2015

• A Season of Giving with AALEAD

  By Chelsea Iorlano, Development & Communications Associate Photos Courtesy of Chelsea Iorlano Each day, the youth we serve come to AALEAD Programs and give.  They give their attention, time, respect, appreciation, energy, and support.  Each day in programs, youth give of themselves and create the vibrant, nurturing, and strong community that is AALEAD.  AALEAD Programs could not provide the stable community and safe space that they do without the youth committing to their programs and

• The Spirit of Community: AALEAD DC Programs

  By Día Bùi, DC Middle & High School Programs Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Día Bùi  

• AALEAD Voices

  By Shaima Ahmad, VA Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of Shaima Ahmad This past week three AALEAD youth from the VA High School Program at Annandale HS had the opportunity to attend a Student Voices Session at the US Department of Education with Secretary Arne Duncan and Under Secretary John King. The session was focused on hearing stories and gaining feedback from first generation immigrant youth and their families in regards to their experiences with the US education system. Despite being n

• Learning through Lumpia

  By Diane Bui, MD Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Diane Bui Growing up in my household, there were two guarantees: smiles were easy to come by and the food was always delicious. My parents came from the Philippines and Vietnam, and one sure way to always get mine and my sister’s attention was through food. This is how I first learned about my culture, and it’s still my favorite way to learn. One staple whenever we attended any Filipino gathering was lumpia, or Filipin

• An Asian American LEAD Thanksgiving

  By Neel Saxena, Development & Communications Director Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff Growing up, every Thanksgiving I would sit at my parent’s dining room table surrounded by freshly fried samosas, simmering matter paneer, spicy chicken biryani, and canned cranberry sauce - all the while wondering why I couldn’t have a “normal” thanksgiving meal like they did on The Wonder Years. The holidays highlighted the duality of my identity and the conflict between my Asian side

• Dignity and Pride as the AALEAD Family Grows

  By Yonsoo Kang, VA Middle School Program Coordinator, and Eileen Chen, VA Programs Intern Photos Courtesy of Yonsoo Kang, Eileen Chen, and the Heinz History Center “…the movements translate to ‘I’m not above you, you’re not above me, we’re side by side, we’re together…’” – LaMont Hamilton, Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow at the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage,

  After the Guitar Workshop: Backstage with Bernard and Nanc

    By Ari Pak, MD High School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Ari Pak “Joy can be a joy and sadness can be a sadness… With guitar, I can express as much as what I

• Volunteer Voices: Jimmy’s Story

  By Stephanie Lim & Tina Ngo, AALEAD Staff Photos Courtesy of Stephanie Lim, AALEAD Staff As we kick off the start of a new school year, Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) staff are always excited to reunite with youth, but also, another very important part of our AALEAD family - our volunteers. This month's spotlight focuses on Jimmy, an AALEAD volunteer who started working with us in October 2012 at the beginning of his college career. Jimmy is now a senior at the University of Maryland C

• Top 10 Reasons to Join AALEAD!!!

  By Shaima Ahmad, VA Programs Manager Photo Courtesy of AALEAD Staff It is the start to a new school year, only a few weeks in, and programs have launched slowly but surely in FCPS. When asked why they have joined AALEAD, both new and returning AALEADers joined in the conversation and mapped out expectations for this year...

  Top 10 Reasons to Join AALEAD

  1) Exploring New Cultures (especially through FOOD)

• MD Kick-off Picnic A Huge Success

  By Keo Xiong, MD Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff

  Over 160 youth and family members joined AALEAD Maryland’s annual kick-off picnic on Friday, Octobe