February 25 marks my 3 year anniversary at Asian Services In Action, Inc. It is amazing how much this organization has transformed my life on a personal and professional level.
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| ASIA CHERI Department |
Flashback to 2003. I first heard about ASIA, Inc. through my close group of high school girls, Susanna, Toy, and Sejla. They were actively involved in a youth tobacco prevention program called “Asian American Youth Against Tobacco (AAYAT)” and would gather our group of friends to their events from time to time. It is funny and a bit surreal thinking back about it now… I still remember getting dropped off by my mom outside of our small red brick building off Carroll Street and spending countless hours in a long room made up of several 8 foot tables, fluorescent lights, folding chairs, and a white dry erase board with a round clock that sat slightly above it. Aside from learning about the harmful effects of tobacco, I feel like AAYAT made the biggest impact on my life because it allowed me to build relationships and memories with friends in a safe environment while feeling confident that our group did not need drugs or tobacco to “be cool” or “have fun.” Not only that, but AAYAT was also the first time I was fully exposed to other Asian youth of different ethnicities outside of the Southeast Asian community. Up to that point, even though I am Asian, like many others who are raised in a tight community (or bubble), the only other Asian groups I had grown up around were the Hmong, Laotian, and Vietnamese. One memory I explicitly remember is spending a large amount of time preparing for the AAYAT Fashion Show that took place at Summit Mall. This event, in itself, made me feel empowered to share my voice and identity through fashion and how combining our voice as one could be very powerful. I was not able to fully conceptualize it then, but I think back and am extremely thankful for having ASIA to lead us when we could have been easily left behind.
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| The AAYAT Logo |
Fast forward to February 2013. I am meeting our CEO, Michael Byun, for my first day of work as ASIA’s Program Coordinator. We meet at Gate 2 of the Akron/Canton Regional Airport and it was my first time seeing Michael since the AAYAT program when he had served as OUR program coordinator. I remember feeling ecstatic and nervous but knew only good come from something as great as ASIA. We got on the plane and took a 1 hour flight to DC. It was my first time in DC since the 8th grade, and I remember the entire work trip like it happened yesterday. During the next few days in DC, I was privileged to be surround by smart, humble, professional, and passionate individuals, who for the first time in my professional lifeline, I felt I truly connected with on all levels of humility, morale, and compassion. I even experienced my first “Hill Visit” and was fortunate enough to be grouped with some of the most influential and competent leaders of the AAPI network. This one experience alone has completely molded me into who I am today.
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| 2013 - The RAISE Book Revealed |
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| 2014 - White House Champions of Change in DC |
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| 2015 - APIAHF VOICES Conference |
Present day. I exit Route 8 at Carroll Street and drive past our small red brick building to pull into our gravel parking lot. I learned to reference the once "long room with florescent lights" as the community room. I walk down the hallway to my cubicle and never have to dread the feeling of going into work for an organization that played a part in me being who I am today. ASIA has continued to nurture and groom me into becoming a confident young professional with a purpose and a heart. ASIA has been there for me through good times of celebration and tough times of heartache. ASIA has taken me back to my roots and provided a voice for my community. And most importantly, ASIA has humbled me because I know that every other person in this organization cares as much as I do about the work and community that we are committed to serve.
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| 2016 - Shabu Shabu in my Boss' Home |
Although today marks my 3 year anniversary being at ASIA, the reality is that this organization has been in my life much longer than I even realized for myself. It has been an amazing 13 years ASIA... and I only look forward to more to come.
Cathy
