Blog

Act To Change 4th Annual National AAPI Day Against Hate and Bullying

May 12, 2022 Act To Change is rallying the nation — including cities and states, community organizations, and influencers, community leaders and elected officials — to commemorate the fourth Annual National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Day Against Bullying + Hate on May 18, 2022. To honor Vincent Chin’s legacy and to commemorate MentalContinue reading “Act To Change 4th Annual National AAPI Day Against Hate and Bullying”

AAPI Youth Rising + Healthier Generations Instagram LIVE

May 7, 2022 Catch our Instagram LIVE conversation on May 17 at 12:45 p.m. PST/3:45 p.m. EST. Healthier Generations is speaking with AYR about how your family can get involved in supporting AAPI young people and inclusive communities. Also, check out Healthier Generation’s AAPI Heritage month resources!

Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and the Wells Fargo Foundation Mural Project

April 29, 2022 What an honor to be a part of the @cccsanfrancisco and the Wells Fargo foundation mural project! The mural is a reminder that AAPI community heroes and stories matter. AYR served on a panel last year and helped select the heroes from over 5000 submissions from youth. Mural Location: 706 Jackson Street, SF CAContinue reading “Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco and the Wells Fargo Foundation Mural Project”

Asia Society SF’s Game Changer West Award ceremony

April 24, 2022 We had such a fun time at @asiasocietysf’s Game Changer West Award ceremony! We met with honorees Time’s Kid of the Year Gitanjali Rao, Daniel Dae Kim and Stop AAPI Hate founder Russell Jeung! Plus we met all our friends from Asia Society in person!!!

May’s Big News Coming Up

April 24, 2022 We have big news coming in May and are so grateful for Teach for America for capturing our story. We at AAPI Youth Rising believe that our histories should be told, and so we are SUPER excited about our upcoming action. STAY TUNED!

AALEAD Virginia Annual Day of Service

April 12, 2022 Johann and Mina presented to elementary school and middle school students about AYR’s past year for Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development AALEAD Virginia’s Annual DAY OF SERVICE! It was great sharing our story with all their families too!

Act to Change’s Youth Ambassador program

April 8, 2022 Many of us joined Act to Change’s inaugural Youth Ambassador program. We met weekly for the past few months to learn how we initiate change in our communities. Our capstone project was an anti-bullying lesson that we hope to roll out in the coming months. Stay tuned! Thanks to Kat Mallari forContinue reading “Act to Change’s Youth Ambassador program”

Celebrating Grace Lee Boggs on NowThis News’s Shoulder Series

March 25, 2022 We are so honored to celebrate our hero Grace Lee Boggs through the Now This On Their Shoulders Series. The late Grace Lee Boggs was a fierce advocate for communities of color, and she continues to inspire a new generation of young activists including all of us at AAPI Youth Rising to beContinue reading “Celebrating Grace Lee Boggs on NowThis News’s Shoulder Series”

Teen Vogue Interview

March 19, 2022 Amazing speaking with Teen Vogue who shared our message that all histories matter! AYR Charlee and Mina spoke with Teen Vogue.

Lead the Convo

February 27, 2022 We joined Lead the Convo’s Social Justice Fair on February 20th! Mina and Charlee shared tips on how to build and grow our organization with the following student-led groups: Let’s Procrastinate, Youth for the People, Letters for Rose, Ask An Undergrad, Growth for Green, The Good Bros, Lead the Convo Eco, TheContinue reading “Lead the Convo”

Girl Scout Daisy Troop #76411

February 27, 2022 Exciting speaking with our very first Girl Scout Daisy Troop! Thanks Sora, Rory, Penny, Stella, Kelsey and Taelee for reaching out to hear our story!

Dear Asian Youth Panel

February 18, 2022 Join us at Dear Asian Youth’s panel on Feb 20th at 5pm PT to hear Mina, Johann, Jaslene and Charlee speak about our experiences with AAPI Youth Rising.

American Girl and Now This! present “Making Herstory”

February 14, 2022 American Girl and Now This! present ‘Making Herstory’ – Learn how AAPI Youth Rising is bringing change to the world. Hear Miki Ishikiawa speak with Mina, Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu, choreographer Ellen Kim and Joanne Baik about the importance of cultural heritage and representation. AAPI Youth Rising is proud toContinue reading “American Girl and Now This! present “Making Herstory””

TIME Kid of the Year Finalist

February 9, 2022 Honored to be interviewed by TIME Magazine and being named Top 5 for TIME Kid of the Year!

Meet Sean – Celebrating Black History Month

February 5, 2022 At AAPI Youth Rising, we believe in celebrating our diverse youth voices! Huge shout out to guest contributor of the month, Sean for his Black History Month write-up. Thank you for sharing your message and celebrating with us! #blackhistorymonth #aapiyouthrising

Time Kid of the Year with Trevor Noah!

February 4, 2022 So honored to be selected as @nickelodeon Top 5 Honoree for @TIME “Kid of the Year!”🏆 Check out the TOP 5! *Orion Jean: founder, Race to Kindness orion_monaco_jean*Cash Daniels: environmental activist @theconservationkid*Samirah Horton, aka DJ Annie Red: anti-bullying activist @dj_annie_red*Lino Marrero: inventor @lino marrero*Mina Fedor: anti-racism leader @aapiyouthrising@mina.fedor Tune in Wednesday, February 9 at 7:30/6:30c. Hosted by @trevornoah

Asian Justice Rally

January 30, 2022 Today we gathered in SF for the Asian Justice rally – a national rally taking place in five cities on the anniversary of the death of 84-year old Thai grandfather Vicha Ratanapakdee. ONE in FIVE Asian Americans have experienced a hate incident the past year. ONE in FIVE AAPI students have experiencedContinue reading “Asian Justice Rally”

Humsub Global Interview

January 22, 2022 Check out our talk with @humsubglobalteen Founder & Executive Director, Rahul Yates! HSGT is dedicated to building a community for multiracial and mixed race identities. The Multiracial population has changed considerably since 2010. It was measured at 9 million people in 2010 and is now 33.8 million people in 2020, a 276% increase! ThanksContinue reading “Humsub Global Interview”

NBC News: Schools are starting to mandate Asian American studies. More could follow suit.

