Category Archives: events

April 11, 2024 | AAPI Youth Rising is a proud recipient of the CAAPLE (California Association of Asian & Pasifika Leaders in Education) Award. We look forward to attending the awards reception later this month!

March 26, 2024 | Join us and Act To Change is rallying the nation for the 6th Annual National AAPI Day Against Bullying and Hate on May 18, 2024, which would have been Vincent Chin’s 69th birthday. Chin’s life was cut short four decades ago in a hate crime where two men brutally attacked him just because he looked Asian. The continued xenophobic sentiments, hate crimes, and legislation against the AAPI community serve as a reminder of the need for us to stay united against hate and bullying. Join us on May 18 for an immersive luncheon with impact panels, roundtable discussions, networking, and an award ceremony. Free tickets are available for youth attendees!

March 22, 2024 | During this month’s AYR board meeting, we discussed important future plans for our organization, as well as upcoming presentation opportunities, Uniters events, and chapter leader presentations. May (AAPI Heritage Month) is the best time to bring our One Day of AAPI History lesson to your school! If you need help or would like us to schedule a teach-in, contact info@aapiyouthrising.org. Stay tuned for more important news and exciting events coming soon!

March 22, 2024 | Earlier this month, a few board members of AYR (Mina, Jaslene, Anna, and Charlee) returned to the origin of our organization and lesson plan: Black Pine Circle. Throughout the day, they taught our ONE DAY OF AAPI HISTORY lesson to students from kindergarten to sixth grade. The positive atmosphere created a very welcoming learning environment where students of all ages were engaged and excited to learn about the history of the AANHPI community. Everyone had an amazing time! Special thanks to the wonderful Black Pine Circle faculty for their cooperation.

March 22, 2024 | AYR is proud to join the official launch of “America’s Field Trip.” This nationwide scholastic competition invites students to express their thoughts on what America means to them through art, poems, essays, or videos. Notably, 75 first-place awardees from each age group and along with their designated chaperone will be provided with free travel, lodging, and access to unforgettable field trip experiences at select historical and cultural sites across the country. Imagine a private tour of the National Archives in D.C. or a behind-the-scenes visit of the Statue of Liberty! Second-place awardees will receive $500 cash awards, and the deadline to submit is May 17th.

February 29, 2024 | Over the last few weeks, I have presented AAPI Youth Rising’s One Day of AAPI History to three different middle school classes. The last thing I expected was to learn myself from the experience and leave with a couple of impactful takeaways—realizations that I continue to think about: 1. AAPI History is a topic that needs to be covered more in history classes in our classrooms. I asked one of the classes to name as many Asian ethnicities as they could. After listening to many of the enthusiastic responses, one student raised his hand, and with all seriousness, said “Caucasian.” I was caught off guard because of the fact that the student was dead-serious. After explaining why that answer didn’t quite fit, I realized how crucial it is to bring more AAPI history into our classrooms. It hit me that there’s a real gap in what kids are learning. They need a more inclusive education that covers the incredible diversity of Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences. The student’s response made it clear to me that there’s not enough awareness and education about AAPI history, and it’s time to bridge that gap. 2. It’s crucial for Asian Americans to be able to share their experiences, regardless of their age. I was genuinely shocked by the stories that young Asian American students revealed to me. Their narratives mirrored my own encounters, and the stories were touching as I could sense the vulnerability of the students. These stories show us why it’s so crucial to recognize and deal with the challenges that young Asian Americans face. It’s not just about our personal stories; it’s about how these stories connect us and help us understand each other better. These stories remind us that we’re all in this together, and by sharing our experiences, we can make a difference in how people see us and understand our community. Best, Matthew Sugiyama

March 3, 2024 | Thank you Asians Are Strong for hosting such a wonderful event today. We had so much fun checking local/API-owned businesses and other AANHPI organizations. We’re all so proud to be a part of the second annual Asian Women Are Strong Event!