Liza Merrill

About Liza Merrill

Liza E. Laguana Merrill is a nonprofit advocate, organizer, and community champion dedicated to advancing equity and access across diverse communities. She is a Certified Community Health Worker, Healthcare Enrollment Navigator, and Medicaid Application Assister, with extensive experience in program development, training, and community engagement.She currently serves as Interim Executive Director of Asian Pacific Community in Action (APCA), where she oversees initiatives that promote health equity, expand healthcare access, and strengthen services for Arizona’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Liza also leads the training and professional development of Community Health Workers and Healthcare Navigators, ensuring that frontline staff are equipped to serve clients with compassion, accuracy, and cultural competency.Nationally, she serves as Chair of the Client Advocacy Council at the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), amplifying client voices and advancing advocacy efforts that uphold fairness and justice.Guided by her belief that “there is no community work without the permission of the community,” Liza grounds her leadership in trust, collaboration, and respect. Known for her expertise in nonprofit governance, compliance, outreach, and workforce training, she remains deeply committed to empowering communities, honoring cultural identity, and fostering partnerships that create lasting impact.

Experience

1. Community Health Worker, Lead Health Care Navigator

   Asian Pacific Community In Action

   Jun 2022 — Present

Education

• Arizona State University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies

  2012 — 2016

Skills

• Fundraising
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Budgets
• Teaching
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Event Management
• Public Health
• Policy Analysis
• Event Planning
• Public Speaking
• Non-Profits
• Grant Writing
• Policy
• Grants
• Research
• Project Planning
• Leadership Development
• Public Policy
• Public Relations
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Program Evaluation
• Strategic Planning
• Social Services
• Volunteer Management
• Community Organizing
• Team Building
• Program Development