Timothy Yi
he/they | TI-MUH-THEE YEE
Pilot Light Program Evaluation Intern
As Pilot Light’s Program Evaluation Intern, Timothy Yi assists with data analysis and report-building for programs including the Food Education Fellowship and Classroom to Cafeteria. Timothy is passionate about the ethical use of data to promote positive change in his community and beyond.
In the past, Timothy has interned at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Breakthrough New York supporting evaluation teams. His experiences instilled in him a deep interest in the policy implications of data, specifically how data can effectively supplement people-driven projects without overshadowing perspectives “on-the-ground.” He has also worked as a summer camp coach and enjoys working with students. Currently, Timothy is a rising senior at the University of Chicago majoring in public policy studies with a concentration in environmental policy. As a second-gen immigrant and first-gen college student, Timothy is motivated by the prospect of bettering the lives and opportunities of students belonging to traditionally marginalized groups. He hopes that his efforts at Pilot Light will help promote greater awareness for healthy eating, sustainable food sourcing, and food inequity.
Favorite Food Education Standard: FES #1 – Food connects us to each other.
Growing up, mealtime played a huge role as a medium for connection, whether it be at school, at church, or at home. As a native of Queens, my home community opened me up to a vast array of different cultures and cuisines. I believe food helps bring down walls and makes us more conscious of the backgrounds of people we call friends and family. It has certainly helped me bond with people on a deeper, more personal level.
A favorite food memory:
When I was 12, I traveled with my family to South Korea to visit my grandmother, who I shared a dear bond with. She adored my brother and I and was always making exceptions for us when our parents were away. I had briefly mentioned to her one night that I was craving samgyeopsal, or grilled pork belly, and the next morning she had prepared an enormous dish filled with it while my parents were out. Ordinarily, samgyeopsal is eaten during lunch or dinner, so color us shocked when we approached the breakfast table! We spent the rest of the morning feasting on the barbecued meat until we were overcome by food coma.