(CYOC 2025年会回顾) English version
By: Sophie Xu
On January 26, 2025, during our Annual Celebration, we proudly looked back at the remarkable achievements of CYOC. Since its founding in 2018, Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC) has experienced impressive growth, gradually becoming one of the most influential youth volunteer organizations in the Greater Washington area. From its humble beginnings with just around 20 members, CYOC has grown to over 500 members, with a presence across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. This organization has brought together a group of passionate and energetic young people who are actively involved in community service, aiming to enrich others’ lives and create a powerful network of mutual support full of positivity. Looking ahead, we will continue to expand our organization and welcome anyone with dreams, creativity, or a desire to grow to join CYOC. We firmly believe that by helping young people connect with their communities and actively engage, we can help drive prosperity and resilience in our communities.
From Beginnings to the impacts today
Our journey began on December 8, 2018, when a group of passionate young individuals gathered to discuss how to bring positive change to their community. As young people, we often desire to participate in society and create change, but due to a lack of support and resources, these dreams are often hard to achieve. The founding of CYOC provided us with a platform and the necessary support to turn our dreams into action.
Over the years, CYOC has grown and organized projects and activities across several counties in the Greater Washington area to meet the local community’s needs. At the January 26, 2025 Annual Celebration, we were honored to have government officials, community leaders, and supporters from various organizations present. During the event, Zhu Di, the Minister-Counselor and Consul General at the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., remarked that young people are the future of society and a vital bridge for Sino-American exchanges. He highly praised CYOC’s contributions to promoting cultural exchange between China and the U.S., as well as the promotion of Chinese traditional culture, and expressed confidence that CYOC will play an increasingly important role in enhancing understanding and cooperation between the two countries.Maryland Secretary of State Susan Lee, along with state legislator Clarence Lam and other guests, pointed out that youth organizations like CYOC play a crucial role in shaping future communities. As the first Asian American senator in Maryland, Clarence Lam emphasized his hope to see more diverse voices, including those of Chinese Americans, in government in the future. He expressed that he doesn’t want to continue to be one of the few minority representatives for Asian Americans. Instead, he hopes to see more young people from diverse backgrounds actively engaging in public affairs, driving social progress, and promoting development.”
Guests attending the annual celebration also included:
- Ping Lu, Maryland Asian American Affairs Commission Member
- Chung Pak, Chief Administrative Judge of Maryland
- Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive
- Laurie-Anne Sayles, Montgomery County Councilmember
- Dave Silber and Chris Yonushonis, representatives from So What Else organization
Their support and encouragement continue to drive us forward, motivating CYOC to grow and contribute even more to the prosperity and development of our communities.
Community Service
CYOC is dedicated to organizing various activities to meet the diverse needs of the community, particularly focusing on the growth of our youth members. One of our most fulfilling projects is the gardening program. Through this program, youth not only learn how to grow various fruits and vegetables but also give back to the community by donating fresh products to those in need. This year-long project has enhanced members’ understanding of sustainable agriculture and inspired them to serve the community through hands-on action.
In addition to the gardening program, CYOC has partnered with organizations like So What Else to host food donation drives that help low-income and homeless families. For many families, these food donations are a crucial resource, with essential weekly supplies often depending on these contributions. Leaders from So What Else emphasized the importance of these donations for families in need, highlighting CYOC’s continued progress in helping support the community and providing essential assistance.
This year, CYOC also Rapidly responded to natural disaster relief needs. When we learned that Judy, a staff member at Winston Churchill High School, was from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a Caribbean island devastated by hurricanes and floods, CYOC members, led by President Ping Lu, quickly launched an emergency donation drive. We gathered clothing and essential supplies and sent them to the affected island. For many survivors, these donations became critical as they had lost their homes and only had very limited resources left. This international aid activity demonstrated how CYOC members can quickly mobilize and provide emergency assistance in times of disaster.
Additionally, CYOC supports many other initiatives, including donating sports equipment to help local seniors, offering free academic enrichment classes and sports lessons (such as basketball and tennis), and more. These activities aim to foster teamwork and leadership development. Notable projects also include the FLLC Robotics Team, The Magnificent Math Club, English classes, and the CYOC POMS Club. These programs not only provide members with opportunities to showcase their skills but also make meaningful contributions to the community.
Promoting Cultural Exchange
Cultural exchange has always been at the core of CYOC’s mission. This year, we proudly launched the Yunnan Exchange Program, offering youth the chance to engage in online cultural exchanges with students in China. This initiative is not only a part of CYOC’s efforts to foster international understanding but also serves as an important bridge to connect young people from different cultural backgrounds.
CYOC has also been actively involved in celebrating local cultures, such as AAPI Heritage Month and the Washington Chinese Festival. These events showcase Asian culture and provide youth with a valuable platform to engage in conversations on diversity, inclusion, and representation.
Recognizing Our Volunteers
Our volunteers are the backbone of CYOC. In 2024, we achieved remarkable success, with 45 CYOC members receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) in recognition of their selfless dedication to community service. This year, these 45 members contributed a total of 6,746 volunteer hours, with 3,076 hours coming from CYOC-hosted events. This is an astonishing achievement, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts to make the world a better place.
Without the support of our partners and sponsors, CYOC would not have achieved the success we have today. We would like to extend our special thanks to our past or current partnerships and sponsors. With your help, we have been able to expand our influence and make even greater contributions.
Looking Ahead: Join Us
The achievements of the past year showcase CYOC’s potential. We hope to encourage all youth to realize that even the smallest actions can have a profound impact. Everyone has the power to bring positive change to their community, and CYOC offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to help you take the first step.
At CYOC, we emphasize unity and teamwork, hoping to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Through our collective efforts, we become stronger and capable of creating lasting change. We encourage young people to join us, contribute your unique skills to support the community’s mission, and develop leadership, teamwork, and personal skills.
Finally, we would like to sincerely thank all our members, their families, sponsors, and guests. Your consistent support is crucial to our success, and we look forward to an even brighter future. As we reflect on 2024, we look forward to the countless opportunities ahead that 2025 will bring. Let’s continue to grow together, serve the community, promote youth engagement and development, and become an important force in the community.
Join us TODAY and be part of the change!
Website Editor: Sophia Wang
华府青年 CYOC 
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