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OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
Here is the AAPI Youth Rising October Newsletter!
Mia Fung
October 06, 2025
Current Actions:
CALL FOR ART — United Against Hate: Art Week
As part of United Against Hate Week (October 19–25, 2025), AAPI Youth Rising is hosting a Virtual Art Week! We invite everyone to submit artwork—whether it’s digital art, poetry, or physical creations. Artwork can reflect themes or identity, culture, unity, inclusion, and/or standing against hate. Check out the Instagram post! To submit, email [email protected] with:
A photo of the artist/AYR Chapter member (YOU!)
Your name
Title of artwork + short artist statement of what the art represents and why it's important to stand united against hate.
DEADLINE: Monday, October 13, 2025
Fill out THIS SURVEY from Evelynn Leung
Evelynn from Florham Park, NJ, is conducting a survey to learn about people’s awareness of AAPI history, how it is taught in schools, and how it may affect identity and cultural understanding. From Evelynn: I’m currently an 11th-grade student at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. This survey is for my independent research as I want to raise awareness about how the lack of AAPI history in classrooms can affect students’ sense of identity and belonging, leaving them feeling unseen, underrepresented, or facing bias.
The Commonwealth Club: Creating Citizens Youth Advisory Committee BALLOT LIVE! (October 31, 2025). Hi AYR! We’re excited to share that we’re teaming up with the Commonwealth Club of World Affairs for the 2026 California Youth Agenda Conference! Do you have an issue you care about? Do you want to see it discussed at our 2026 conference? Fill the ballot out here and make sure to say you heard about it through AAPI Youth Rising! Last year, AYR co-director Ethan Su joined Mina on a panel with Michelle Meow during United Against Hate Week. For 2026, could the speaker be you? Stay tuned!
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 September Monthly All Member Meeting
Thursday, October 23 | 6 pm-7 pm PDT | Zoom Link
Asian American Futures Briefing
Thursday, October 23 | 9–10:30 am PDT
AAF has spent six months researching why some Asian Americans drift toward anti-democratic or anti-equity views and how arts, messaging, and organizing can build solidarity and justice. Join their research briefing to explore what drives these trends, which stories inspire change, and how Asian Americans can become champions of justice. Register here!
Silicon Valley Film Festival
October 17-19 In-Person | October 20-26th Online | Sunnyvale, CA
AYR is excited to join the Silicon Valley Film Festival for the second year in a row! This year, we’re screening the documentary that follows the AYR story: “Making Waves” by Jon Osaki and Josh Chuck.
TAAF AAPI Youth Mental Health Summit
Friday, November 7th | 9AM – 6 PM PDT | The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, CA
This summit will bring together community leaders, educators, funders, and mental health experts to confront the urgent challenges facing AAPI youth. Informed by TAAF’s 2024 Beyond the Surface report. This is an invite-only event. Please mark your calendars and AYR Members interested in attending save the date—and email [email protected] for a spot.
SAVE THE DATE: Creating Space Event
Saturday, November 8, 2025 | Details on the way! | Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
Creating Space will host an event at The Asian Art Museum featuring candid conversations on how childhood experiences shape our mental health and how to heal. This community event will be open to all generations, bringing together youth, parents, and elders. Follow @creatingspacecommunity on Instagram for event updates and reach out to [email protected] to RSVP.
Announcements:
AAPI Youth Rising joined the Stop AAPI Hate co-led coalition of over 80 other Asian American advocacy organizations to reject a bill from the U.S. House that revives the China Initiative. This is the third year in a row that the House has tried to revive this defunct and disgraced Trump-era initiative. This is our second year joining a letter to the U.S. House and the Committee on Appropriations.
This October, Act To Change invites everyone to take action and help build a world free of hate and bullying. They’re launching their first-ever digital campaign, ACTober Against Bullying, in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month. Show your support by using their social media toolkit (#ACToberAgainstBullying), taking the pledge, and following @ActToChange to share campaign posts. Everyone who takes the pledge will be entered into a raffle to win a Fly By Jing product package! Learn more at actober.acttochange.org.
(NEW!) Legislative Actions:
Press about AYR:
Bulletins:
Remember to check the “Our Work” section of our website for updates, announcements, and upcoming events.
Spread the word about AYR with your friends! AYR Chapter Leaders can sign up here using this FORM.
Continue raising awareness by speaking out. Email [email protected] if you are interested in anything you see in the newsletter.
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]