January 7, 2022 Honored to speak to Tat and be featured in NBC News’ Asian American stories. Read the full article hear and listen to what Mina and others have to say about Asian American studies in schools.

American Girl selects AAPI Youth Rising as Partner Group for 2022 GOTY!

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 findsContinue reading “American Girl selects AAPI Youth Rising as Partner Group for 2022 GOTY!”

AAPI Youth Rising’s Founder Mina Fedor Time Kid of the Year Top 5!

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

AAPI Women Lead’s 4th Annual #ImReady2021 Movement Virtual Conference

December 11, 2021 AAPI Youth Rising’s Mina and Siwoo 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.

Act to Change: Changemakers Summit 2021

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, Siwoo, 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 aContinue reading “Act to Change: Changemakers Summit 2021”

Our Diverse Voices Youth Art Showcase

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! OverContinue reading “Our Diverse Voices Youth Art Showcase”

CCCSF + Wells Fargo Foundation: AAPI Mural Project for San Francisco

September 25, 2021 AAPI Community Heroes Mural Project – unveiling in Chinatown, SF over Lunar New Year 2022! AAPI Youth Rising’s Mina, Siwoo 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 fromContinue reading “CCCSF + Wells Fargo Foundation: AAPI Mural Project for San Francisco”

Homeroom with Tan France

September 23, 2021 AAPI Youth Rising and our classmates from Black Pine Circle School are honored to have been selected as a 2021 Homeroom with Tan France participant. Eye, and Act To Change Advisory Council member Tan France, to increase awareness of bullying prevention and teach kids to become active anti-bullying advocates in their schools.

National Childrens Campaign – IG Live

August 7, 2021 Siwoo Rhie had a great time talking with NCC, @nationalchildrenscampaign alongside other inspirational youth leaders and Nickelodeon star @chinguunsb @roshnichagan and @amysnam @leahh.ds. Together, we are changing our communities, one little action at a time. Watch the interview with Siwoo on IGTV!

Asia Society: Future of Education

July 29-30, 2021

Boys & Girls Club + SAMSHA

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, Mina and Siwoo presented to and lead a discussion about youth activism with 12 SoCal Boys & Girls Club chapters. ShoutContinue reading “Boys & Girls Club + SAMSHA”

AAPI Youth Action Rally

June 26, 2021 Thank you to @aapiyouthaction for organizing June’s inspirational rally in Pasadena. It’s uplifting to see other middle school youth taking action to speak up for our community. AAPI Youth Rising was honored to speak alongside trailblazers @repjudychu, @PasadenaMayorGordo, #senatorportantino, Susie Woo Associate Professor of American Studies at California State University, Lieutenant Anthony Burgess, AAPI Youth Action organizerContinue reading “AAPI Youth Action Rally”

Grantmakers for Thriving Youth

June 16, 2021 Grantmakers for Thriving Youth – WEBINAR. AAPI Youth on Safety, Belonging and Thriving. Webinar recording of Mina speaking on June 16, 2021 here!

#LiveTogether Campaign

May 26, 2021 #LiveTogether Challenge is launched by UNESCO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The #LiveTogether challenge is a global campaign about raising solidarity and inclusion in the international community in the effort to fight racism and discrimination. AAPI Youth Rising is joining the movement and nominating our partners to participate next!Continue reading “#LiveTogether Campaign”

Little Actions Make a Difference

May 26, 2021 Each day, we at AAPI Youth Rising are raising our voices and taking actions to create positive change in the world. Just some of the work we’ve done this month includes: * Making impactful artwork to spread awareness of key issues in our community.* Rallying our community members, schools, and teachers toContinue reading “Little Actions Make a Difference”

What does an “American” look like?

May 15, 2021 Illustrations by AAPI Youth Rising’s Mina Fedor Hwarang means warrior in Korean. Gyopo means an ethnic Korean who is part of the diaspora.

El Cerrito Human Relation Commission

May 12, 2021 El Cerrito Human Relation Commission – Stop Anti-Asian Violence – Charlee and Mina shared our AYR stories and her allegory with the City of El Cerrito on Wednesday, May 12th from 6:30-8pm PST

AAPI Youth Rising’s ONE/180 Pledge

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 atContinue reading “AAPI Youth Rising’s ONE/180 Pledge”

Asia Society: Asian Americans Building America

May 10, 2021 A few days after the AAPI Youth Rising rally, Mina had an interview with Asia Society’s CEO and Australia’s 26th Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on May 10, 2021 as part of a series called Asian Americans Building America. Check out Mina’s interview here!

March for Elders Rally

May 1, 2021 Thanks @asiansunitedus for organizing the March for Elders Rally and shout out to @_cam_cake_ for representing AYR and sharing her story as a proud, Asian American adoptee, and reminding us of the diversity implicit in being American. Cooper @itadakimasutako joined in leading the march with @mina.fedor! Check out our reel on IG!

Actions Towards Change Rally

April 18, 2021 Mina spoke out at ATC’s rally in SF.

AAPI Youth Rising Rally

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 OnContinue reading “AAPI Youth Rising Rally”