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• Youth Column: Reflections on Identity

  By Amie Do

  Being born in America, unlike my parents who are immigrants from Vietnam, has led to a difficult journey of assimilating into both the American and Vietnamese cultures. Although this process has been challenging, it has also been rewarding. It wasn’t just having to adjust to an environment where I felt disconnected, but it was an ongoing push and pull of my cultural identity. Despite being born

• Claudia’s Welcome

  By Claudia Han, Part-Time Virginia Middle School Youth Facilitation Coordinator

  Photos & Media courtesy of Claudia

  Hi Everyone!

  My name is Claudia Han (she/her/hers), the new Part-Time Virginia Middle School Youth Facilitation Coordinator. I am so excited to share with you a little bit more about myself, and ca

• Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month! 

  By Olivia Lancaster

  We hope you enjoyed Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month! 

  To celebrate, AALEAD attended the Asian Festival on Main in Virginia and were their official nonprofit partner this year! AALEAD received a donation of $3,500!

  We also observed AALEAD’s 25th anniversary with a 25th Anniv

• Summer 2023 Program Internship

  Hey everyone! My name is Kelly Ji, and I’m working for AALEAD as a summer program intern. I worked with AALEAD in high school, and I'm so excited to return to the organization after a year in college. I just finished my freshman year at Pomona College in Claremont, CA with a double major in Asian American Studies and Politics and a minor in Art.

  

  Interns Reflection

  This summer, Asian American LEAD hired four interns: Olivia Lancaster (Mentoring Program), Li Turner (Programs), Jaz Bisset (Executive), and Kelly Ji (Programs). With the end of summer, their internships came to a close, and they each reflected on their experiences with AALEAD.

  Olivia Lancaster: Olivia is a rising junior at American University and is a Communication Studies major. This was Olivia’s f

• Happy Volunteer Month!

  By Olivia Lancaster, Mentoring Program Intern

  The month of April is National Volunteer Month, which gives us an opportunity to honor and celebrate our amazing volunteers here at AALEAD!

  What are some of the ways volunteers help out with AALEAD programs?

  In our afterschool and summer programs, program aides provide

• Spring 2023 Mentoring Program Intern Spotlight – Olivia Lancaster

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  Hello everyone! My name is Olivia Lancaster (she/her), and I am currently a second-semester sophomore at American University. I am a Communication Studies major with a minor in International Studies. Apart from being a full-time student, I am also AALEAD’s spring 2023 Mentoring Program intern!

  By Catherine Han, Virginia Middle School Program Coordinator
  Photos by AALEAD Staff Members

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  On November 17, 2021, I joined the AALEAD community as Virginia Middle School Program Coordinator, and after being here for a little over a year, my time here at AALEAD is coming to a close. My last day with AALEAD will be on Friday, January 27,

• MD Programs December Recap

  Written by: Paris Copeland, MD MS Program Coordinator
  Images by: AALEAD Staff members

  On December 10th, 2022 our MD AALEAD youth went ice skating at Rockville Town Square’s Outdoor Ice Rink. This was the start of the end-of-semester celebrations for the youth to uplift all their hard wor

• Why does National Mentoring Month exist?

  Written By: YJ Jun (AALEAD Volunteer)

  This January, we are celebrating National Mentoring Month at AALEAD!