Rhea Yap joined CMAA in 2021 as the Director of Strategic Initiatives after serving on the board of directors for three years. Prior to joining CMAA, Rhea served as the Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and as Director of Development at Erie Neighborhood House. She is a member of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), the Breakin’ It Down Conference steering committee, Asian Giving Circle, OPRF NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy giving group, Chicago Council on Planned Giving, Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, Gingarte Capoeira Chicago and TEDxOakParkWomen. Rhea earned her B.A. at the University of Michigan and M.A. at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice (formerly known as School for Social Service Administration).

 

Rhea is a second generation Chinese-Filipina immigrant born and raised in the Detroit-area  before coming to Chicago. She lives in the northwest side with her other half and two children, who represent a mix of Chinese, Filipino, Puerto Rican and Mexican descent.

 

FUN FACT | Rhea grew up studying ballet, jazz, and taekwondo. She actively trains and teaches capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial and cultural art. Also, she loves to travel around the world.