Yearly Archives: 2018

• What Leadership Means to Us

  By Pallavi Rudraraju, VA Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff   This week marks the first full week of Spring (regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil has to say about it), and with fast-approaching, warm weather and bright sunshine comes a new focus on leadership and career exploration in the VA Middle School programs. Last week, VAMS youth had wo

• Practicing Leadership Through Facilitation

  By Diane Bui, MD High School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff One of the most exciting leadership opportunities AALEAD youth have is the chance to serve on our yearly youth council. Youth meet on a monthly basis to discuss what they hope to accomplish in programs, and help support planning events for their fellow AALEAD peers.

  Meet the AALEAD Board

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Board The AALEAD Board is a group of individuals who are responsible for overseeing the AALEAD's activities and meet periodically to discuss and vote on the affairs of the organization.  AALEAD's Board is made up of 12 individuals representing 8 Asian ethnic groups as well as a balance of other identities that reflect AALEAD’s families including varied religions, educational attainment, age, gender, and careers. The primary r

• Aspire to LEAD 2018

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Aspire to LEAD is about getting involved with Asian American LEAD to impact the lives of low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth. One of the ways to get involved is joining AALEAD at a powerful 1-hour fundraising breakfast on April 6, 2018 at 8:30 am at Top of the Town in Arlington, VA. You will learn about the amazing impact our programming is having on our low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American young pe

• Black and Asian Pacific American Solidarity – a history of resistance

  By Mecca McPherson, MD Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff In 1926, Black History Month was first established in by

• Sharing My Culture: 2018 Spring Intern Introduction

  By Kenny Lam, DC Elementary School Program Intern Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff   The AALEAD Internship program is an excellent opportunity for folks to get involved in the community and learn about youth development. K

• Getting in Touch with Our Roots

  By Pallavi Rudraraju, VA Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Pallavi Rudraraju   As you may know, AALEAD’s theme for this 2017-2018 school year is “AALEAD Origins: Rooted in Our Past, Creating Our Future.” Our goal is to learn about our past and use it to create the future we want to see in the world. For the past few weeks in the VA MS After School Program, we have been focusing on just that!  

  How Mentors Impact Lives

  By Vi Bui, Youth Mentoring & Volunteer Programs Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff The end of National Mentoring Month (aka January) marks 11 months that I have worked at AALEAD as the Youth Mentoring & Volunteer Programs Coordinator and over the course of this year I have learned so much about the importance of mentors in the Asian Pacific American community. Here are just a few ways mentors impact lives.

  1. Mentors support their mentees in pursuing new

  2. Mentor and Family Appreciation Potluck: An Afternoon of Building Community

     By Freidricka Camille, Community College and Internship Programs Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff In honor of National Mentoring Month, AALEAD hosted a Mentor and Appreciation Potluck this past weekend. The Mentoring Team organized the event with the purpose of recognizing the youth mentors and community col

  3. 5 Questions for AALEAD’s Mentor of the Year Nominee

     By Stephanie T., Current AALEAD Mentor Photo Courtesy of Stephanie T.
     Every year AALEAD has a chance to nominate one of our mentors for the Mentoring Matters Coalition Mentor of the Year Award. This year we have nominated one of our Youth Mentors, Stephanie T., who has demonstrated that mentoring can go beyond a formal relationship between an adult and a young person to become a close sisterh