Staff Update

• My Favorite AALEAD Moments, pt3.

  By Anu Sharma, MD High School Program Coordinator; Shaima Ahmad, VA Programs Manager; and Ha Nguyen, Development & Communications Associate

  Photos courtesy of AALEAD Staff
  

  This week, we visit Anu and Shaima, who are currently working with our AALEAD High School youth in Maryland and Virginia programs. However, did you know that both Anu

• Greetings from Anu!

  By Anu Sharma, MD High School Program Coordinator
  Photos Courtesy of Anu Sharma and AALEAD Staff

  In a response to the question “What keeps you going?”, Angela Davis, a Black political activist, author, and scholar, explains:
  

  “Optimism is an absolute necessity… What has kept me going has been the development of new modes of community. I don�

• Thank You, AALEAD

  By Diane Bui, former AALEAD MD High School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Diane Bui and other AALEAD Staff   In summer 2015, I had just returned from my post-grad gap year in Australia unsure of what next steps I wanted to take in my life. I knew I needed to get a job, but I had no idea what job I wanted. I found the position of MD Middle School Program Coordinator at AALEAD and thought it would be a good fit. My first day at AALEAD was September 8, 2015. And I had no i

• #KeepFamiliesTogether

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Photos courtesy of Various Sources AALEAD was founded to support refugee youth and families. Refugees who saw their family members, neighbors, friends, and coworkers killed back home or lost during their passage, facing danger from pirates, over-crowded boats, and storms. [caption id="attachment_16406" align="alignleft" width="300"]

  Celebrate Our Stories, Our History

  By Neel Saxena, AALEAD Executive Director Photos Courtesy of Various Sources   Every May, the Asian Pacific American (APA) community gears up for

• Do You Know Who You Are?

  By Ha Nguyen, Development and Communications Associate Photos Courtesy of AALEAD staff As 2017 starts to wrap up and give way to 2018, we begin to reflect back on how our life has progressed throughout the year. It is essential to not just dwell on mistakes that you have made along the way. It is also about rejoicing for what you have accomplished and drawing lessons on what disappointed you. 2017 has been a roller coaster for me, but I would not take it any other way. Hello eve

• My Journey To Youth Work

  By: Saadia Ahmad, DC Elementary School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff “But you’re a fashion designer, how come you’re teach

• The 3 Most Important Things I’ve Learned About Youth Work in 3 Months

  By: Mecca McPherson, MD Middle School Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff I had just arrived off the metro from a closing shift at work, when I saw the email notification. I read good news - my application to intern with Asian American LEAD had been accepted! During orientation, I met the other interns and learned I would be working with the DC Middle and High School Summer Program under the tutelage of one Stephanie Lim. Though filled with slight apprehension, I was mostly excited.

• Lessons Taught, Lessons Learned: What Young People Taught One Youth Worker

  By Keo Xiong, Former AALEAD Staff Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff In August 2013, I packed into my new Scion XB a few bags of clothes, some books, photo scrapbooks, and a few snacks, and hit the road on a three day road trip from St. Paul, MN to Washington, D.C. to begin my new job at Asian American LEAD as a Maryland Middle School Program Coordinator. Four years later, after having become the Maryland Programs Manager, in August 2017, I repacked my now-tattered Scion XB (thanks, DC drivers)

• Feels Like Home

  By Pallavi Rudraraju, VA Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Pallavi Rudraraju Hello, everyone! This is Pallavi, the new VA Middle School Program Coordinator. You might remember me from a couple years back, when I interned for Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) as the DC Elementary School Intern for Summer 2015.