Category: CYOC activities

By: Diana Zhao

On a spring afternoon, I arrived at the APPI Festival ceremony feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. The area was already busy, with people walking around, different booths being set up, and volunteers getting ready for the event. Music and conversations filled the space, and it was clear that a lot of people were waiting for this day. Even before I started volunteering, I could see how many people were working together to make the event go well.

By: Camille Hu

May, a month where we celebrate AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) heritage, culture, and contributions. Before volunteering the AAPI event at Seneca Valley High School, I understood this celebration mostly in theory, as something recognized on calendars and in passing conversations. However, participating in the event allowed me to experience its meaning in a more personal and impactful way. What initially seemed like a simple opportunity to help quickly became a meaningful experience that allowed me to engage more directly with the community. Instead of viewing AAPI Heritage Month as just a symbolic recognition, I began to see it as an active and living expression of identity, history, and belonging. Being present in that space exposed me to the ways culture is not only remembered, but also shared, performed, and continuously shaped by those who carry it forward.

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.

作者：陈紫菡（Chloe）

今年，我作为CYOC的一名小小志愿者参与了此次AAPI庆典活动，跟着大家一起宣传了中国传统文化。

By: Peishi Yu

2026年5月3日，随着“亚裔及太平洋岛民（AAPI）传统月”的盛大开启，马里兰州蒙哥马利郡第五届年度亚裔传统月庆典在塞内卡谷高中（Seneca Valley High School）隆重举行。大华府地区活跃的青少年非营利义工组织——华府青年（Capital Youth Outreach Club, 即CYOC）作为此次亚裔社团的协办单位之一通过极具文化特色的专属展位与精彩的舞台表演，向大家呈现了亚裔新生代的风采。