Identity

• National Mentoring Month: Brian and Ali

  By Brian L., Current AALEAD Mentor Photos Courtesy of Brian L., Current AALEAD Mentor As we continue to celebrate National Mentoring Month at Asian American LEAD (AALEAD), we turn to the following post, which comes to us from one of our DC mentors, Brian L. What a powerful thing it is to connect, grow, and learn from each other. Thank you, Brian, for sharing your story. Happy National Mentoring Month! -Stephanie Lim, Mentoring & Volunteer Programs Coordinator

  National Mentoring Month: Ha and Christina

  By Ha T., Current AALEAD Mentor and Christina L., Current AALEAD Youth Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff Every January, the Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) Mentoring Program celebrates National Mentoring Month. National Mentoring Month is a time for us to acknowledge the great work that our AALEAD mentors do. Our Mentoring Program wouldn't be the same without their passion, commitment, and dedication. We are deeply appreciative of and thankful for their support of our youth. This post hig

• A Season of Giving with AALEAD

  By Chelsea Iorlano, Development & Communications Associate Photos Courtesy of Chelsea Iorlano Each day, the youth we serve come to AALEAD Programs and give.  They give their attention, time, respect, appreciation, energy, and support.  Each day in programs, youth give of themselves and create the vibrant, nurturing, and strong community that is AALEAD.  AALEAD Programs could not provide the stable community and safe space that they do without the youth committing to their programs and

• AALEAD Voices

  By Shaima Ahmad, VA Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of Shaima Ahmad This past week three AALEAD youth from the VA High School Program at Annandale HS had the opportunity to attend a Student Voices Session at the US Department of Education with Secretary Arne Duncan and Under Secretary John King. The session was focused on hearing stories and gaining feedback from first generation immigrant youth and their families in regards to their experiences with the US education system. Despite being n

• Learning through Lumpia

  By Diane Bui, MD Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Diane Bui Growing up in my household, there were two guarantees: smiles were easy to come by and the food was always delicious. My parents came from the Philippines and Vietnam, and one sure way to always get mine and my sister’s attention was through food. This is how I first learned about my culture, and it’s still my favorite way to learn. One staple whenever we attended any Filipino gathering was lumpia, or Filipin

• An Asian American LEAD Thanksgiving

  By Neel Saxena, Development & Communications Director Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff Growing up, every Thanksgiving I would sit at my parent’s dining room table surrounded by freshly fried samosas, simmering matter paneer, spicy chicken biryani, and canned cranberry sauce - all the while wondering why I couldn’t have a “normal” thanksgiving meal like they did on The Wonder Years. The holidays highlighted the duality of my identity and the conflict between my Asian side

• Dignity and Pride as the AALEAD Family Grows

  By Yonsoo Kang, VA Middle School Program Coordinator, and Eileen Chen, VA Programs Intern Photos Courtesy of Yonsoo Kang, Eileen Chen, and the Heinz History Center “…the movements translate to ‘I’m not above you, you’re not above me, we’re side by side, we’re together…’” – LaMont Hamilton, Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage,

  After the Guitar Workshop: Backstage with Bernard and Nanc

    By Ari Pak, MD High School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Ari Pak “Joy can be a joy and sadness can be a sadness… With guitar, I can express as much as what I