About CAAEJ
Our Mission
CAAEJ is a group of progressive Asian Americans in the greater Chicagoland area working to provide an Asian American voice in the environmental movement and center the people impacted by environmental injustice.
In addition to engaging and educating Asian Americans on local and national environmental justice issues, we mobilize our community to stand in solidarity for other organizations doing this work in Chicago and beyond.
Our Values
We believe in the power of collective, grassroots action. We believe building community and creating space for people to learn, listen, and act is key to creating change. We strive to make our work accessible and inclusive across stages of life, levels of literacy, and understanding of environmental justice issues. We aim to stand in solidarity and collaborate with other people of color and historically marginalized groups that face environmental injustice.
Our Leadership
Board
Gemini Bhalsod
Gemini is a Horticultural Educator with the University of Illinois Extension and provides training to Chicago Master Gardeners serving Cook County. Gemini holds a master’s degree in Crop and Soil Science and a bachelor’s degree in Plant and Environmental Biology with a specialization in Science, Technology, and Environmental Public Policy from Michigan State University.
Steering Committee
Kelly Chen (she/they)
Kelly Chen is a lifelong Bridgeport resident and leads much of CAAEJ’s work on the Chinatown Environmental Justice Initiative (CEJI). Kelly holds a Master’s in urban planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Andrea “Chuey” Chu (she/they)
Andrea “Chuey” Chu founded Chicago Asian Americans for Environmental Justice. She has a BS in environmental science and an MS in environmental planning and management, and has previously worked as an organizer fighting for clean air and water and has experience organizing at local, state, and federal levels. Chuey is a lover of breakfast, Iron Goddess tea, and a good science fiction novel.
Jasmine He (she/her)
Jasmine is a recent Sustainable Design graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a first-generation Chinese-American climate designer interested in identity-based environmental advocacy. Her involvement in CAAEJ started in 2022 as an environmental justice organizer intern, and she now works as the Communications Coordinator. Jasmine enjoys music, cooking, going to concerts, going to the farmers market, and making art.
Darek Lau (any/all)
Darek is a second-gen Chinese-American organizer based in Chicago’s greater Chinatown area. They worked at a neighborhood-based nonprofit to support community events and education about environmental justice. Living through a pandemic and a warming climate, they are interested in collaborative solutions toward improving public health.
Rei Tang
Rei started participating in CAAEJ activities in 2022, to connect with the environment and parts of his Asian background locally. He has a decade of professional experience in global climate policy. Rei is interested in community-level and connecting with transnational environmental efforts.
Liliane Tran
Liliane joined CAAEJ’s steering committee in 2025 and is interested in the evolving landscape of food and health in Asian American communities, including their intricate roots to climate change. She currently works as an Architectural Designer and is a LEED Green Associate. Liliane loves cats, art, and homemade Vietnamese food.
Linda Trey (she/they)
Linda is a second generation Taiwanese American. On steering committee, they plug in whenever help is needed such as presenting the Asian Americans and Environmental Justice workshop or tabling at events. Linda grew up in Queens New York and enjoys multiple hobbies including biking, sewing, and checking out markets. In her day job as an organizer, one of the issues she works on is the impacts of truck pollution on communities in Illinois.