Event Diaries: AppreciAsian Affair 2025
When guests stepped into Yuan Wonton, they were welcomed by the savory scent of freshly folded wontons, smiles and hugs, and the gentle buzz of people reconnecting. It felt like a gathering of old friends, a room filled with joy, gratitude, and the energy of a community who deeply believe in uplifting the next generation.
This year’s AppreciAsian Affair, our annual celebration honoring donors, partners, and funders, offered a moment to pause and reflect on what we’ve built together. And more importantly, amplifying the voices of the young leaders who now stand proudly at the center of it all.
Honoring Chef Penelope Wong
One of the brightest reflections of Asian Girls Ignite’s (AGI) long-term impact is Chef Penelope Wong (she/her), owner of Yuan Wonton and a steadfast champion of our mission.
Chef Penelope’s journey with us began in 2022 as a Storyteller. Since then, she has continually shown up, hosting a dumpling-making workshop, offering space for our high schoolers at “Food for Thought,” catering community picnics and ElevAsian, and cheering our youth on every step of the way.
From a booth, to a food truck, and now a James Beard semifinalist, Chef Penelope’s growth mirrors the values at the heart of AGI: resilience, representation, and the belief that investing in one person creates a ripple effect across an entire community.
In her keynote, she spoke about identity and community, how every leader benefits from someone who believed in them first, and how she now chooses to be that presence for our youth. Her story was a beautiful reminder that AGI doesn’t just create programs, we nurture relationships that grow across years and generations.
Small plates circled through the space, lovingly prepared by Chef Penelope and her team, each bite reflected the nourishment at the heart of AGI’s mission, we nourish our students’ confidence, creativity, and sense of belonging as intentionally as we nourish them at our tables, bringing a variety of cuisines to share one another’s culture.
Sharing food together reminded us that AGI’s work thrives because of partnership. Our impact is collective, built by youth, families, donors, collaborators, and local leaders all moving together.
We want to thank Chef Penelope and the Yuan Wonton team, for their continued support and donating the delicious food, refreshments, and space for us to gather for our annual AppreciAsian Affair. 💜
Youth at the Center
Throughout the night, AGI students led the evening with confidence and warmth. As supporters came through the door, they were immediately greeted by beaming smiles from Youth Leadership Collective (YLC) members, Eleanor (they/she) and Ellie (she/her).
Later on, for our student-panel, Azalea (she/her), Emmy (she/her), Jane (she/her), and Sunny (she/her), joined Chef Penelope for a heartfelt conversation about their stories, capturing the room’s full attention.
Finding Belonging at AGI
Every student reflected on what it meant to arrive at AGI without an Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in their lives growing up in Colorado. For many, AGI was the first place where they weren’t the “only one,” the first place they didn’t have to shrink or question if they were “Asian enough,” and the first place they felt fully understood.
Jane shared that her mixed-heritage became an internal struggle of “not being Asian enough” and “not being White enough.” Growing up in a predominantly-White area made it difficult for her to share her culture and learn more about what it means to “be Asian". It wasn’t until her mom found AGI on social media and encouraged her to join. Although she was hesitant at first, she shares that she is thankful that AGI has helped her gain confidence, given her a community, and a space where she is unafraid of being her full authentic self.
They spoke about how life-changing it has been to finally embrace all of who they are: their identities, their stories, and the countless possibilities of who they can become.
Why it matters
AANHPI histories and identities are often overlooked in classrooms and broader society, contributing to feelings of underrepresentation. Culturally responsive programs foster self-esteem, strengthen identity, and help combat invisibility.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for AANHPI youth aged 15–24, according to the CDC. Cultural stigma, family expectations, and limited representation in mental health resources make it critical to create spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to prioritize their well-being.
Shaped by Representation Through Storytellers
At every AGI event, the core programming is hosted and planned by collaborating with local AANHPI women and gender-expansive role models as storytellers.
