By: Peishi Yu
On May 3, 2026, as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month officially kicked off, the 5th Annual AAPI Heritage Month Celebration was held at Seneca Valley High School in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Capital Youth Outreach Club (CYOC), an active youth-led nonprofit organization in the DMV area, was invited to participate. Through a culturally rich booth and engaging stage performances, CYOC showcased the talent and spirit of the new generation of Asian American youth.
At the CYOC booth, youth volunteers served as ambassadors of Chinese culture. The booth was lively, creative, and thoughtfully designed, attracting a large number of visitors and creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. Cultural displays such as Peking Opera masks, adorable panda plush toys, and the “Four Treasures of the Study” (brush, ink, paper, and inkstone) drew visitors from diverse backgrounds to stop and explore. To bring culture to life, volunteers organized popular hands-on experiences such as a “chopsticks candy-picking challenge,” panda stickers and temporary tattoos, and a fun water-calligraphy activity. These interactions not only brought joy, but also allowed participants to experience the unique charm of Chinese culture firsthand.
At the opening ceremony, CYOC’s youth members brought the community together through music. They performed the classic song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” symbolizing harmony and unity across cultures. In addition, the CYOC Chamber Ensemble delivered high-quality performances of “One Same Song in D Major” and “The Moon Represents My Heart,” conveying deep community bonds through music.
CYOC’s long-standing dedication and active contributions to community service have also earned widespread recognition. During the event, numerous government officials and community representatives visited the CYOC booth, including Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the US Consul General Song Shiyou; Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich; County Councilmember Will Jawando; Director of the Governor’s Asian American Office of Maryland Christina Po; Montgomery County Sheriff Maxwell Uy and his spouse; Siu Cheung Rossmark, Maryland AAPI Commissioner and host of this event; Maryland Korean American AAPI Commissioner Alana Lee; Maryland AAPI Commissioner Thai Nguyen and his spouse; President of the Hometown Association Ronghua Hu; Director of the Xi’an Foreign Affairs Office Lan Zhang; and representatives of the Greater Washington AAPI Waist Drum Performance Team.
They warmly interacted with the youth volunteers, took photos, and expressed their support. They highly praised CYOC’s important role in promoting cross-cultural exchange and fostering youth leadership, and encouraged young people to continue serving as bridges in building a more inclusive and diverse community.
Through this celebration, CYOC not only showcased the talents and achievements of its members, but also demonstrated its mission of “growing through service” through meaningful volunteer work. Looking ahead, CYOC will continue to use culture as a bridge and service as a platform to unite more youth leaders, advance multicultural exchange and community integration, and enable youth to shine through dedication and community service.
Website Editor: Grace Yan
华府青年 CYOC 
You must be logged in to post a comment.