Identity

• Mental Health is Always on Our Minds

  By: Ari Pak, Programs Co-Director

  Photos courtesy of AALEAD staff

  Did you know that 1 in 5 youth ages 13-18 has a serious mental illness (National Alliance for Mental Illness)? According to the

  A Conversation with AALEAD Staff Mecca!

  

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director interviewing Mecca McPherson, MD Middle School Program Coordinator

  Photos courtesy of AALEAD Staff

  As February wrapped up last Friday

• The diversity of a Lunar New Year celebration

  By Ha Nguyen, Development & Communications Associate

  Photos courtesy of AALEAD Staff

  Every year as January starts to wrap up and February approaches, the atmosphere is filled with excitement, hope, and anticipation for the upcoming Lunar New Year. This year, February 5 marked the first day of the Year of the Pig, the twelfth and last animal of all zodiac animals.

• Love Your Heart

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director

  Photos from various sources

  

  

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director

  Photos Courtesy of Freidricka Camille, College and Career Mentoring Program Coordinator

  AALEAD’s approach to out-of-school time p

• Youth Mentoring Program Spotlight

  By Emily N., Current Mentee and Ha Nguyen, Development & Communications Associate

  Photos courtesy of AALEAD Staff

  Since its inauguration in 2002, the National Mentoring Month campaign is held and observed every January to raise awareness and promote youth mentoring in United States. This week, we are highlighting the

  A Cultural disPLACEment

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director
  
  Photo courtesy of Taquiena Boston
  

  On Thursday, October 18, 2019, Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) connected with the Consumer Health Foundation (CHF) to help celebrate their 20th Anniversary with a tour of DC’s Chinatown and share #ThisFireBurnin inside youth whose history has been erased and ignored. CHF advocates for racial eq

• “I could not have done this alone.”

  By Stephanie Lim, former DC Middle & High School Program Coordinator

  Photos Courtesy of Stephanie Lim and AALEAD Staff
  

  At the time of writing, it is the Monday of my last week at Asian American LEAD. I have cleaned out most of my desk and organized it for the next coordinator. I have packed most of the notes and cards I’ve received from youth, former i

• My Favorite AALEAD Moments, pt4.

  By Vi Bui, Youth Mentoring & Volunteer Programs Coordinator; Freidricka Camille, College & Career Mentoring Programs Coordinator; and Ha Nguyen, Development & Communications Associate

  Photos courtesy of AALEAD Staff

  Founded in 1998, AALEAD initially served the large Vietnamese refugee community in the Columbia Heights area of Washington DC. As the dem

• My Favorite AALEAD Moments, pt2.

  By Charles Kuo, DC Programs Manager; Saadia Ahmad, DC Elementary School Program Coordinator; and Ha Nguyen, Development and Communications Associate

  Photos courtesy of AALEAD staff

  This year, AALEAD celebrates 20 years of empowering young leaders across the DC metropolitan area through our after-school, summer and mentoring programs.