Our Founder.
Xiaoguang (Don) Sun
Don was a veteran political strategist, consultant, and professional fundraising specialist with decades of experience and an exceptionally successful track record. He served as Chief Fundraising Manager for Andrew Yang, whom he helped propel to nationwide recognition during both Yang’s presidential and mayoral campaigns. His impact extended nationwide through the substantial funding he raised for over a hundred promising Asian American candidates, including Judy Chu (CA-28), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Grace Meng (NY-6), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and presidential candidate Dean Philips.
He served as President of the Bay Area chapter of APAPA since 2009 and as the Cupertino Planning Commissioner from 2011 to 2019. He was vocal about improving the treatment of Asian Americans, leading advocacy efforts that secured a formal apology from the U.S. House of Representatives for the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and opposing California’s SCA5. He was a visionary, known for his painstaking work to help Asian American and allied candidates obtain the resources necessary for electoral success.
Don held a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, earned in 1990. He was also a research fellow at the Stanford Hoover Institute from 1990 to 1993.
OUR TEAM.
Christopher Sun
Chair
Chris is the president of non-profit organization California Youth Civic Leadership Institute (CAYCLI).
Chris grew up observing his father and the late AAF founder, Sun XiaoGuang, with his political work,
which gave him a unique perspective on the inner workings of advocacy and community organization.
Chris's first experience with elections came from participating in many small local elections as he
grew up. He later went on to play a role in Ro Khanna's congressional race, and most recently served
on the staff of Margaret Abe Koga's campaign for Supervisor. These experiences have instilled in him
a passion for understanding how different political processes have direct impacts on people's lives and
sharpened his determination to further enhance different communities by supporting the right candidates through AAF.
Yiyan Xu
Executive Director
Yiyan is a Columbia and Harvard graduate with majors in Political Science, Applied Mathematics, and
Public Policy. She started her career in polling analysis and opposition research in Hillary Clinton's
2016 presidential campaign, and has worked in the lobbying arm of Squire Patton Boggs. She also served as a poll
watcher for the 2017 NYC Primary Election and 2017 New York General Election.
Yiyan is also an investment strategist and policy analyst in Esoterica Capital/ Jirong Investment, specializing
in analyzing US-China relations, assessing the impact of policies and geopolitical tensions on global markets
and developing investment and trading strategies.
Brian Parvizshahi
Senior Advisor
Brian is a seasoned political strategist and the founder of Axial Media and Communications, LLC.
With a wealth of experience in managing high-stakes political campaigns, he has played pivotal roles in several
notable races, including President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Ro Khanna for US Congress, and
Josh Becker for CA State Senate. Through his company, he ran succesful IE's in support of John Bel Edwards
for Louisiana Governor, Buffy Wicks for CA Assembly, and both Alameda and LA/OC Counties Building Trades. He
specializes in creating compelling media content, including direct mail, digital design, and video, to effectively
communicate political messages in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Brian's expertise extends to comprehensive campaign
strategies, emphasizing the importance of field operations alongside media and digital efforts. His work has significantly
impacted federal, state, and municipal races, demonstrating the critical role of targeted voter contact and strategic
communication in securing electoral victories.