Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) is ??? ?? ????excited to announce its new director of service programs, Peter Gee.

Peter Gee

He will lead service programs that are core to the organization’s mission and roots as a social service agency, including care management, mental health services, Changing Tides, homeless services and senior services – just to name a few. He will also serve on the Executive Management Committee, the organization’s staff leadership team. 

Gee comes to LTSC with a wide breadth of expertise in human services. After graduating from UC Berkeley and earning his master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University, he served the community for over 15 years in various senior leadership roles at human service and community development organizations in New York City. His career led him to work with diverse populations, from rent-regulated immigrant tenants to people living with serious mental illness to systems-involved youth and young adults.

Most recently, Gee transitioned into a second career as a registered nurse, with a BS in nursing from NYU and licensing in New York, Minnesota and California. 

“LTSC is thrilled to have Peter return to Little Tokyo to serve our mission,” the agency said. While in high school, he served as an intern for Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, a former LTSC program, and the Terasaki Budokan campaign an LTSC project.

As Gee has stayed in touch with many people at LTSC over the years, he says returning to LTSC brings his career full circle and is like “coming home.” 

Gee is next in a long line of excellent directors of service programs, including Yasuko Sakamoto, Mike Murase, and Margaret Shimada.

Shimada, who retires on March 31 of this year, will be working side-by-side with Gee during this transitional period.

“I enter this next chapter of life (retirement) with great joy and peace of mind, knowing that the future of LTSC’s service programs is in Peter’s very capable hands,” she said. “He will be supported by an absolutely stellar team and incredibly dedicated staff who will carry forth LTSC’s mission and Peter’s vision to further enhance services and programs.

“I’m excited about what lies ahead for LTSC and will continue to support the team during this transition period and beyond.”

LTSC Executive Director Erich Nakano said, “To be honest, I was worried we would not be able to find anyone for this position, given the tremendous legacy Margaret leaves when she retires. Several of us had stayed in touch with Peter since his early days working with us, and so when I found out he wanted to apply for the position I was absolutely thrilled. As he hit the ground running, our expectations were proven correct!”

“I am excited to be joining the team at Little Tokyo Service Center,” said Gee. “Even though LTSC has grown to be a nationally recognized community development and social service organization, it has never forgotten its core mission and values. It is an honor to follow in the footsteps of community icons Yasuko Sakamoto, Mike Murase, and Margaret Shimada.

“In this transition, I look forward to meeting with community members and partners to hear how LTSC can continue to be on the forefront of addressing immediate social service needs.”

For over 40 years, LTSC has provided a safety net of social welfare and community development services to empower people and communities in need. Starting with its home in Little Tokyo, LTSC preserves and strengthens the unique ethnic communities of the Southern California region, where people, culture and collective future matter. www.ltsc.org