Dr. Jade Keala Agua is the Executive Director of the Mukai Farm & Garden, where she oversees a wide range of programs, including Haiku Festival, currently on view.

She brings more than 20 years of experience in learning, organizational development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her work is grounded in a race-conscious, equity-minded approach to community engagement and nonprofit leadership. Most recently, she served as Chief Learning Officer at the USC Race and Equity Center.

Dr. Agua has led educational trips to the Manzanar incarceration site in California and served as a docent at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles. She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.

In our conversation, we explore the rich diversity of events at Mukai—and what makes this work so meaningful to her.