AAYL Community Engagement Fellowship 2025

Application Materials

Project Proposal

• • Name of Project

  • Student Names, High Schools, Grade Levels

  • Parent Contact Information

  • Purpose of Project (500 word limit)

  • Target Audience (150 word limit)

  • Roles and responsibilities

  • Detailed Timeline

  • Budget Breakdown (i.e. supplies, facility, etc.)

  • Description of how the effectiveness of the project will be measured

  • Resume/CV for each student that includes overall GPA

  • * Note: If you are planning on having an external advisor/instructor work on this project with you, a letter of support from this individual must be sent to the Program Director, Mary Nguyen, along with your application (marynguyen@sccca.org).

Project Examples

1. Digital Storytelling - A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific American, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s initiative, students would document daily life within their communities. Students would capture multimedia stories(short videos, interviews, written accounts. Each story might explore personal histories, cultural practices, or community contributions, creating a rich tapestry of what it means to be Asian Pacific American today.

• Learning outcomes: students will develop skills in digital storytelling, interviewing as they create a digital archive

2. Family Tree, The Wing Luke Museum in Seattle

• Inspired by the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, this project would allow students to explore their own individual family histories and cultural roots. Students could research and create a “family tree” exhibit, which could include ancestral migration stories, photographs, and artifacts that reflect generational ties.

• Learning outcomes: students engage with genealogy and deepen their understanding of cultural heritage through personal storytelling and historical documentation.

3. VR Migration Stories, The Immigrant Heritage Project at the Museum of Chinese

• Modeled after The Immigrant Heritage Project at the Museum of Chinese, this project would immerse students in virtual reality. Students could research historical migration narratives and collaborate on a VR experience that recreates key elements of these journeys. 

• Learning outcomes: Students gain skills in technology by creating an interactive experience that highlights the complexities of immigration.

4. Language focused exhibit, Ae Kai: A Culture Lab on Convergence (focuses on PI) Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

• This project would center on the role of language in shaping identity within Pacific Islander communities drawing from the Smithsonian’s Ae Kai initiative . Students could design an exhibit that showcases the diversity of languages among Asian Americans, examining how language preservation connects to cultural resilience. 

• Learning outcomes: Students build skills while exploring how language influences identity and community

5. History of youth activism, In Struggle: Asian American Acts of ResistanceThe Wing Luke Museum

• This project invites students to research and document youth activism in AAPI communities, both historically and today. Students could create a multimedia timeline, zine, or digital archive spotlighting key moments of youth-led resistance. This project could also include interviews with local youth activists.

• Learning outcomes: Students learn about social movements, the impact of activism, and the role young people play in shaping social change.

6. PhotoVoice 

• Students would use photography to capture daily life in their Asian American or Pacific Islander communities, focusing on themes such as family, tradition, or resilience. Modeled on the Photovoice method the final images could be part of a gallery or virtual exhibit, providing a powerful visual narrative that resonates with both local and wider audiences.

• Learning outcomes: Students gain photography and storytelling skills, as well as insight into community engagement and self-expression, while capturing and presenting personal and community narratives.

7. Food and Culture Documentary

• Inspired by the role of food in cultural storytelling, this project would allow students to explore the significance of traditional foods within their communities. The project might also include cooking demonstrations and discussions about the importance of food in preserving cultural identity.

• Learning outcomes: Students develop skills in film production exploring food as a meaningful entry point into heritage and community connection.

8. Mental Health Awareness Campaign 

• This project focuses on mental health within AAPI youth, tackling issues like family expectations, stigma, and cultural pressures. Students could create a campaign that includes posters, social media graphics, or workshops to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health. They might also survey peers or community members to understand the challenges and build resources that support mental well-being.

• Learning outcomes: Students enhance skills while promoting an open conversation about mental health in their communities.