By: Jennifer Zhang
I’m Jennifer, a junior student at Winston Churchill High School. It is a true honor to receive this award Asian American and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islander (AANHPI). First, I appreciate AANHPI gives me this award. Second, I truly thank the support from Capital Youth Outreach Club, CYOC for short in Montgomery County. Compared with others, my volunteering experience is unique. Before I moved back to the U.S. from Shanghai in the 10th grade, I had limited opportunities to engage in volunteer work. However, I was fortunate enough to join CYOC, which has opened doors for me to join multiple community-based volunteer efforts. At last but not least , I will thank my CYOC partners, the CYOC adult advisors, Dr. Pinglu, Prof. Taochen and Dr. Haoli and my mother as well, for their great support and help. Without them, it’s impossible for me to get this award.
I have been a volunteer and then a volunteer leader since I joined CYOC. In 2025, I’ve been leading two volunteer programs collaborating with the partner of CYOC, the Chinese American Community Health Service (CACHS). The first one is called the Happy Senior English Club, which is an online program to teach Chinese seniors to learn English. Twice a week, I send out weekly notices to all volunteer teachers via email to remind them of all their assigned tasks, which include their assigned classes, what they need to record during class, and tech support on using different Zoom features. The second one is called Happy Seniors. This in-person outreach program promotes health and wellness to Chinese American seniors in Montgomery County. I recruited dedicated young volunteers who are passionate about providing support to seniors, and I always emphasize that we must be patient and compassionate with them. I also observe every event and implement changes as needed. Both these programs are series events which last from the beginning of January to the end of June. Now I know, how difficult and challenged it is to organize and manage programs lasting for a half year. My CYOC teammates and I have tried our best. So far, these two programs are successful. The third program I led is the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Project. The purpose of this project is to acknowledge the underrepresentation of the AAPI community in this plan and to push for significant AAPI sites to be officially registered as historic landmarks. To achieve this, we will be holding events where we share the significance of AAPI history and culture in Montgomery County. I am once again collaborating with CYOC to brainstorm, plan, recruit young volunteers, and prepare exhibitions that represent traditional Chinese culture. This is my first experience in leading and preparing such a large exhibit, and the opportunity to contribute and lead fills me with a great amount of excitement and pride.
Though every leadership role comes with challenges, trials, and tribulations, the positive impact that it leaves on the community exceeds any of those hurdles. Through these events and programs, I have strengthened my collaborative abilities, and my organizational and community skills have been enhanced. It is great to see that the programs and events that I am leading have a meaningful impact on our community. I am grateful to be able to work in programs that help vulnerable communities. Most importantly, every time I receive a heartfelt “thank you,” I feel a sense of fulfillment, and it reminds me how important these volunteer efforts are for our community. I will continuously try my best in the future.
Website Editor: Grace Yan
华府青年 CYOC 
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