By Cathy Sui
May 27, 2024
AALC (Asian American Leadership Council) hosted its first Youth Leadership Summit on May 26 at the Chinese Community Center of Houston. Numerous civic and non-profit leaders shared their stories with the students, and more than ten student leaders shared their experiences with community services.
Showcasing the diversity of Fort Bend County, the summit had participants with distinct backgrounds, experiences, and ages. The guest speakers included Dextor McCoy, a Commissioner of Fort Bend County; Tara Patel, previously Chief of Staff of Fort Bend County; Edna Griggs, an experienced civic leader; and Yuroba Harris, director for congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who missed the summit due to unexpected illness.
Luo Ling, the founder and chairwoman of AALC, started the night by sharing her mission and vision with the organization. In the past, she has organized movements with more than 1000 participants against SB147 and SB211, discriminatory bills in Texas against Asian property holdings. AALC's parade received direct support from the House of Representatives, Houston Mayor, and Texas Representatives, and in March 2023, Chairwoman Luo Ling testified at the Texas Senate Committee against the two SB bills. Her impact framed the narrative for Asian advocacy in the United States. In the end, SB 147 was terminated by the Texas Senate.
Chairwoman Luo Ling remains mindful about training the leaders of the next generation. During the 2023 Harris County Election, AALC organized teams of students and parents on phone banking, block-walking, and voter registration. Additionally, AALC students also performed in “Toys for Kids,” Congress-organized cultural exchange activity, and passed more than 500 free backpacks at the Fort Bend County Fair. During the speech time, numerous AALC student leaders expressed their gratitude towards the opportunities and support they received from the platform. Chairwoman Luo Ling connected students with congressional internship opportunities and wrote them personalized recommendation letters. In the past, AALC students have received honors including Coca-Cola Scholar, Bank of America Student Leader (2x), and Congressional Gold Medal.
At the summit, Ben Who, Aglaia Hong, Ellen Li, Daniel Pan, and Cathy Sui received awards from the Congressional Office for their outstanding contribution and leadership in community services. AALC recognized more than 20 outstanding youth in community services. Furthermore, 8 youth leaders from organizations including Colors of the Spirit, First Racquet, Spark of Live Music, Giveducation, We Care Pearland, Challenge | First, Creative Art Reach, and East Asian Affinity Group shared their service experiences. This makes AALC the first non-profit organization in Houston to bring together 8 youth-led organizations.
Many also had the chance to showcase their artistic talents at the summit. During the second half of the summit, several students performed dance, Shaolin Kungfu, piano solo, singing, and woodwind instruments, and violin. Additionally, artists like Ms. Bei Danqing demonstrated her practice of Tai Chi fan art, and Chairwoman Luo Ling partnered with Ms. Shen Jian to exhibit their staging of the Wudang Sect Tai Chi Sword display.
After the performances, Chairwoman Luo Ling received two awards of “Outstanding Leadership” and “Youth Leadership Summit” from the Congressional Office of Sheila Jackson Lee. Yuroba Harris commended Chairwoman Luo Ling for her tireless work in advocating for racial equity and promoting civic engagement among youth.
The platform of AALC and support from Chairwoman Luo Ling trained students’ abilities and gave them competitive advantages in college admissions and scholarships. The Youth Leadership Summit also offered the opportunity for high school students to engage with like-minded peers and community leaders. Below are selected opinions for the night:
Ellen Li: “The leadership summit reminded me just how impactful local advocacy is at achieving progress. At the summit, I felt the passion of each speaker and performer, and it made me feel more connected to the community and to my culture. It was inspiring to see so many young and talented leaders who all shared the vision of uplifting the AANHPI community and inviting the Asian community to participate more in local activities and events.”
Cathy Sui: “The evening was incredibly inspirational as I got to hear the stories from leaders in our community. Learning the rich history of my previous legacy reminds me of my luck and responsibility and empowers me to make more changes within the Asian Community.”
Jerry Zeng: “Although this is my first time attending an activity organized by AALC, I find it incredibly interesting and inspiring. At the summit, I met many like-minded peers and learned that at the places within my community that I neglected, there are amazing civic leaders who voiced against the injustice.”
