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School is back in session and - not to brag - but we had fun this summer! We are so deeply proud of our youth for creating space this summer for us to heal and access joy within our communities. This July, we hosted our 3rd annual youth summer camp, working in collaboration with Trybe at Clinton Park. It was a vibrant and empowering space dedicated to uplifting youth from Southeast Asian and South Asian immigrant and refugee communities in the Bay Area. With a diverse cohort of 30 young people ages 12–24, the program offered a powerful blend of leadership development, cultural pride, and community connection. Led by an exceptional group of youth, participants engaged in art creations reflecting culture and environmental sustainability, documentary filmmaking capturing the lived experiences of refugee and immigrant youth, and organizing a school supply and hygiene kit distribution that reached over 150 community members. They cooked Southeast Asian foods, attended workshops about financial literacy and self-care, and enjoyed field trips to places like Santa Cruz and the Oakland Ice Center. Youth also participated in social justice workshops and art builds for the #PardonRefugees campaign. A special wellness talk by a Kaiser doctor further emphasized holistic youth health—from sleep and nutrition to social media use. The summer culminated in a showcase event at Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC), featuring performances by the Khmer Amathak Dance Troupe, a youth art exhibit, and personal stories shared by youth leaders.
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