Yearly Archives: 2016

• My Dream Job Experience

  By Naijla Faizi, DC Middle and High School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Chelsea Iorlano, Development and Communications Associate   Dear AALEADers, I want to thank all of you for an amazing 6 months starting from my summer internship until now. Unfortunately, due to personal family circumstances, I will be cutting my time a

• What AALEAD Is About

  By Yonsoo Kang, VA Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff Hello everyone! We just had our winter holiday party at Holmes and Poe Middle Schools, so the past two days have been both fun and busy. I noticed the middle school holiday parties embodied core values of AALEAD, such as leadership, family, kindness, collaboration, enthusiasm, and finding your voice. A lot of AALEADers stepped up to help make the party successful because a few things were different this y

• Spotlight: Youth Voice on Social Issues

  By Ari Pak, MD High School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff, Youth Powerpoint, and Southern Poverty Law Center If anyone has ever

• What I’ve Learned from the Youth

  By Lili Greenstein, Development & Communications Intern Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff As I began this experience, I expected the typical internship position: filing, drafting cookie cutter tweets, instagram posts and other busy work. What I didn’t expect was to feel more morally and ethically connected to any other organization that I’ve worked for. AALEAD embodies the most important youth development component that I believe is crucial to success. H

• AALEADers Learn about Campaign Finance

  By Naijla Faizi, DC Middle & High School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff Last week AALEAD DC middle and high school youth participated in a guest workshop by DC Fair Elections Coalition. This coalition “represents groups from the environmental, labor, economic justice, social justice, faith, and good government movements.” Their main goal is “to pass meaningful campaign finance reform in D.C. to empower everyday residents and make

• Make a Difference Day- Leveling the Playing Field

  By Shanice Lo, MD Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff AALEAD youth got their first hands-on field trip on how to become a Change Maker (this year's MD theme – read our post here on MD's theme for a refresher)! This time AALEAD Change Makers focus on their HANDS, taking action and making a difference through the community service event, National Make a Difference Day. On October 22nd, 33 A

• Letter from the Director

  Dear AALEAD Family, I write this letter to you, past and current youth, donors, supporters, and staff, to express my excitement as I embark on this journey as the new Executive Director of Asian American LEAD. I am honored and humbled to have been selected by AALEAD’s Board to follow in the visionary footsteps of our previous executive directors: Sandy Dang, Rosetta Lai, and Surjeet Ahluwalia. It is through the commitment and efforts of all of you that we are the only organization in the

• 2nd Annual VA Fall Festival

  By Shaima Ahmad, VA Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of Chelsea Iorlano, Development & Communications Associate Last week, AALEAD VA Programs came together to celebrate the start of after school programs for the 2016-17 school year. More than 70 youth across all 3 school sites— Holmes MS, Poe MS, and Annandale HS— attended. The theme for this year's festival was "Autumn Around the World." Youth had the opportunity to learn about how autumn is celebrated in other parts of the world th

• See You Soon!

  By Surjeet Ahluwalia, Executive Director Photo Courtesy of Chelsea Iorlano, Development & Communications Associate This is the last time I will be writing all of you as Executive Director of Asian American LEAD!  Beginning November 7^th, I will pass the torch to Neel Saxena, our current Development & Communications Director. The last six years have been quite the journey for Asian American LEAD and for me personally.  I’m proud of the work we have done together:

• MD Change Makers

  By Diane Bui, MD Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Chelsea Iorlano, Development and Communications Associate   Each new school year brings a new, exciting energy to AALEAD programs. This year, the Maryland team wants to focus on unifying all youth throughout the nine program sites under one theme and year-long goal. During the 2016 – 2017 school year, Maryland youth will focus on becoming change makers within the community. But what does that