About Matilija Collective
Matilija Collective is a community-based cultural and educational project rooted in the San Gabriel Valley. Founded by Amy J. Wong and Andrew Fung Yip, Matilija Collective was created to build spaces where people can connect through books, art, history, culture, and community.
Our work centers on uplifting the stories and experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants, working class communities, LGBTQ people, and historically underrepresented communities in El Monte and across the SGV. Through free workshops, public programs, cultural events, mutual aid efforts, exhibits, and community partnerships, we aim to create spaces that are welcoming, accessible, and grounded in solidarity.
The name “Matilija” comes from the Matilija poppy, a California native flower known for its resilience and ability to thrive after fire and disturbance. Like the flower, our work is rooted in the belief that communities can grow, heal, and flourish through collective care and connection.
Matilija Collective is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit project. Our community bookstore and gathering space, Matilija Lending Library, helps support and sustain this work.
None of this would be possible without the support of our friends, family, volunteers, community partners, and supporters. Thank you for being part of this growing community.
Our Mission
Our mission is to celebrate the diversity of our El Monte and San Gabriel Valley community by uplifting stories by Black, Indigenous, People of Color. We aim to create a space to reflect our people of color communities in the San Gabriel Valley, and build multi-racial solidarity together.
We chose to name our library after the Matilija Poppy, a native plant in Southern California. Even after experiencing fire, matilija seeds are able to germinate and flourish. We hope to carry that transformative spirit at our library.
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Amy Wong
FOUNDER
Amy J. Wong is a community organizer and climate justice advocate from El Monte, California. A UC Berkeley graduate, she serves as Program Director at Active San Gabriel Valley and co-founded the Matilija Lending Library, a nonprofit uplifting BIPOC literature and culture. She also served on the El Monte Planning Commission from 2018 to 2023. Her work centers collective care, public health, and environmental equity in the San Gabriel Valley.
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Andrew Yip
FOUNDER
Andrew Yip is a U.S. Army veteran, community organizer, and conservation advocate from Hacienda Heights. He co-founded the Matilija Lending Library in El Monte and served on the board of the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority. He now serves on Metro’s Community Advisory Council and works with the National Parks Conservation Association, advancing equity and environmental protection across Southern California.
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Carolyn Huynh
ADVISORY MEMBER
Carolyn Huynh is a Vietnamese-American author based in Los Angeles. Her debut novel, The Fortunes of Jaded Women, was a Good Morning America Book Club pick and is being adapted for television. Her second novel, The Family Recipe, blends Vietnamese diasporic history with humor and heart. Huynh’s work centers complex Vietnamese-American women and draws from her background in journalism and human-centered design.
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Nina Dinh
ADVISORY MEMBER
Nina Dinh is a community organizer and creative strategist from the San Gabriel Valley. She currently works as a Customer Success Manager at Compiler supporting Cal-ITP and previously worked at ActiveSGV helping coordinate grassroots events, transit advocacy, and public health initiatives. As a Board Member of Matilija Collective, she brings experience in event coordination, digital strategy, and community development.
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Seleny Rodriguez
ADVISORY MEMBER
Seleny is a Mexican feminist, community organizer, and outreach worker with over eight years of experience advocating for environmental justice, LGBTQ rights, civic engagement, and health equity for immigrant communities. She currently works at the Garment Worker Center and previously organized with ActiveSGV and the Warehouse Workers Resource Center.
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Sydney Cheung
ADVISORY MEMBER
Sydney Cheung (she/they) is a youth organizer and educator from the San Gabriel Valley with a background in environmental justice and community organizing. She studied Environmental Science and Policy at Chapman University and currently serves as Youth and Education Director at OCEJ, where she works with students and schools on climate and environmental justice initiatives.