Biography

Kevin Casasola is a queer Filipino-American from Murrieta, Riverside County. He is a passionate educator, artivist, and mental health advocate who creates spaces where individuals can express their authentic selves. Kevin’s dedication to the Filipino/Pilipinx community was nurtured during his undergraduate years at UCLA and through his profession in youth education and development. He believes in the transformative power of education rooted in history and relevance, which he has demonstrated as a teacher, youth health educator, and teaching artist.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Kevin is an advocate for a balanced life, both physically and mentally. He enjoys dancing across Los Angeles, cooking with the community, and climbing outdoors. Kevin’s diverse interests and commitment to mastering his passions reflect his holistic personal and professional growth approach.

Kevin is pursuing a joint Master of Social Welfare and Asian American Studies at UCLA. His research focuses on developing critical behavioral health interventions to improve mental health outcomes for Filipino immigrants and their LGBTQ+ children. Kevin is particularly interested in addressing the challenges posed by religiosity and mental health stigma within these families, aiming to foster stronger relationships and better mental health outcomes.

Through his work at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Kevin leads discussions with parents of LGBTQ+ children to help them reconcile and strengthen family bonds. His goal is to tailor interventions that address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ Filipino youth and their families, as a clinical practitioner of social work.