Why we’re here
We all deserve to live. But the systems in our society make it easier for some groups while making it harder for others. Through Makabuhay Visionaries, we’re transforming how we live together.
We kindle curiosity, sparking flames of knowledge for liberation. Fueled by our ancestors’ struggles against colonization, capitalism, patriarchy, and racism, we believe that collective liberation requires community collaboration.
It’s been a journey and we invite you to join us.
What we do
We are researchers, speakers, and connectors.
Together, we cultivate knowledge for healthier communities. How can we support your work in education, health, and/or social justice to bring this collaborative vision to fruition?
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Researchers - producing knowledge; seeking truth
Curious about a social issue that could benefit from structured investigation? Ask about our applied research services.
Examples:
Filipino American community health
Immigration policy
Quantitative analysis of anxiety and political engagement among immigrant students and students with immigrant parents (UC PromISE study)
Qualitative study on student affairs professionals and the founding of a Dream Resource Center
Quantitative analysis of depression among undocumented Asians and Pacific Islanders (BRAVE Study)
Curriculum in schools of public health
Racism narratives in medical journals
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Speakers - sharing knowledge; speaking truth
Hire us for keynote speeches about health equity, ethnic studies, the Filipinx/a/o American community, and/or Asian Americans.
Gain tools to navigate higher education or conduct your own studies through our research training workshops.
Examples:
Filipino American History Month presentation for Cal State San Bernardino APIDA Center (Instagram post)
Community Cultural Wealth presentation for Cal State Fullerton Graduate Students (YouTube recording)
Career talk for UC Berkeley Data Science and Social Justice Summer Workshop (Slides)
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Connectors - bringing truth seekers/speakers together
Because scholars are humans, too. Bring your whole self to our facilitated gatherings to meet others with shared values, unwind, and reset.
Examples:
Celebrating Pinay doctoral graduates class of 2024: Doktora P-Grad
Who we are
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![A Filipina American with black hair and a floral terno]()
Erin Manalo-Pedro, PhD, MPH, CHES
FOUNDER
Doktora Erin (she/her/hers) leads Makabuhay Visionaries with the rigor our communities deserve and a strong dedication to well-being. Ignited by her ongoing personal journey to healing, she uses research to bear witness to the collective struggles that are often omitted from core curriculum and disregarded within the health ecosystem. -
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Michael R. Manalo-Pedro, EdD, MA
CONSULTANT
Dr. Michael (he/him/siya) lives ethnic studies praxis. His approach to teaching and consulting reflect nearly two decades of expertise in non-profit, higher education, and grassroots organization settings.
