Students Take Action to Help the AAPI Community

Rumsey seniors Chris Liu and Nicole Liao created a way to assist and build awareness for the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community. Chris and Nicole wanted to help in a personal way to children they could identify. Together, the two students chose Apex For Youth based out of New York City to raise money for.

According to their website, Apex for Youth delivers possibilities to underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low-­income families in NYC. The website states, “We recruit working professionals to volunteer and become positive role models who inspire youth to expand their horizons and envision what is possible for their lives. Through mentoring and educational programs that serve students from 1st to 12th grade, Apex volunteers guide and support youth to become confident, be ready for college, and give back to the community.”

“Since COVID-19, hate crimes against Asians in the United States have increased,” said Chris. “We want to let our school know about the problem and contribute to a better future for Asians.”

Chris explained that in a lot of circumstances, the Asian community is ignored. There’s a supposition that Asian people come to this country for boarding school and therefore have a promising future. However, many Asians living in the United States are immigrants. By donating to Apex for Youth in New York City, Chris and Nicole hope to support the Asian community as a whole. 

After devising a way to raise money by offering a dress-down day for Rumsey students for a one-dollar donation plus a chance to donate more for Asian candy and goodies, Chris and Nicole raised nearly $600. The money will increase education efforts for the programs Apex for Youth supports. 

“I really hope in the next year, after I leave Rumsey, there will be an Under-former to take over,” Chris said. “By getting the Rumsey community to contribute, we’re all standing together to help a community that’s in trouble.”