Youth leaders from the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families’ (CACF) renowned Asian American Student Advocacy Project (ASAP) gathered to present the outcomes of their advocacy campaigns for the 2024–2026 cycle. These efforts focused on three major concerns impacting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students in New York City’s public schools—language access, mental health, and bullying and harassment. The results were unveiled at the program’s annual Community Briefing held on Friday.
ASAP, which marked its 21st year, was initiated in 2004 with a vision to empower young AAPI students across New York to become knowledgeable and self-aware advocates for their communities and peers. Since its inception, the program has become a powerful platform for elevating youth voices on critical issues within the city’s education system.
This year’s cohort comprised 36 young individuals representing diverse backgrounds from all five boroughs of New York City as well as neighboring regions. These youth leaders spent the year investigating the challenges AAPI students face and strategizing ways to bring about meaningful change.
“Our annual ASAP Community Briefing is a special moment for everyone at CACF because it is a chance for our young people to showcase their research and advocacy on the issues that affect them the most,” said CACF Co-Executive Directors Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung. “ASAP was built on the belief that our young people are experts on their own experiences and we are so pleased to be able to highlight the research they’ve done this academic year to their teachers, families, and elected officials.”
The event drew a wide audience that included community members, educators, and public officials. Among the attendees was Councilmember Rita Joseph, who delivered a brief address to the youth participants, acknowledging their contributions and commitment. In recognition of their efforts, the youth advocates received certificates of completion from CACF’s Co-Executive Directors.
Additionally, they were honored with City Council citations provided by Councilmembers Shekar Krishnan, Linda Lee, and Mercedes Narcisse. For those hailing from Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office also extended its congratulations with official citations.
The ASAP Youth Leaders were chosen through a competitive application process and come from 22 different high schools across the city. This year’s group was among the most diverse in the program’s history, representing 15 different Asian ethnicities and collectively speaking 11 different languages.
Several of the youth leaders reflected on what the program and the Community Briefing meant to them personally. Their experiences revealed the depth of learning, collaboration, and emotional connection involved in the yearlong journey.
“This briefing is the conclusion to a long year of focusing on AAPI mental health, the different perspectives of the gaps and challenges that AAPI face in schools, and how we can put that all together and find solutions and patterns. I’ve learned so much from my team over this year, and the briefing as a whole is such a special place for all the teams to share work that they’re proud of and advocate for change to our schools and, especially as a high school senior, to the generations after us,” said Olivia Kim, an ASAP Youth Leader.
Emily Ng, also a high school senior and longtime participant, described the briefing as a significant personal milestone. “The ASAP briefing is special because it’s a unique opportunity to let others know what we do at ASAP and why it’s important. It’s a space where we get to educate and have meaningful conversations. For me personally, I’m also excited because this is my last ASAP briefing as a youth leader, and in a way, it’s like the ASAP graduation,” she shared.
The campaigns covered a range of timely issues that continue to impact AAPI students in public schools. For example, one of the teams focused on combating bullying and harassment—a subject that has gained national attention in recent years, especially in the context of rising anti-Asian hate.
“This year, my team have been working hard, having many discussions about anti-bullying and harassment, and how it affects AAPI students in NYC’s public schools. I am excited to finally be able to share what I have learned with other people and hope to educate people in and outside ASAP on issues of bullying and harassment in schools,” said Ari Schaer, another youth leader in the program.
Mental health was another central theme of the advocacy projects. Ayesha Tasnim, who participated on a team that explored the psychological well-being of students, explained the significance of the work her group had completed over the past academic year.
“Today’s briefing is special because it marks the end of the ASAP mental health campaign team for 2024–2025 and is a celebration of all of the progress that we’ve made. This briefing accumulates all the hard work that my team and I have done all school year on researching and understanding the mental health needs of AAPI and other students in New York City schools. I am excited about sharing our findings with the community,” she stated.
The sense of accomplishment and empowerment was echoed by several participants. For many, the briefing symbolized more than a presentation—it was a culmination of months of dedication, teamwork, and a shared desire to make schools more inclusive and supportive environments for all students.
“I’m excited for the briefing because us ASAPers work so hard during the year, and I think we all love the idea of showing off our efforts. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment and contribution because I get to share our campaign’s findings with the community,” said Jonas Wooh, one of the student leaders involved in the initiative.
The Community Briefing served as both a platform to celebrate youth-driven advocacy and an opportunity for broader engagement with city leaders and education stakeholders. Through the efforts of its young participants, ASAP continues to shed light on the unique challenges faced by AAPI students and promote solutions tailored to their lived realities.
With the 2024–2026 campaigns now formally presented, the findings will not only help shape future efforts within the program but may also influence broader policy conversations about equity, safety, and access in public education. The voices of these young advocates are expected to resonate long after the event, inspiring both peers and adults to rethink how schools can better support diverse student populations.
By equipping its participants with research tools, collaborative skills, and public speaking opportunities, CACF’s ASAP program continues to fulfill its mission of nurturing the next generation of community advocates and changemakers. As the 21st year of the initiative concludes, the passion and dedication displayed by this year’s youth leaders signal a promising future for student-led advocacy in New York City.