Asian Pacific Youth Council

Photo: CAPM Staff, from left, Sandy Kwan, community capacity coordinator; Pa Yang, office manager; Souvan Lee, research analyst; and Kao Ly Ilean Her, executive director.

Calling all youth leaders! Join this great opportunity to develop skills as a leader and diversify your interests with artistic activities.

It’s the start of the new school year and so much is going on, including the beginning of our Asian Pacific Youth Council 2012-2013 year. Students that would be interested in joining the September through April program to develop their leadership and arts skills. There is no fee to joining and lunch is provided at every meeting.

The Asian Pacific Youth Council as a leadership program of the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, a state agency created by the legislature. The mission of the APYC is to be the voice of their generation. They want to take courage and speak for and work on the issues that are impacting their peers and friends.

“The Asian Pacific Youth Council is a space where Asian youth of any ethnic, social, political, religious background can come together and share their experiences and develop awareness of the Pan-Asian identity,” said Sandy Kwan, project director. “To this day, in Minnesota, this is the only pan-Asian youth group that we know about. This program is the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans’ our effort to really listen to youth and to support the development of leaders within the AAPI community.”

APYC is seeking youth ages 14-18 living in Minnesota and who are willing to make a year commitment. The first meeting is scheduled on Sept. 23, and all other meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from October to late April. There are some events scheduled on Saturday.

APYC program goals are

• Develop youths’ understands of themselves and their cultures

• Build awareness of leadership skills through meaningful engagement

• Encourage reflective thinking

• Form appreciation for collaborative efforts with others

APYC program activities and components

• Leadership sessions

• “Building your background in the arts” sessions

• Youth Conference at the State Capitol

• Youth Resource Fair

The program is free to the participants. Members join after their application is approved.

The deadline to turn in signed application is Sept. 20, 2012 by 5 p.m. via mail or at the first APYC meeting Sept. 23. Youth accepted in program will be notified by Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 by email.

Applicants should be prepared to describe themselves with a brief description of your interests and hobbies, why do you want to join, and list three goals they would like to accomplish while in APYC.

For more information contact Sandy Kwan at [email protected], or Pa Chia Yang, events and office coordinator, State Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, 658 Cedar Street, Suite 160, St. Paul, MN 55155. Phone 651-757-1740, email [email protected] and visit www.capm.state.mn.us.