By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Board The AALEAD Board is a group of individuals who are responsible for overseeing the AALEAD's activities and meet periodically to discuss and vote on the affairs of the organization. AALEAD's Board is made up of 12 individuals representing 8 Asian ethnic groups as well as a balance of other identities that reflect AALEAD’s families including varied religions, educational attainment, age, gender, and careers. The primary r
By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Aspire to LEAD is about getting involved with Asian American LEAD to impact the lives of low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth. One of the ways to get involved is joining AALEAD at a powerful 1-hour fundraising breakfast on April 6, 2018 at 8:30 am at Top of the Town in Arlington, VA. You will learn about the amazing impact our programming is having on our low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American young pe
By Mecca McPherson, MD Middle School Program Coordinator
Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff
In 1926, Black History Month was first established in by
by Aisha M., Current AALEAD Student at Montgomery College Photo Courtesy of AALEAD Staff I was recently matched with a coach three months ago, and I am very excited to get to know her on a personal level and to learn her educational experiences, current job, and life stories. My coach's name is Donna, and she received her Master of Public Health at George Washington University. She now works at A Wider Circle, an non-profit organization that helps families get out of poverty by providing w
By Neel Saxena, Executive Director
Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff
The title of this blog pays homage to the film, “13 Going on 30” which is the story about a girl who makes a wish on her thirteenth birthday, and wakes up the next day as a thirty-year-old woman. The story of AALEAD began 19 y
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
By Ari Pak, MD Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff This winter season, AALEAD youth in Maryland chose "Winter Nostalgia" as the theme for our 2017 AALEAD Winter Holiday Party. Following the lead of our AALEAD youth, Maryland AALEAD staff wanted to provide a chance for us all to slow down, take pause, and reflect on our journeys. Winter can be a time of celebration, hards
By Shanice Lo, MD Middle School Program Coordinator
Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff
On Saturday, October 28th, over 60 youth from across 4 middle schools and 4 high schools in Montgomery County attended the Annual Maryland Kick-off Picnic at Glenmont Local Park in Silver Spring. Before the picnic portion of the day,
By Neel Saxena, Executive Director
Photos Courtesy of Various Staff
Logo Courtesy of DC Programs Manager, Charles Kuo
Asian American LEADs orgins are rooted in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC where Sandy Dang, AALEAD’s founder, saw the unmet need in low-income Vietnamese refugee youth and made supporting th
By Diane Bui, MDHS Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD MD Staff After-School programs in Maryland start THIS WEEK! We are so excited to be back in our schools, reconnecting with returning youth, and welcoming new youth to programs. Youth in schools today are busier than ever. Between magnet programs, IB classes, AP course loads and a number of after-school activities, it’s no surprise our youth are always on the move. This got our MD staff talking about when we were younger, and