Asian American girls have power. Space makes it seen & celebrated.
We create spaces of mentorship and belonging where Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) girls and gender-expansive youth in grades 6 - 12 feel seen, celebrated, and supported to lead their own futures.
Take your shoes off and come on in!
-
![]()
Belonging matters
-
![]()
For the selves we still carry
-
![]()
For the future we’re reimagining
-
![]()
Belonging matters
-
![]()
For the selves we still carry
-
![]()
For the future we’re reimagining
Belonging is foundational to confidence, wellbeing, and leadership.
Belonging means being able to show up fully, without explanation or erasure. For many AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth, identity-affirming spaces grounded in care are essential. When belonging exists, young people build self-trust, form meaningful connections, and step forward with clarity, confidence, and a sense of possibility.
It’s the kind of support many of us remember needing.
-
Connection
### Belonging reduces isolation
When girls and gender-expansive youth are reflected and understood, isolation loosens its grip. Shared culture, mentorship, and lived experience create connection—like someone saving you the last spam musubi! oung people feel less alone and more confident in who they are.
-
Leadership
### Belonging shapes leadership early
Leadership doesn’t start with titles. It starts with self-trust. In affirming spaces, young people explore identity and voice, define success on their own terms, and lead from authenticity rather than fear.
-
Mental Health
### Belonging supports mental health
Connection and affirmation strengthen wellbeing by building self-worth, resilience, and supportive relationships. When young people feel seen and valued, they are better equipped to navigate challenges, with support in place before a crisis ever occurs.
-
Impact
### Belonging creates lasting impact
When young people grow up in identity-affirming communities, the impact lasts. Early investment in belonging shapes educational engagement, relationships, and leadership that ripple across families and future generations.
-
Our students connect with mentors who share cultural context and real-world insight, offering guidance that feels relevant, affirming, and grounded.
Asian Girls Ignite is a member of MENTOR. Our mentorship program is guided by a certified Mentoring Program Leader.
-
We create environments where our students can show up fully, build relationships, and feel supported, without pressure to perform or conform.
-
Our students are encouraged to define success on their own terms, practice leadership early, and make choices that reflect who they are and what they value.
-
From curriculum to facilitation, we create environments where our students feel recognized, respected, and supported—honoring the whole person, not just outcomes or metrics.
How Asian Girls Ignite creates space
Belonging doesn’t happen by accident. We create it through intention, care, and community.
At Asian Girls Ignite, students are met with mentorship, affirmation, and a takeout container of delicious AANHPI food to bring home—because of course you don’t leave without leftovers.
What our students tell us
-
![]()
Jemma K. (she/her)
“As someone who’s half white and half Asian, I used to ask myself if I was ‘Asian enough.’ But when I joined Asian Girls Ignite in 2023, I stopped asking that question because I finally felt like I belonged.”
-
![]()
Nevaeh L. (she/her)
“Not only did I see many people like me, but I learned so much from around the world. I learned to accept myself, step outside my comfort zone, and I felt welcome and wanted”
-
![]()
Elysa H-S. (they/them)
“Seeing people who are like me creates a place where I can express myself without feeling scared that one would judge me for being who I am. Just being there whether you know anyone or not makes you feel comforted that you aren't the only one being an American born Asian.”
-
![]()
Lillian K. (she/her)
“I’ve learned so much about myself and my heritage while connecting with friends from different cultures. I cherish that I’ve found a place where I’m understood and where I understand others.”
-
![]()
Isa F-M. (she/her)
“Asian Girls Ignite helped me celebrate myself—not just in this space, but everywhere, all the time. Without Asian Girls Ignite, I don’t think I would’ve found that as easily—or at all.”
-
![]()
Apollo W. (they/them)
“I feel so seen and heard. I always love hearing from bi-racial storytellers due to their experiences being very similar to mine whether it revolves around culture, food, bullies, and everything else you could think of.”
A space we needed.
A space we build together.
Many of us grew up wishing for a space like this. One where we didn’t have to explain ourselves, where our stories were honored, and where belonging wasn’t conditional.
Asian Girls Ignite exists because we imagined something different. Today, that vision is real and growing, sustained by a community that believes care is something we build together.
Your support helps create the space we once needed and that our students now call home.