The Organization
AAPI Youth Rising is an organization founded by middle-schoolers. Our mission is to take small actions to make positive change in our communities. In March 2021, AAPI Youth Rising organized a 1,200+ person rally in Berkeley, CA to bring awareness to the increase in xenophobia against Asians in America.
During AAPI Heritage Month 2022, we launched our ONE DAY OF AAPI HISTORY lesson about the untold stories of Asians in America. We volunteer to teach our lesson to classrooms across America. We have taught in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Massachusetts. We are scheduling schools for Fall 2022.
Last year we launched the ONE/180 pledge in support of at least one day of AAPI history + culture during the school year and we organized the Our Diverse Voices youth art showcase in support of learning about our diverse histories.
During AAPI Heritage month when we spoke with TODAY Show, Washington Post, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Teach For America and many others.
Also you can Watch us on the first primetime special about Asians in America “Together As One” by Soul of a Nation on Hulu or ABC.
TIME Magazine wrote a feature about us here. We are also proud to be the 2022 Partner Organization for American Girl‘s first Chinese American Girl of the Year, Corinne Tan. Thanks for stopping by!
Berkeley Proclamation in honor of AAPI Youth Rising
In May, 2021, the City of Berkeley awarded AAPI Youth Rising with a proclamation acknowledging our work to better our community through youth action. Thanks to Councilmember Robinson and Councilmember Kesarwani for supporting our communities and for nominating us. Thanks to the entire City Council for this honor!
Shout out to AYR honorees: Anna Hill, Bee Norton Tsang, Mila Cavagnaro, Juno Yu, Siwoo Rhie, Charlee Trenkle, Cam-Ly Nguyen, Timothy Hamp, Shubh Doshi, Surina Pugh, Stella Chua, Aashiana Gupta, Cooper Hong and Mina Fedor.
Our Founder Mina
I spoke about the rise in xenophobia against the AAPI community due to COVID-19 at my school assembly at the beginning of the pandemic back in 2020, at a time when no one was talking about it. After a year of witnessing the increase in anti-Asian sentiment and violence toward my community, I decided to take more action. Originally I had a little idea to hang a sign in support of the AAPI community over the I-80, one of the busiest intersections in CA. This small idea evolved into the AAPI Youth Rising Rally.
On March 28, 2021 community members representing the diversity of the Bay Area came together in solidarity with the AAPI community at our rally in Berkeley, CA. Originally, I had hoped for 70 participants. To my surprise, over 1,200 participants joined the crowd. On a bright and sunny day, we heard from many brave youth as we raised our voices. A first-grader even spoke up! We then marched to the SF Bay Pedestrian Footbridge and hung our signs on the overpass while we heard motorists honk in support. It was an inspirational day for all of us. In that moment, we realized that even as middle-schoolers, we can make a difference. These small actions add up.
College Preparatory School, Oakland CA, Class of 2026
