Educational Empowerment

• A Cycle of Peer to Peer Mentoring

  By Keo Xiong, MD Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff   March was an inspiring month of youth leadership in action. The AALEAD Maryland middle school after-school program spent their March learning about high school, and had extended opportunities to meet their high school counterparts. Middle school youth learned more about life after middle school through our ‘Middle School to High School Transition Support Series,’ which included in-class workshops and guided walk

• Stories that Envision, Create, Transform

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Photos Courtesy of Saadia Ahmed On March 22, 2017, AALEAD hosted the Aspire to LEAD fundraising event at Top of the Town in Arlington, VA. This was AALEAD's 4th such fundraiser and my first as Executive Director. Last year I was behind the scenes and this year I had the incredible opportunity to join our youth in sharing our often overlooked stories as Asian Pacific Americans. This year's theme was Envision, Create, Transform. For our youth, staff, mentors

• ECAASU 2017: Atmosphere Leads to Expansion

  By Charles Kuo, DC Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff     18 youth. 3 program staff. 2 vans. 1 life-changing experience. On February 17, 2017, 18 of o

• Don’t Underestimate Young People

  By Yonsoo Kang, VA Middle School Program Coordinator Photos courtesy of Yonsoo Kang Hello again! In lieu of the recent election, it is undeniable that there has been a rise in incidents of hate, bigotry, and prejudice in schools around the country. I wanted to design a lesson for my AALEADers so they could see past and current scene of people who expressed hate and how others have decided to respond. Instead of using dreaded PowerPoint slides, we decided to create a gallery made up of wo

• Safe, Supportive, Stable: The Importance of Out-of-School Time Programs

  By Keo Xiong, MD Programs Manager   Any space that serves youth and young people should be safe, supportive, and stable. Safety, both physically and emotionally, sets the foundation for youth (and all people) to thrive. Creating a culture of support allows youth to share in each other's successes, and rally to uplift others in times of difficulty. Stability ensures that youth know they will always have a place to go and trusted people to talk to. When youth feel safe and supported in

• Envision | Create | Transform and Aspire to LEAD on March 22!

  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 joi

• Reminders at the End of National Mentoring Month

  By Stephanie Lim, Mentoring & Volunteer Programs Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Stephanie Lim This past week marked many celebrations. As we wrap up National Mentoring Month at AALEAD, I'm glad to have the opportunity to publicly appreciate our Mentors, whose victories and accomplishments occur in conversations, laughter, and moments of sharing with their mentees. [caption id="attachment_14788" align="alignleft" width="329"]

  National Mentoring Month Highlight: Eugene K.

  By Eugene K., Current VA Youth Mentee Photo Courtesy of Eugene [caption id="attachment_14766" align="aligncenter" width="865"] Eugene (right) with this mentor, Dave (left)[/caption] This last youth mentee spotlight this month comes from Eugene, who is dual-enrolled in our Mentoring Program and our VA aft

• National Mentoring Month Highlight: Sue G.

  By Sue G., Current MD Youth Mentee Photo Courtesy of Shanice Lo, MD Middle School Program Coordinator We are halfway through National Mentoring Month, and I am excited to share another account of one of our youth mentees! This week's post comes from Sue G., who is an active member of our MD Programs. I first met Sue when I visited her after-school program in Fall 2015. I remember being nervous, as it was one of my first Maryland site visits. But, I also remember Sue putting me at ease wi

• National Mentoring Month Highlight: Tommy L.

  By Tommy L., Current DC Youth Mentee Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Lim, Mentoring & Volunteer Programs Coordinator Happy National Mentoring Month! It has been such a joy building relationships with our wonderful youth mentees, learning about their interests, passions, and goals. Every January, I have the unique opportunity to reflect on the larger meaning of the work I do with the supremely gracious, thoughtful, talented, hilarious and warm young people in AALEAD's Mentoring Program. I