In 1997, Kathi co-founded Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS). SURVIVORS’ mission is to facilitate the healing of torture survivors and their families; educate professionals and the public about torture and its consequences; and advocate for torture survivors and the abolition of torture. She served as SURVIVORS’ first board chair before becoming its first executive director. In 2022 she announced her retirement.
She had extensive experience in health care, human rights, refugee resettlement and higher education. She received from San Jose State University her M.A. in Counseling and from the University of the Pacific her B.A. in International Relations with an emphasis on Latin America. She studied in Mexico and worked in Costa Rica.
Kathi still serves as an elected member of the Denmark-based International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims’ governing board and was one of the co-founders and officers of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs. She also currently serves on the advisory board for the Barbara Chester Award of The Hopi Foundation.
Previously, she founded Lutheran Social Services of Idaho as well as served on the national boards of directors of Amnesty International and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service as well as numerous local boards of directors. Kathi has twice testified in Congress, met with foreign ministry and United Nations officials, presented in national conferences and guest lectured locally, nationally and internationally. In 2020, she was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame.
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Facilitating the conversations are award-winning filmmakers and SDFC co-founders Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco Bautista, and Alicia de Leon Torres, Deputy Director of the Nemeth Foundation and SDFC Board Member. Sound design and edit by SDFC Technical Director, Miko Aguilar. Key art design by SDFC Communications & Social Media Manager, Tiara Liz Deriquito.
Nemeth Narratives is presented by The Nemeth Foundations in partnership with San Diego Filipino Cinema and New Americans Museum
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