Summer 2025 at AALEAD: Creativity, Connection, and Community

This summer was an absolute blast with our amazing youth! From storytelling through textiles to exploring the intersections of identity and entrepreneurship, our young people dove into powerful, engaging experiences that sparked creativity, built community, and deepened their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Each week, we centered our programming around a different focus area: Art & Advocacy, AAPI History & Stories, Mental Health for People of Color, and Exploratory Entrepreneurship. Through hands-on workshops, meaningful discussions, and inspiring field trips, youth explored topics that matter deeply to them. They visited the National Museum of Asian Art, the Air and Space Museum, and even the Postal Museum—connecting what they were learning in our spaces with the broader world around them.

One of the highlights of the summer was a special workshop with Linh Truong, a successful AAPI YouTuber with over 1.26 million subscribers! Linh shared her journey as a creative professional and business owner, and helped youth explore how their identities can be a source of strength in their own careers. We also teamed up with the National Asian / Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, providing our youth with real-world insights into what it means to be a leader in the AAPI business world.

Another unforgettable moment? Our youth created powerful textile art pieces after learning about AAPI history and the importance of self-expression through art. These stunning works are now on display at the George Washington University Textile Museum! For many of our youth, seeing their artwork in a professional museum setting was a first—and a moment of deep pride and recognition.

We wrapped up the summer with our annual Summer Showcase, where youth presented everything from recipe journals and textile projects to personal storytelling pieces. It was a joyful celebration of all the learning, growth, and creativity that filled our summer months.

We’re feeling so energized and inspired by everything our youth accomplished this summer—and we can’t wait to carry that momentum into the fall!