Why We Lead, the first national study of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth, found that schools are a complex landscape: schools are both a vital source of community support, and they also serve as arenas of bias and prejudice from peers and adults alike. Fortunately, the Girls Leadership Youth Research Council has created a roadmap of how educators and policymakers can support and cultivate leadership potential of AANHPI youth. Read the introduction and download the full policy brief below.

Telling Our Story:

The Impact of Community on Leadership Among AANHPI Girls and Gender-Expansive Youth
Click to Download the Policy Brief

There is minimal research exploring identity and leadership, particularly for girls and gender-expansive youth of color. Why We Lead: Understanding and Supporting the Leadership of AANHPI Girls and Gender-Expansive Youth, a Girls Leadership National Study, is the first study of its kind to explore the experiences and relationships between identity, community, and leadership of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) girls and gender-expansive youth in the United States. Over the past 1.5 years, members of the Youth Research Council–a group of 17 AANHPI youth from across the U.S.–were facilitated by Girls Leadership and Evaluation Studio to conduct the qualitative component of Why We Lead. Our Youth Participatory Action Research study captured in-depth insights into how AANHPI youth understand leadership through interviews and a photovoice project. This policy brief outlines key recommendations and actions that educators and policymakers can take to support and cultivate leadership potential within AANHPI youth based on our findings.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Disaggregate AANHPI data to better understand specific community needs.
2. Improve curricula to accurately reflect AANHPI history and communities. 
3. Establish ethnic studies and modern world history requirements for graduation.
4. Ensure teachers are trained on AANHPI histories, cultures, and experiences.
5. Increase AANHPI educators and staff.
6. Increase AANHPI-centered spaces. 

Click to Download the Policy Brief

Download the Why We Lead report here.

Click here to download the Why We Lead infographic.

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