Koji Lewis

ECHO co-director

Hi! My name is Koji Lewis (he/him) and I help support LMR's Covid-19 efforts as the ECHO Team Co-Director.

What does a typical work week look like for you?

A typical work week for me looks like: managing program and salary budgets, projecting financial decisions and expenses, and strategically visioning programming with my Co-Director. My favorite parts of my role is creating and organizing spreadsheets to clearly lay out finances of our program and being creative in how we fund our work. I also like to visualize how various new funding sources aligns with our program's mission and vision, making sure that as a steward of our program, everything is aligned and the sustainability of our work is prioritized.

How’d you get to LMR?

I found out about LMR through my partner and a friend who worked at the organization at the time, and was sent an opportunity to be a COVID-19 Get Out the Vaccine Part Time Canvasser for the UCLA GOTV Initiative. This initiative was focused around increasing community immunity, by educating BIPOC and South Stockton residents on the importance of getting the COVID-19 vaccine and keeping themselves and others safe through the pandemic. Freshly a few days out of college, I knew that I wanted to start work in the nonprofit industry since it taught me valuable skills and experiences working with and in community, for social justice causes. My degree is in Anthropology, the study of culture and humankind on a broad scale, and I wanted to see how those academic ideas would translate to working with people on the ground, in a grassroots format.

What do you like to do when you're not at LMR?

I like to play games either alone or with friends. I'm a huge advocate for games that allow you to role play or be competitive in a friendly way. Games provide an outlet for me to relax, let my mind wander into infinite creative spaces, and imagine. Some of my favorite games include the Horizion Series, Stray, The Sims, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Street Fighter, It Takes Two, Life is Strange Series, Star Wars Jedi, Stardew Valley, Coral Island, God of War Series, Oxenfree Series, Fall Guys, Elden Ring, Eastward, Pokemon Series, and many more.

I also love to get outside and move my body. I often go on walks and listen to the natural sounds around me, as it's a soothing way to clear my mind and appreciate the vastness of the world around me. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, paddle-boarding, biking, running, skiing, and other outdoor activities are a fun way for me to see the world and travel to new places. I like to be with my friends and family and I cherish the time with my loved ones. Whether it's watching a movie, playing a game, having great conversations, eating amazing food, or helping each other out — being in space with like-minded people and having a great sense of humor allows makes me appreciate my loved ones around me.

What does Stockton mean to you?

Stockton is the definition of resilience and strength in bonds. When I first came to the city 3 years ago, I was in awe of how many BIPOC there were. It was so comforting to hear different languages, see different cuisines, and be in space with all kinds of people in one space, where folks can live, work, and play harmoniously with one another. When I first started living in Stockton, that was the standout beauty of the city to me. Although Stockton experiences institutional and historical challenges of racism, segregation, and environmental injustice, the people are what make Stockton so amazing to live in. Without the people making a difference here, the city would look very different than it does in 2024. I learned what it meant to be a part of community in Stockton, and I learned what it meant to help a neighbor out, support family and friends, and to show up for each other in this city.

A few things about me…

I have a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. I graduated in 2021. I am originally from Roseland, New Jersey and I grew up there for 18 years. I am an immigrant, born in Vietnam and brought to the United States as an infant. My family is multicultural and beautiful, representing Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Czechoslovakia cultures. I am an avid traveler, always yearning to learn and experience new places and cultures. I have been to Japan, China, Vietnam, Italy, Spain, the UK, Canada, and Costa Rica.