Event Diaries: Invite to Ignite Open House
Opening the Doors of Our Home
This past beautiful Sunday in Denver, nearly 70 students and families stepped through the doors of Asian Girls Ignite’s Invite to Ignite: Open House, and it truly felt like welcoming people into our home (office!). The smell of brunch from Yuan Wonton filled the air as new and current families gathered. The space buzzed with energy as name tags were filled in, snacks were shared, and new connections sparked.
Families were greeted with intentional touches that made the space feel warm and personal, thoughtfully created by Annabel Kaey, our Program Coordinator. Each AGI staff member introduced themselves through their favorite snack and a personal item with a story behind it- like Pops cereal for Jennifer Kim (Jenny), our Student Community Coordinator and a beloved family painting from our Mentorship Program Coordinator, Jihee Yoon- reminders that at AGI, everyone brings their whole self to the circle. On the living room table, hand-cut fruit served on plates from home echoed a familiar love language many of us may know: the quiet act of preparing fruit to nourish the ones we love.
Why We Gather
At AGI, our intention is clear: to create safe, culturally affirming spaces where Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) girls and gender-expansive youth feel seen, heard, and valued. Gatherings like Invite to Ignite are possible because of the investment of donors, funders, and partners who believe in the power of belonging, positive youth development, and intergenerational connection.
What Happened
Once everyone settled in, the day unfolded in ways that celebrated both individuality and community within the AGI home:
🍜 Brunch
Catered by Yuan Wonton brought families together over Thai red curry, Hainanese chicken wontons, vegetable fried rice, Chinese chive baos, and of course, their signature chili oil wontons.
🎤 Parent Session & Youth Panel
Parents joined AGI co-founders Joanne Liu (CEO) and Mehgan Yen (COO) for a presentation on AGI’s mission. They also heard from three incredible AGI students, Jane E., Emmy J., and Jane S., who spoke powerfully about their experiences in AGI programs.
🎨 Student & Sibling Activities
Students rotated through “Heart, Head, and Hands” stations, each designed and led by staff who shared a piece of themselves through the activity:
Head: Origami Star Jars with Annabel
Students folded origami stars, each strip of paper holding a piece of advice, a lesson learned, or a favorite quote, collected into jars as a reminder that wisdom deserves a lasting home.
Heart: Affirmation Portraits with Jihee
Through scrapbooking and guided prompts, students reflected on questions like “What do you know is true about yourself?” and “What do you love and cherish about yourself?” as an invitation to embrace their whole selves beyond external expectations.
Hands: Plant Buddies with Jenny
Students chose a plant and decorated them with a self-care practice written on the stake, adding mini animals to make it their own, nurturing both growth and reflection on what it means to care for ourselves.
📸 Polaroid Portraits & Bring-a-Friend Gifts
For this event, we wanted to have a personalized gift for our students, at check-in, students snapped Polaroid photos and answered playful questions about their favorite snacks, hobbies, and places of joy. Later, these responses were transformed into custom portraits by Jane Ly, our Marketing Coordinator, a surprise keepsake designed to remind students that their unique identities matter here. At AGI, the heart of our programming is to ensure students always feel seen, heard, and valued.
The Emotional Core
The evening closed with our sticky note wall and affirmation circle. Students offered affirmations for themselves, while families shared affirmations for their children.
A few reflections we’ll carry forward:
“I hope my child will be comfortable in her own skin as an Asian Latina.”
“I hope for acceptance and safety for being who they are.”
“I hope my daughter inspires other Asian girls to have pride in their culture.”
“I hope she knows how to use her voice and to trust her instincts—and no one will silence those.”
Students, too, shared what brings them belonging, joy, and safety: ancestors, family, community, pets, best friends, making a pillow fort, and being outdoors!
These sticky notes, filled with wisdom and hope, became a living tapestry of the community’s shared knowledge. Each student left not only with new experiences and memories, but also with the strength of knowing they are part of something bigger.
The Impact of Belonging
For AGI, moments like these are more than events—they are proof of the impact of culturally affirming, youth-centered programming. When students see staff model authenticity through personal items, or when they create alongside peers, they build trust, confidence, and a lasting sense of belonging.
This is what donor and community support makes possible:
Spaces where youth feel safe to share their stories.
Opportunities to build friendships rooted in identity and culture.
A supportive community where positive youth development thrives.
Gratitude & Closing
We are deeply grateful to every student, family, staff member, and supporter who made Invite to Ignite a success. With every story shared, seed planted, and affirmation spoken, our community grew stronger.
As we step into this new school year, we invite you to reflect alongside us:
What is something you’ve learned, felt, or done in your own community this month?
🌸 Thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we’ll continue creating spaces where youth can thrive, connect, and embrace their authentic selves.
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About Asian Girls Ignite
Founded in October 2020, Asian Girls Ignite is a nonprofit 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 nurture social-emotional learning to help our students grow in resilience, empathy, and self-awareness.
