2017

• 19 going on 20

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff The title of this blog pays homage to the film, “13 Going on 30” which is the story about a girl who makes a wish on her thirteenth birthday, and wakes up the next day as a thirty-year-old woman. The story of AALEAD began 19 y

• Do You Know Who You Are?

  By Ha Nguyen, Development and Communications Associate Photos Courtesy of AALEAD staff As 2017 starts to wrap up and give way to 2018, we begin to reflect back on how our life has progressed throughout the year. It is essential to not just dwell on mistakes that you have made along the way. It is also about rejoicing for what you have accomplished and drawing lessons on what disappointed you. 2017 has been a roller coaster for me, but I would not take it any other way. Hello eve

• Fall 2017 Internship Reflections: A Fulfilling and Educational Opportunity

  By Fahduma Majid, Development and Communications Intern and Jenny Zhang, DC Elementary School Program Intern Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff   The AALEAD internship program seeks to provide interns with an educational and impactful experience. This semester, AALEAD had the privilege of supporting Fahduma Majid and Jenny Zhang in our internship program!  Freidricka Camille, Community College and Internship Programs Coordinator, shares that "Being the internship coordinator gives me

• Bringing out the Family of AALEAD

  By Emily N., current AALEAD youth and Pallavi Rudraraju, VA Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff Last week, AALEAD’s VA Programs sent off our youth for winter break with a fun and activity-filled Winter Holiday Party. For many of our new AALEADers, it was the first time they interacted with staff and youth outside of their school. As a program coordinator, I am thankful for and proud of all the hard work our VA youth put in to the party. Our Youth Councils play

• Winter Nostalgia: Making Meaning from Winter Reflections

  By Ari Pak, MD Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff This winter season, AALEAD youth in Maryland chose "Winter Nostalgia" as the theme for our 2017 AALEAD Winter Holiday Party. Following the lead of our AALEAD youth, Maryland AALEAD staff wanted to provide a chance for us all to slow down, take pause, and reflect on our journeys. Winter can be a time of celebration, hards

• Capturing The Essence Of Our Elementary School Program

  By Saadia Ahmad, DC Elementary School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of Saadia Ahmad They say a picture is worth a thousand words; so when I was asked to do this blog at a time where AALEAD participated in the Lights On Afterschool campaign, I wanted to capture the essence of our DC Elementary School Program through

• Giving Tuesday 2017- AALEAD Cultivates Young Leaders

  By: Fahduma Majid, Communications and Development Intern and Charles Kuo, DC Programs Manager Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff What is defined as charity? Can “giving” only be defined as a monetary value or is there merit t

• Grateful for AALEAD

  By Neel Saxena, Executive Director Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff It’s Thanksgiving week and this marks the 1 year anniversary of my transition to Executive

• Kicking Off Another Program Year in Maryland

  By Shanice Lo, MD Middle School Program Coordinator Photos Courtesy of AALEAD Staff On Saturday, October 28th,  over 60 youth from across 4 middle schools and 4 high schools in Montgomery County attended the Annual Maryland Kick-off Picnic at Glenmont Local Park in Silver Spring.  Before the picnic portion of the day,

• A Young Person on Her Mentor

  By Han L., Current AALEAD Youth and Vi Bui, Mentoring & Volunteer Programs Coordinator Photo Courtesy of AALEAD Staff

  
  Han came to the U.S. from Vietnam as a middle schooler, has a passion for film, and was recently a Youth Program Coordinator during the VA Summer Program, MIC CHECK. I first met Han at Annanda