Youth Programming

4th Youth Ambassador Cohort

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC is excited to host our 4th Youth Ambassador Cohort and launch the application for the Spring class. The 2026 Youth Ambassador Cohort will focus on immigration and examine how “Good” vs. “Bad Immigrant” narratives harm our communities and drive anti-immigrant policy. Advancing Justice – AAJC Ambassadors will meet virtually and in-person in Austin, Texas for two days of programming followed by office hours and an online presentation.  

The Fall 2026 Youth Ambassador Cohort is available to students 18+. Participants will be responsible for securing their own transportation to the program site.   

The Youth Ambassador Cohort will include virtual and in-person components including policy briefings and office hours to collaborate with policy and communication professionals. The cohort will convene in Austin from Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16, where they will receive training on immigration narratives and begin working on a capstone project.  The program will culminate in a presentation of their projects, and a plan for sharing their projects with relevant communities or audiences. 

How to Apply

Students interested in applying must 1) submit the application form, which includes one short essay question 2) submit a resume, and 3) one (1) reference to Joy Sutardji at jsutardji@advancingjustice-aajc.org. The deadline to apply is on Friday, April 17. Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis.   

Requirements

• Applicants must be located within commuting distance to Austin, TX.  
• Must be a current student enrolled in a 2 or 4-year college/university, from any major or discipline. Applicants enrolled in high school may apply but must be at least 18 years old. 
• Applicants must apply via the form. 
• All Applicants must submit a reference and resume to jsutardji@advancingjustice-aajc.org.  

Commitment 

• Participants must attend all sessions of the Youth Ambassador Cohort Program including the 1) in-person kick session in Austin, TX, 2) the follow-up online training and working session, 3) the scheduled online presentation day. 
• Scheduling for the online sessions will take student availability into account, but students are also required to make accommodations to their schedules if needed. 
• Participate in discussions and offer thought leadership in peer-to-peer engagement.  

Youth Leadership Summit: Rising Young AAPI Leaders Convene to Advance Civil Rights

Since 2014, Advancing Justice — AAJC has convened prominent college students for its multi-day leadership development program that focuses on advocacy, communications, and civic engagement around policy issues impacting our communities from college campuses to Capitol Hill. 

We are proud to host students from around the country with ancestry in Tibet, Korea, China, Pakistan, Vietnam, India, and the Philippines.

Through interactive workshops, hands-on trainings, and discussions with leaders on Capitol Hill, participants build advocacy and communication skills while gaining a deeper understanding of how they can impact policy decisions.

Over the years, we have had the privilege of convening exemplary young advocates from diverse communities and who span all regions of the country.

Read about our Spring 2024 Youth Leadership Summit class and alumni projects.

The Summit was such an eye-opening and inspiring experience that I am extremely grateful to have participated in. From attending and engaging in legislative meetings with senate offices to interactive workshops and presentations on AAJC’s current projects, I developed a strong understanding of how having AAPI representation, strong alliances with BIPOC partners and political power is vital to make policy change positive and lasting. 

-Mika Chan, Seattle University

Being able to interface directly with staffers on the Hill for issues I cared about was incredibly rewarding and is an experience I’ll take away for my future advocacy in the realm of health equity. Attending this year’s Summit has been truly fulfilling during this life-changing pandemic: the skills and knowledge I’ve gained here will undoubtedly serve as the foundation for my future advocacy serving the Asian/American community and beyond.

-Nelson Lin, Brown University 

The Youth Leadership Summit is made possible through the generous support of State Farm and FedEx.