Grand Café English Creators
Angelica Matsuno
Writer, Producer, Lead Instructional Designer Angelica is an instructional designer and program manager whose experience includes designing curriculum for an award-winning telecourse distributed by PBS, teaching English and training teachers in Japan, launching an interactive distance learning initiative for a Fortune 500 software company in the early 2000’s, and leading television production workshops at a public access television station. Angelica worked as the lead blended learning developer, writer and producer of Grand Café English from 2006-2009. She currently serves as a strategic advisor stewarding its re-launch in 2022. She lives in Oakland, CA and currently works in the health care industry as an educational program manager. 
Farhana Huq
Series Creator, Executive Producer Farhana founded C.E.O. Women, a (now closed) nonprofit organization dedicated to championing the entrepreneurial skills and assets of low-income immigrant and refugee women. Under C.E.O. Women, Farhana founded and led the creation for Grand Café English. Currently she uses her 20+ years of leadership experience to coach and consult for nonprofit and social justice organizations and small businesses. She is the recipient of many leadership awards including the Ashoka Fellowship for social innovators. Farhana resides in Huchiun/Oakland, California and enjoys surfing, art, writing, traveling the globe, brunching and taking long walks in nature. 
Maríssa Aroy
Director Maríssa Aroy is an award-winning filmmaker of the documentary “Sikhs in America,” and ‘The Delano Manongs: Forgotten Heroes of the United Farm Workers.” A Fulbright scholar, she was the recipient of the first ever Hatsuye Yamasaki Award for Visionary Leadership from the College of William and Mary and was awarded the Asian Centenniel Filmmaker-in-Residence at the same university. She sits on the board of Women in Film and Television, Ireland and has been living in Ireland for the past five years with her husband and filmmaking partner Niall McKay. Bios Coming Soon!
Niall McKay Producer Nina Serrano
Writer Beth Silverstein
Writer Sarah Nielsen, Ph.D.
Series Advisor Heide Spruck Wrigley, Ph.D.
Series Advisor |
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Production Talent
Rebecca Smith - Business Start Up Coach Sofia Ahmad - Sylvia Martinez Dan Rubin - Antonio Talamantez Carla Pantoja - Yolanda Gonzalez Humu Yansané - Lily Toussaint Tina Chilip - Diana Wong Cristina Anselmo - Cecilia Guidos Monica Murillo - Marisol Gonzalez Amelia Martinez Schumacher - Alina Brian Rivera - Oscar Gonzalez Jensen Martinez - Marcos Gonzalez Corey Jackson - Christian Toussaint Ruby Matsuno - May Ying Wong Johnny Murillo - Gabriel Pena Rashmi Rustagi - Naseem Paco Romane - Mr. Cappelli Gabriel Grilli - Mr. Morrison |
Background Talent
Pete Saulnier- Café Patron Joanne K. Wojdula - Café Patron David Aakhus - Café Parton Danny B. Warner - Café Patron Robert Lee - Café Patron Ruby Park - Café Patron Oscar Flores - Café Parton Nuria Ibars - Café Patron Pete Saulnier - Café Patron Drew Cambell - Shady Business Man Winslow Norton - Shady Business Man Abraham Norton - Shady Business Man Anita Dharapuram - Passerby Maggie Lam - Extra, Café Rocky Hanye, Construction Worker Nicolas Razo, Construction Worker Donald Gaskins - Bank Teller Joan M. Festa - Mrs. Festa Tara Tomicevic - Farmer's Market shopper Amber Dekker - Party Kid Kylie Halmi - Party Kid Lauren Halmi - Party Kid Claire Londgren - Party Kid Anja Londgren - Party Kid Mia Matsuno - Party Kid |
Production Crew
Lisa Whitmer - Pre-Production Associate Producer/Offline Editor Terrie Samundra - Assistant Producer Jennifer Patten - Production Coordinator John Wong - Production Intern Michael Ching - Casting Director Jerremy Stewart - First AD Grace Liu - Associate Producer Natalie Newman - DP Nate Henry - Gaffer Studio Mike Best - Gaffer On-Location Thomas "Tommy" Barney - 2nd Camera Andre Morton1st - AC Carmen Osterlye - 2nd AC Dan Witrock - Key Grip Keith Pikus - Key Grip Neel Eargood - 2nd AD James Lindsey - Location Sound Valera Coble - Art Director Allison Jones - Assistant Art Director Allison - Props/Art Assist Pio (Kapiolani) Lee - Wardrobe Elizabeth Fox - Make Up Shana Astrachan - Make Up Danielle Barcena - Craft Services Eloisa Alarcon - Set Teacher kristine wong - Interns Jorden Wingrove - Intern John Ashton Keller - Intern Will Rogers - Intern John Wong - Intern |
Volunteer Strategic and Business Advisors
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Business Planning
Flora Sun Ritu Kathpalia Kathy Nicholson |
Program Strategy
Craig Chatterton Radha Basu |