for youth
Join CACF as a youth and become a part of our movement for Asian Pacific American children.
We invite youth to join our youth leadership program, tell your story, or volunteer.
Join our youth leadership program
The Asian American Student Advocacy Project (ASAP) is a youth leadership program for Asian Pacific American public high school students who want to learn how to make positive changes in their communities through advocacy. Advocacy is what we do to express our ideas about what can be improved. By identifying problems and coming up with helpful solutions, we can advocate for improvements in our community.
If you...
Feel that improvements can be made in the community for Asian Pacific Americans
Wish you could do something about community and school problems
Want to meet other students with similar ideas
Want to voice your ideas to community leaders
Want to be heard
Then join ASAP!
ASAP leaders are a diverse group of youth advocates from New York City public high schools. They are representative of the East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander communities.
ASAP leaders are trained to be a voice for the community. They learn public speaking skills, research and writing skills, and other advocacy skills. ASAP leaders will develop leadership skills, learn about advocacy, work as a member of a team, and get to know other students. Sessions include: group discussion, guest speakers, skills-building workshops, visits to community organizations, and meetings with public officials and community leaders.
Applying to ASAP
ASAP runs from August to May of the following year. Applications
are available! Complete the application
form (with recommendation letter) and return it to CACF by hand,
mail, fax, or e-mail by July 11, 2008. Go to Contact
Us for CACF's contact information.
Download the ASAP brochure or email asap@cacf.org for more information.
Tell Your Story!
The TALES (Telling Asian American Life Experiences and Stories) Storybanking Project was launched in 2006 to gather the untold stories of Asian Pacific American children, youth and families in New York City. These stories relate the struggles and triumphs of Asian Pacific American children, youth and families navigating New York City's systems. The majority of Asian Pacific Americans have not reported the issues and problems they have faced regarding identity issues, discrimination, and racism.
If you have any stories on identity issues, discrimination, or racism, feel free to share your story by emailing it to storybank@cacf.org. All stories will be kept confidential. Asian Pacific American youth must be heard! Your stories are important to public advocacy and educational efforts to improve existing community conditions.
Volunteer
CACF appreciates the generosity and dedication of our volunteers. With a small staff, interns and volunteers are vital to the work we do. They have assisted with:
Advocacy Efforts—such as participating in budget vigils, letter-writing campaigns, and petitions
Interpretation/Translation Assistance—such as translating parent education brochures
Community Outreach Events—such as facilitating arts & crafts at children's fairs, youth activities
Research—such as leading general research and analysis, developing assessment tools, administering surveys
Fundraising Events—such as assisting with annual gala, funders breakfast, and other fundraising events
Administrative Support—such as compiling press packets and helping around the office
If you are interested in volunteering, download and submit a Volunteer Application to events@cacf.org or by mail to CACF, 50 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004. If you are under 18 and accepted as a volunteer, your caregiver must sign an authorization form to confirm your participation.