Azalea shared that seeing AANHPI women leading with creativity and purpose, from Filipina American energy medicine practitioner Christina Ifurung of Kapwa Healing (she/her) to Nikkei storyteller, writer, teacher and visual/experiential creative, Akemi Tsutui-Kunitake (she/her), showed her what is possible. Because of the impact our storytellers had, Azalea is determined to pursue her goal of creating art and sharing it with the world.
By having storytellers at the root of each event, they give students mirrors they had never seen before, tell stories they feel seen in, and share passions that are rooted in purpose and culture.
Why it matters
Programs designed in collaboration with communities achieve significantly greater impact. Centering student voices ensures that we address real needs while fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment.
AANHPI youth who feel proud of who they are show stronger coping skills, higher self-esteem, and stronger peer relationships.
Building Leadership Skills and Advocacy Tools
Emmy and Jane reflected on how the Youth Leadership Collective helped them build real leadership skills and the courage to use their voices. And the impact doesn’t stop there, Sunny and Emmy shared that, because of what they learned through AGI, they were inspired to start affinity groups at their schools, bringing community and representation to spaces that had never had it before.
Sunny bravely shared how, when she created an AANHPI affinity group at her school, some peers pushed back and misunderstood her intent. Thanks to the confidence and voice she’s grown through AGI, she was able to advocate for herself and explain why a space for AANHPI students to feel seen and supported matters. Her advocacy opened the door for her classmates to experience the belonging she has found at AGI.
Emmy shared that she now serves on the board of her school’s AANHPI affinity group, a leadership step inspired by her time with AGI. She spoke about her commitment to strengthening that community and her goal of becoming president next year, continuing the ripple effect of belonging that our community helps make possible.
The Power of Mentorship
With the launch of AGI’s mentorship program this fall, students in the program shared tender stories about finding mentors who see them, especially around their mixed-heritage identity, belonging, and navigating girlhood. Having someone who understands their lived experiences has brought them grounding, joy, and a sense of direction.
Why it matters
Research shows that adolescents with supportive non-parental adults in their lives experience greater psychological well-being, including higher self-esteem and life satisfaction.
The room felt every word. Families and supporters smiled, nodded, and some even wiped away tears, because these stories are the clearest proof of how a community can uplift one another.
Moments of Appreciation
Co-Founders Joanne Liu (she/her) and Mehgan Yen (she/her) shared heartfelt thanks with the supporters who have walked beside us, especially as we celebrated AGI’s five-year anniversary this fall- five years of student stories, leadership milestones, and partnerships that continue to strengthen our community.
Your belief in our mission is what makes this growth, this belonging, and these transformations possible.
Because of everyone who has supported us, AGI has become a trusted, community-rooted organization, one that students and families rely on as a source of cultural pride, connection, and leadership development.
Closing Reflections
AppreciAsian Affair 2025 made something very clear, sustained support doesn’t just fund programs, it transforms lives. We grow because our community grows with us.
Community contributions and generous donors has helped us:
nurture youth who become leaders, activists, storytellers, and creators
grow a mentorship network that reflects the identities of our students
build long-term partnerships with AANHPI role models
create spaces where representation is not a rarity, but a norm
And the impact multiplies each year. Students become future mentors; partners become collaborators; and leaders like Penelope model the power of giving back.
As we look forward, we are committed to expanding access to our programs, deepening mentorship opportunities, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring every AANHPI girl and gender-expansive youth across Colorado has a community where they can thrive.
Thank you to Calvin Voong for capturing the event through a lens that reflects the heart of our community.
Help us continue creating spaces where AANHPI youth thrive.
Invest in the next five years of Asian Girls Ignite!
About Asian Girls Ignite
Founded in October 2020, Asian Girls Ignite is a non-profit organization that provides educational programs for AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth to celebrate their individual and collective power. We use storytelling to empower the next generation to write their futures in their own voice. Our programs and events nurture social-emotional learning to help our students grow in resilience, empathy, and self-awareness.