The Summer Youth Organizing Program at AAOP is geared towards youth between 14 to 18 years old and who are interested in learning about the civic engagement process. This is a paid learning experience focused on gender justice, civic & community engagement, and grassroots organizing.
Youth get the chance to build relationships with their community and their cohort through field trips and physical activities like hiking and canoeing. Since the pandemic, youth have enjoyed virtual games and socials to build connections with each other and later, socially distanced and masked outdoor socials.
Welcome to our 2021 Summer Youth Cohort! Learn more about them here:
Alysa is a rising senior passionate about helping others and learning about social justice issues, especially in relation to her identity as an Asian American woman. Her past experiences have allowed her to love leadership and become more open-minded to the vast world around her. She is also the co-founder of so she CAN, a youth-led organization driven to educate and empower others to create change. This year, she’s become more involved in creating an experience for other youth to enjoy and become motivated to take action as one of the Summer Youth Leaders.
Angela is a first generation Vietnamese American residing in St. Paul. She wants to pursue a career in computer science where she can help combat social justice issues through technology. Angela has been interested in learning about social justice issues since middle school and wanted to get actively involved. She’s volunteered as a phone banker, created a website about voting, organized school walkouts, but she wanted a place to continue to advocate and learn about issues in a community setting. Angela looks forward to learning and having discussions about issues that impact her and her community.
Elizabeth is a second generation Hmong immigrant and will attend the University of Minnesota this fall. She enjoys learning about history and making documentaries about topics that are usually forgotten and hidden in American history. Elizabeth wanted to be involved in shaping and changing our communities to be a place for everyone and this program was the first step towards that.
Ethan is a second generation Hmong American rising sophomore who plays the clarinet and bass clarinet. He looks forward to developing his team building and leadership skills through community outreach. This program will be a challenge, but Ethan is grateful to be part of this empowering organization. He hopes to discuss topics that historically and currently impact AAPI youth. Outside of school, Ethan plays video games, makes music, and writes and illustrates original stories.
Natalie is a rising junior with a passion for activism. She wanted to build connections with her Asian community and looks forward to learning about issues that aren’t taught in schools. Natalie is excited to meet other like-minded youth. Outside of school, she plays soccer and tennis.
Paul is a Vietnamese American high school student with a passion for helping others. He wanted to learn how issues were impacting the Asian American community but also find a space to connect with other youth interested in taking action. Paul is looking forward to learning how history has shaped our Asian community. He enjoys hanging out with friends, listening to music, and volunteering at his local food shelf.
Khayaal is a multiracial rising junior at South High school, passionate about making change in our communities. They are interested in expanding his knowledge and learning how to advocate for change in her school and community. Khayaal is also interested in meeting other like-minded
youth. They like to bake desserts, go hiking, and read speculative fiction in his spare time.
Sun Shine, or Sunny, loves artistic hobbies like painting, drawing, ceramic, and jewelry making. She wanted to gain insight on ways to help her community, make an impact, and learn more about her identities. Sunny looks forward to connecting with people, learning about new ways of thinking, and challenging herself mentally and physically. Most importantly, she’s excited about taking action with other people to discuss different issues.
Cassus is half Hmong, quarter Taiwanese, and quarter German. They wanted a place where his Asian heritage would be acknowledged and accepted and the AAOP youth program was an opportunity where she could get support working on social justice issues and get paid for it. Cassus looks forward to getting to know all the youth and stepping into the Youth Leader role where they can facilitate. His preferred caffeinated drink is the caramel mocha from Caribou, not Starbucks.
Tahm is a Jefferson High School student who has recently become passionate about activism work around equity in schools and anti-racist policy. He applied to this program to learn more about how to organize more effectively and to learn about issues that impact Asian Americans. Tahm is looking forward to working with the other youth on the leadership project.
Lisa is a rising senior at Harding High School and a part-time PSEO student. She is passionate about supporting sexual violence survivors. One of the reasons she applied to this program is to learn more about issues impacting her Asian community. Lisa is looking forward to working with the other youth on the leadership project. She enjoys listening to music, going on road trips, baking, and sight-seeing.
Mue Hsae applied to the Youth Program at AAOP because she thought it was a great opportunity to build connections and strengthen important skills. One thing she’s looking forward to this summer is the Healing Retreat. Her favorite Webtoon is “Lore Olympus” and she loves shopping.
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