ABOUT US

Born in Vietnam and raised in New Orleans, Tom Bui brings a unique perspective to his role as a Program Manager at a community-based organization in City Heights. His diverse background has ignited a deep passion for the neighborhood’s vibrant culture, particularly its dynamic food scene.
Tom champions community growth by leading a program that provides technical assistance, funding, and marketing support to city heights local businesses. He understands that a thriving business community is essential for the well-being of residents and makes it a priority to actively listen to their needs.
Drawing on his past career as an actor, Tom has honed powerful communication skills that are now a vital asset in his community work. These skills were on full display in "More than Pho," a web series he spearheaded to explore City Heights’ rich Vietnamese food culture. Tom's dedication to connecting with and empowering his community makes him a key driver of its continued prosperity.

Mimi Tran (she/her/hers) is a retirement and life insurance specialist with Appreciation Financial. Born and raised in Garden Grove, CA, surrounded by many Vietnamese people in the large diaspora of Little Saigon, Orange County, Mimi was thrilled to find a delicious bowl of Bun Bo Hue to remind her of home and Vietnamese community to connect with when she moved to San Diego to attend UC San Diego.

Mimi is passionate about City Heights because it reminds her of the diverse neighborhood she grew up in that was rich in diversity, language, culture, and food. “I am incredibly excited to be working with Viet Voices on More Than Pho, to promote the amazing Vietnamese restaurants in City Heights that have provided me a sense of home and comfort. There is so much depth to Vietnamese culture and any single dish can tell a story about struggle, survival, growth, determination, and love. These stories deserve to be shared and celebrated.”

Hola, my name is Carlos Solorio from Tijuana, BC, Mexico and raised in San Diego, CA. I’m the Creative Director behind the camera for Solorio Film Productions, a binational media company that focuses on capturing migrant and refugee stories on both sides of our border region. 

My life changed when I moved to the nearby Oak Park neighborhood and was exposed to Asian culture, specifically Vietnamese food while a student at the Horace Mann Middle School. My experience with the diverse cultures in City Heights opened my global lens and allowed me to make connections with friends who shared similar migrant upbringings coming to this country looking for better opportunities. 

I am a graduate from CSU Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in TV, Film, and New Media Studies and SDSU with a M.A. in Liberal Studies, focusing in Media Studies, Fine Arts, and Transformative Arts. 

I have documented great stories for many years on El Cajon Boulevard, specifically the Little Saigon District and am extremely blessed and grateful to participate in this More Than Pho endeavor, capturing great stories of family roots, resilience, and of course tasting great recipes of many flavorful dishes. 

Tessie Truc Ho (she/her) is a Social Media Marketer at Division-D, a digital advertising company. Originally from Vietnam, Tessie is passionate about celebrating Vietnamese culture—its voices, beauty, cuisine, and civic engagement. She brings this passion to her role as Executive Director of Heritage Westminster, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the Vietnamese community. In her free time, Tessie enjoys reading, exploring local restaurants, and traveling.