain Valley, Ca. with his lovely wife Yvette and their son Noah.

Vinny Zapien

Professional auctioneer for over 33 years, bringing years of experience and creative suggestions to help organizations exceed their fundraising targets. He is highly regarded in the industry for paying close attention to all the details that lead to a successful auction. 
CEO and founder of Your Benefit Auction Specialist. Vinny is also an ordained minister and loves serving the homeless and currently resides in Fountain Valley, Ca. with his lovely wife Yvette and their son Noah.
Jack Toan

Jose Serrano

Jose Serrano is the Director of Orange County’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), with over fifteen years of experience in immigration law, refugee resettlement, and systems navigation. A committed advocate for vulnerable communities, he collaborates with immigrant and refugee task forces throughout California and serves as a Board Member of the Arab American Civic Council, working to advance equity and inclusive communities for new Americans. In his role, Jose leads countywide strategies that center community voice, cross-sector collaboration, and culturally responsive services for immigrant and refugee residents. His work is deeply informed by his own experience immigrating to the United States as a child and living without status for nearly twenty years, and by the resilience, love, and welcome that have shaped his life.

Jose Serrano

Jose Serrano is the Director of Orange County’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA), with over fifteen years of experience in immigration law, refugee resettlement, and systems navigation. A committed advocate for vulnerable communities, he collaborates with immigrant and refugee task forces throughout California and serves as a Board Member of the Arab American Civic Council, working to advance equity and inclusive communities for new Americans. In his role, Jose leads countywide strategies that center community voice, cross-sector collaboration, and culturally responsive services for immigrant and refugee residents. His work is deeply informed by his own experience immigrating to the United States as a child and living without status for nearly twenty years, and by the resilience, love, and welcome that have shaped his life.
Jack Toan

Isuri S. Ramos

Isuri S. Ramos

Isuri S. Ramos has been serving the City that raised her in countless roles since she was a youth, her leadership is grounded in uplifting community and sharing power with Santa Ana’s most underrepresented residents. Isuri currently serves as the Executive Director at Chispa and as a Founding Board Member of Community Hub de Santa Ana. She is also the Chair of the Santa Ana Planning Commission and former Chair of the Community Development Commission.
Isuri S. Ramos has been serving the City that raised her in countless roles since she was a youth, her leadership is grounded in uplifting community and sharing power with Santa Ana’s most underrepresented residents. Isuri currently serves as the Executive Director at Chispa and as a Founding Board Member of Community Hub de Santa Ana. She is also the Chair of the Santa Ana Planning Commission and former Chair of the Community Development Commission.
Sandra Rodriguez

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We are here to welcome you
for classes and food distribution

The MIX Academy
now and beyond your community

Image

We are here to welcome you
for classes and food distribution

The MIX Academy
now and beyond your community