Author Archives: aapiyouthrising

July 21, 2021 | Working on our presentation for BOYS & GIRLS CLUB of MALIBU in PARTNERSHIP WITH SAMHSA – July 21, 2021. We the Social Justice unit for the Empowered Voices Program. Anna, Mila, and Mina presented to and lead a discussion about youth activism with 12 SoCal Boys & Girls Club chapters. Shout out to @genzendigital for developing the Empowered Voices program!

July 29 – July 30, 2021

September 25, 2021 | AAPI Community Heroes Mural Project – unveiling in Chinatown, SF over Lunar New Year 2022! AAPI Youth Rising’s Mina and Aashi were so honored to serve on a panel of judges including AAPI Local Community Heroes, Rev. Norman Fong, Cathy Lam from Chinatown CDC, former BOE Eric Mar, Josephine Chew from Wells Fargo Foundation and Caroline Cabading from Manilatown. We spent Saturday, September 25th at CCCSF’s Ross Alley community space where we deliberated about who we would like to see represented on the AAPI Community Heroes Mural Project. We believe that the strongest way to celebrate our differences is to learn about our histories and heroes, including the many nominations submitted by over 100 Bay Area Schools. Thank you CCCSF and Wells Fargo Foundation for this incredible opportunity! After we finalized deliberations, the AAPI Youth Rising team: Mina, Aashi, Anna, Bee, Charlee and newest member Kevin, all toured CCCSF’s art exhibition – WOMEN我們: From Her to Here. The exhibit is up through December, 2021. Go check it out!

December 11, 2021 | AAPI Youth Rising’s Mina spoke at AAPI Women Lead’s 4th Annual #ImReady2021 Movement Virtual Conference: Our Communities, Our Healing, Our R/evolution – December 11, 2021 at 10am – 1pm PT.

October 9, 2021 | AAPI Youth Rising organized the Our Diverse Voices youth art showcase in collaboration with AAPISV, Actions Towards Change, National Children’s Campaign, E14 Gallery and Rock Paper Scissors Collective. Opening Day was October 9th @ E14 Gallery in Oakland, CA during the Old Oakland Celebrates block party that drew hundreds of visitors! Over 40+ K-12 youth artists displayed their work and artist statements in response to the prompt: “What does learning about diversity mean to you and your own education as a well rounded person and citizen?” Twin Walls Mural Company Elaine Chu and Marina Perez-Wong also unveiled their mural that depicts us marching on the bridge during the AAPI Youth Rising rally in Berkeley, CA on March 28, 2021. There were over 1200+ supporters at the rally! If you missed the art show opening, visit our Instagram for highlights.

October 23, 2021 | AAPI Youth Rising led a panel at the Changemakers Summit 2021 during Bullying Prevention Month on October 23, 2021. Mina, Aashi, Anna, Charlee, and Mila spoke on the panel. This was Act to Change’s 3rd Annual Anti-Bullying Youth Conference in recognition of National Bullying Prevention Month in partnership with Hate is a Virus,  and Stop AAPI Hate. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden opened up the Changemakers Summit 2021! We also heard from Amanda Nguyen and many others!

December 30, 2021 | AAPI Youth Rising’s founder Mina has just been named TOP 5 for the 2021 Time Kid of the Year!

March 28, 2021 | On March 28, 2021, we held the AAPI Youth Rising Rally. We raised our voices in support of the AAPI community to speak out against the rise in xenophobia. Over 1,200 people at the rally supported the cause. Simon Alejandrino, a teacher at Redwood Day School MC-ed the rally. Berkeley Council On March 28, 2021, we held the AAPI Youth Rising Rally. We raised our voices in support of the AAPI community to speak out against the rise in xenophobia. Over 1,200 people at the rally supported the cause. Simon Alejandrino, a teacher at Redwood Day School MC-ed the rally. Berkeley Council Members: Rigel Robinson and Rashi Kesarwani, Harita Kalvai and Zhi Isabel Howes: Beyond Differences Teen Board Members, Stanly Pun: co-director of AYPAL, Elaine Dang: Board Member of Act to Change, Lateefah Simon: President of Akonadi Foundation, Annie Wang: Community Relations Director of #HATEISAVIRUS, Jane Bahk: author of Juna’s Jar, and over 15+ youth all spoke up. We then marched to the SF Bay pedestrian footbridge and where we heard cars honking in support as they passed by. Ms. Bahk wrote the poem below for the AAPI Youth Rising Rally.

December 30, 2021 | American Girl selected AAPI Youth Rising as the partner organization for the American Girl 2022 Girl of the Year! Corinne Tan is the first Asian American GOTY and we are so honored to be the 2022 GOTY partner organization with American Girl! Like many of us at AAPI Youth Rising, Corinne finds the courage to speak up when faced with xenophobic comments. Through Corinne’s stories authored by Wendy Wan-Long Shang, we learn about love in our homes, being proud of who we are, and advocating for positive change.

May 11, 2021 | Students, Teachers, Parents, and Allies, please consider signing the ONE/180 Pledge if you support having at least one lesson of AAPI History + Culture taught in your schools in this coming year. Why ONE/180? Out of the standard 180 instructional days in the average student’s school year, we are asking that at least ONE of those days in the next academic year include at least ONE lesson that is dedicated to AAPI History + Culture.