MD Summer Program Highlights

Written and Compiled by: MD Programs Team
Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff

The AALEAD MD team organized the first Mental Health Convening for Asian American and Pacific Islander youth in Montgomery County, MD. During the Mental Health Convening, youth explored and learned about mental health, were provided tools to maintain healthy wellbeing, shared their personal stories, and learned and practiced various techniques to address stress.

Nineteenth youth representing eight MCPS schools participated in the Mental Health Convening. Additionally, AALEAD provided 12 mental health and wellness activities in AALEAD’s after-school programs. A total of 52 youth were served from May-June.

During the MD Summer program, the youth had a 10-hour advocacy workshop curated by AALEAD staff and Education Policy Manager Natalie Truong from SEARAC. Staff provided opportunities for youth to discuss current issues (e.g., AAPI history in schools, gun violence, healthcare, abortion rights, climate change) in small groups, plan their working process, draft their speeches, and develop their public speaking skills. The outcome of the advocacy training were meetings with three members of the U.S. House of Representatives: Rep. Meng (NY-6), Rep. Trone (MD-6), and staffer John Park of Rep. Kim (NJ-3), and presenting their hard work to them.

MD After-School Programs

The MD enrollment form is LIVE! We are currently accepting applications for any/all MD youth in 6th-12th grades. Participating schools: Julius West Middle School, Parkland Magnet Middle School, Newport Mill Middle School, Albert Einstein High school, Montgomery Blair High School, and Wheaton High School. Any questions can be emailed to Anastasiya Tsoy, MD Programs Manager (atsoy@aalead.org).