MARCH NEWSLETTER

Here is the AAPI Youth Rising March Newsletter!

Author

Mia Fung
March 17, 2026

Current Actions:

Student Art Contest & Exhibition – Echoes and Action

Make Noise Today, an AAPI youth initiative, is now accepting submissions for its annual AAPI Student Contest & Exhibition. This year’s theme, Echoes and Action, invites AAPI high school students to share how their identities, histories, and lived experiences can inspire action through visual, literary, and performing arts. Selected works will be featured in the annual exhibition and considered for scholarship awards. Learn more and submit at https://makenoisetoday.org/2026-student-contest-exhibition, and follow @makenoisetoday on Instagram.

AAPI Art and Writing Competition (Grades 7–12)!

Selected students will receive cash prizes, a one-year membership to the AAPI History Museum, and the opportunity to have their work exhibited at the Brown University Faculty Club. Winners will also be invited to attend the AAPI History Museum Anniversary Dinner at Brown University, alongside university scholars and President Christina Paxson. The program is free to enter, and students may submit existing writing or art—no new work required. SUBMIT HERE!

Help Shape a National Asian American Museum

The National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission is seeking public input as it works to establish a national museum dedicated to Asian American culture and history. Share your ideas, priorities, and vision to help ensure our stories are represented. SUBMIT COMMENTS HERE.You can also support this effort by contributing to the Commission’s work. DONATE HERE 💛.

Op-Ed Project

AAPI Youth Rising is launching an op-ed project to amplify the voices of young people on current events. Participants will write 500–800-word op-eds on topics of their choice to get them published through our connections. We will meet every two weeks for editing sessions to review drafts and provide feedback. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, FILL OUT THIS GOOGLE FORM!

AAPI Youth Rising Stickers

We are looking for YOUR designs to be featured on upcoming AYR stickers! Please take a look at the guidelines and submission form here. Email [email protected] for questions.

AYR Action Corner

Check out our Action Corner to keep track of our latest actions and ways to engage. If you have any actions you would like to highlight, email [email protected]

AYR Blog

If you have art, blogs, or op-eds you’d like to share, email [email protected] or [email protected]. Check out our latest blogs here!

ONE DAY OF AAPI HISTORY

Bring our ONE DAY OF AAPI HISTORY lesson to your school or share the video! The presentation is fully scripted, so you can do it yourself, or board members can join you. This is your chance to practice your public speaking skills. See the TOOLKIT HERE for information!

Upcoming events

AAPI Youth Rising January Monthly All Member Meeting

Thursday, March 26 | 6 pm-7 pm PST | Zoom Link

Monday, May 18 | 2 pm PST | RSVP

Building on last year’s powerful coalition—150+ organizations, 115 legislative offices reached, and the successful passage of AB 49 and AB 863—this years event will feature a condensed schedule, including a State Capitol press conference, advocacy training, legislative office visits, and an evening reception. Participation is free, and all partner organizations will be recognized in event materials.

Monthly coalition Zoom meetings will continue on the first Thursday of each month at 2 PM, beginning December 4, offering space for shared updates, advocacy opportunities, and event planning. AYR encourages everyone to join!

Announcements:

AYR joined Make Us Visible WA to pass SB 5574

Sponsored by Senator T’wina Nobles, this legislation advances Washington’s commitment to comprehensive and historically accurate education by requiring instruction on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI), Latino American, and Black American history within K–12 public school social studies courses. Although the legislation was pulled from Senate Rules and was not brought forward before the February 17 chamber of origin deadline, the organizational support letter will be published in Northwest Asian Weekly (Letters to the Editor section). Because the bill carries no fiscal note, we understand there may still be procedural pathways for it to be revived or incorporated into broader legislation moving forward. We are hopeful that demonstrating the breadth of community support can help inform that path. Stay tuned for our continued efforts to make all histories heard. 

AYR Signs onto FISA 702 Reform Letters

AYR has signed onto two coalition letters addressing concerns with FISA Section 702. The first, led by the FISA 702 reform coalition, urges lawmakers not to reauthorize warrantless surveillance powers without closing the data broker loophole, especially following reports that the Department of Defense may require AI companies to enable mass domestic surveillance using commercial data like geolocation and browsing history. The second letter, organized by Free Press and Demand Progress, calls on Democratic leadership to oppose a clean extension of Section 702 supported by Stephen Miller and instead push for reforms that protect civil liberties, warning that an extension without changes would allow continued warrantless surveillance with limited oversight.

Legislative Actions:

Call to Action: Support Asian American History & Anti-Hate Education

Congresswoman Grace Meng has introduced a bill to expand the teaching of Asian American history across all 50 states and U.S. territories, with the goal of building tolerance, respect, and understanding while helping prevent anti-Asian hate; we encourage organizations and community members nationwide to rally support by contacting Congress and advocating for its passage, and to continue pushing for additional policies that strengthen equity and protections for Asian communities (bill text HERE). Additional ideas on combating and preventing anti-Asian hate are shared in a public Quora post. Congresswoman Meng will also be speaking on issues including healthcare and cost of living in an upcoming Zoom webinar—registration details, along with other community action webinars, can be found HERE.

Please feel free to share the following “Know Your Rights” resources (all available in multiple languages): 

Press about AYR:

Bulletins:

  1. Check the “Our Work” section of our website for updates, announcements, and upcoming events.

  2. Spread the word about AYR to your friends! AYR Chapter Leaders can sign up here using this FORM. 

  3. Continue raising awareness by speaking out. Email [email protected]  if you are interested in anything you see in the newsletter. 

  4. Please ensure you’re on our Slack and Google Calendar. Email [email protected] if you have any problems.

Do you have anything to share for next month? Email [email protected]