David Ryu

Executive Director

David Ryu
Executive Director

David Ryu serves as executive director of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation. He comes to APALF as a lifelong public servant and proud alumni of the APALF candidate bootcamp.

David served as the Los Angeles City Councilmember from 2015 to 2020, during which he was also appointed as President Pro Tempore. In addition to being the first Korean-American to be elected to the council, he was the first Asian-American to be appointed to Los Angeles City Council leadership. His most notable legislative accomplishments include campaign finance reform and anti-corruption measures, early COVID-19 testing, and Opportunity LA, which established a savings account program for every child in LA.

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Ronald W. Wong

Co-Founder

Ronald W. Wong is a respected and renowned business owner, political and community leader who has been involved in the political advancement of the Asian Pacific American community for the past three decades.  Mr. Wong is a renowned expert in APA politics and political campaigns, having served as political consultant or staff to more than 200 successful campaigns.

Mr. Wong is deeply involved in the community and the political advancement of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community serving in leadership roles in various community-based organizations.  He is the founder and creator of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation (APALF).  Utilizing his more than 35 years of experience and insight working in politics, Mr. Wong helped create the APALF because of the recognized need for APAs to serve as elected and appointed leaders in America. Through APALF, Mr. Wong wrote and produced The Race Epidemic, a documentary which explores the epidemic of racism and violence against APAs spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic.