Our Mission

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit this website, which reflects the dedication of many talented and hard-working individuals. CAYA's long-term vision evolved from a school project I started during my sophomore year of high school in my AP Seminar class – a team project that granted students the creative freedom to explore topics of genuine interest, such as AAPI Hate and the Model Minority Myth. Even before high school, I had always wanted to advocate for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community – I just didn't know how. During the pandemic, I felt powerless as I witnessed the atrocities and attacks committed against the AAPI community, particularly against innocent elderly folks, whose peaceful trips to the grocery store quickly escalated into life-threatening emergencies. In AP Seminar, my team and I created a framework for a "Monte Vista High School AAPI Convention" which was designed to tackle AAPI hate at our own high school. This blueprint for a student-led convention ultimately inspired me to create the California AAPI Youth Association. I am excited to see what the future holds for our organization as we help to nurture the next generation of AAPI change-makers.