I am the Founder and Executive Director of AAPI Youth Rising. In 2020, I spoke out against xenophobia targeting the AANHPI community at a virtual student assembly – right at the start of the pandemic. A year later, I started AAPI Youth Rising and organized the AAPI Youth Rising Rally in Berkeley, California that drew over 1200 supporters.
Recognizing the power of education, I led AYR to develop a lesson about the history of Asian Americans in America that has been adopted by AYR’s 200 chapters across 35 states and implemented in 52k+ school sites nationwide. I owe our national reach to collaborations with Act to Change, Alliances for a Healthier Generation, American Girl, Asia Society and Teach for America, I’m dedicated to bringing our ONE DAY OF AAPI HISTORY lesson into schools across the country – I believe in one lesson, one student, one day at a time. See our latest work here.
President Biden recognized me as one of 16 Uniters at the United We Stand summit held in Washington, D.C. In 2023, the California Civil Rights Department selected AYR as a partner to develop, launch and monitor California’s first nonemergency hate reporting hotline, and I was awarded the Princeton Prize in Race Relations.
I have provided testimony to the White House and members of Congress, and have been featured in media outlets such as The Washington Post, TIME, and “Good Morning America.” I continue to advocate for a more inclusive and equitable society. I enjoy following current events, learning about the human mind, drawing, and exploring the sea. But most of all, I’m honored to lead AAPI Youth Rising. See our latest work here.
- One Day of AAPI History. One day, one student, one lesson at a time.
- AYR’s Action Corner. Learn about AYR initiatives and legislative action.
- The ONE/180 Pledge. Out of the 180 days of the school year, 1 day for AANHPI history + culture in schools.
- The California Civil Rights Department named AYR as a grant-funded community partner for the development, launch and continued refinement of California’s first non-emergency hate reporting hotline: CAvsHate.org.
I have provided testimony and spoken with (select):
- The White House Forum on AANHPI held at the George Washington University in celebration of AA and NHPI Heritage Month. Vice President Kamala Harris provided the keynote (2023)
- The President’s Advisory Commission on Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (2023)
- The White House AANHPI Policy Summit: “Creating Spaces Youth Leaders’ Panel” (2024)
- The California Commission on Hate with the California Civil Rights Department.
- CAvsHate.org’s one-year anniversary press conference. Official press release.
- California Civil Rights Department: “Leaders Across California Stand United in Combatting Hate.” Official press release.
- The White House, The City of Berkeley, the City of Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women, the Orange County Health Care Agency, and the Office of Governor Newsom.
- The Commonwealth Club of World Affairs: California Youth Agenda Conference (moderator)
- Dignity.us (a bipartisan citizens’ initiative spearheaded by four Presidential Centers) – retired under current administration.
- The Obama Foundation.
- Asia Society Gamechanger West award ceremony.
- Asia Society: National Chinese Language Conference. Sal Kahn, founder of Kahn Academy provides keynote.
- TAAF Heritage month summit on a panel presented by designer 3.1 Phillip Lim alongside Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh.
- The Washington Post, NowThis with American Girl, NPR, The New York Times, TIME, CNN, ABC, Teach for America, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, TODAY, Teen Vogue, Wells Fargo Foundation, Asia Society Gamechanger West, Asia Society, NowThis. For others, visit media.
Honors (select):
- Honored to be named a “Uniter” by President Biden at the United We Stand Summit held in Washington, DC.
- Princeton Prize in Race Relations (2024).
- Good Morning America AAPI Inspiration List (2023)
- The Commonwealth Club’s of World Affiars, Kuiper Fellowship (2025)
- Time Kid of the Year Top 5 (2022)
- Robert Wood Johnson Health Equity Award Winner for Broadcom MASTERS, a program of Society for Science (2022), CAAPLE’s Youth Empowerment Award (2024), OCA San Mateo Individual Award (2025), Community Partner Award (2024), Act to Change’s Changemaker of the Year (2022) and Allied Organization of the Year (2023), Asia Society’s Gamechanger West Honoree (2023), Time Kid of the Year: Top 5 (2022), Good Morning America: AANHPI Changemaker Inspiration List (2022), Gold House A100 List.
- Subject of the first prime-time documentary highlighting AANHPI: “Soul of a Nation.”
Oakland, CA, Class of 2026