Asian American Lead Ldship Empwment And Devlpment For Youth & Family

AALEAD provides middle and high school aged youth a five week summer program with opportunities to attend local field trips, participate in community and civic engagement, and develop leadership skills. The summer program leverages a hands-on experiential learning model where youth learn about storytelling through artistic expression and other concrete deliverables.In FY24, 64 youths were served across DC and Maryland with consistent summer programs for five weeks. See Schedule O for continuationYouth explored topics of storytelling, identity exploration, and community engagement through various leadership development skills such as presenting and facilitating amongst peers. The summer program concluded with a celebration showcasing various forms of youth's art, including paintings, sculptures, and musical talents, and the meaning behind their chosen artistic expression and its relation to their cultural and racial identity.

AALEAD's Mentoring Program connects youth ages 8 to 18 with compassionate adult mentors, aged 21 and older, to build meaningful, supportive relationships. These connections provide young people with a safe space to express their emotions, build self-esteem, and cultivate a strong sense of identity. The program is grounded in an evidence-based social and emotional learning framework, offering mentees opportunities to discover new interests, develop hobbies, and stay motivated to pursue higher education and career goals. In Fiscal Year 2024, the program supported 35 one-to-one mentor-mentee matches.