For Immediate Release
February 12, 2025
Contact: community@naapimha.org
NAAPIMHA Announces 2025 Act to Change Youth Ambassadors
The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) is proud to collaborate with four Act to Change Youth Ambassadors as it kicks off planning for the 5th Annual National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day. The cohort consists of four high school students in the 11th grade hailing from different regions of the United States.
The four ambassadors joining the NAAPIMHA team are:
Dylan Chong | 11th Grade | Kansas
Katherine Nguyen | 11th Grade | Missouri
Rachel Lei | 11th Grade | California
Ethan Mao | 11th Grade | Maryland
The Act to Change Youth Ambassador Program is a transformative initiative that leverages the strengths, creativity, and leadership potential of AAPI youth to develop impactful, community-driven solutions to bullying and social exclusion. High school students across the United States in this program will receive leadership training, have access to mentorship, develop a capstone project, and be able to connect with other youth across the country, as well as leaders that are making a difference in their field.
This cohort will work on a capstone project to assist NAAPIMHA with the implementation of this year’s National AANHPI Mental Health Day campaign, with a specific focus in engaging AANHPI youth. They will have the opportunity to engage in national advocacy efforts to pass a national resolution proclaiming May 10, 2025 as the 5th Annual National AANHPI Mental Health Day in Congress, advocate for city/state proclamations in their hometowns, and develop youth-centric resources and spaces celebrating National AANHPI Mental Health Day.
NAAPIMHA Deputy Director Krystle Canare and Project Coordinator Aryelle Montecer will serve as Community Action Project Advisors and other members of the NAAPIMHA team will join meetings as guest speakers to share insights around NAAPIMHA’s youth mental health programming and community engagement efforts.
Aryelle Montecer shares, “We are excited to have the Act to Change Youth ambassadors join the team! I look forward to working with such a great group of young leaders and cannot wait to see the ideas that they will bring to the table in order to bring the conversation of mental health to AANHPI youth.”
Learn more about National AANHPI Mental Health Day and consider supporting NAAPIMHA by staying connected with us via our email newsletter (sign up at www.naapimha.org/newsletter-sign-up) on Instagram @naapimha, or by donating to support our work at www.naapimha.org/donate
Get to Know NAAPIMHA’s Act to Change Youth Ambassadors
Dylan Chong Fleischer is a junior from Lawrence, Kansas. At school, Dylan is actively involved in theater and plays Junior Varsity tennis. Dylan completed a summer acting training program at the Interlochen Arts Camp. Dylan is passionate about AAPI mental health and its relationship to bullying. Dylan is enthusiastic about representing AAPI people with multicultural heritage.
Katherine Nguyen is a junior at Clayton High School located in St. Louis, Missouri. She is involved in her community’s Asian American Civic Scholars group, The Very Asian Foundation, and leads her school’s Asian Student Association. Throughout her work in Asian American advocacy, she is extremely passionate about uniting the community and showcasing diverse perspectives.
Rachel Lei, a junior from Brentwood, California (corn town!), is deeply involved in her school’s speech and debate club, where she runs progressive arguments exploring Asian identity. As one of the co-founders of her city’s youth press, she is also passionate about amplifying student voices and raising local awareness. Outside of writing and debating, she immerses herself in music, digital art, and Chinese history.
Ethan Mao is a junior from Potomac, Maryland. He is passionate about Asian American activism, participating in multiple organizations working towards greater representation.
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About NAAPIMHA
NAAPIMHA, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, is a national 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and redefine the mental health and wellbeing of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, through mental health trainings, community mental health programs, national policy and advocacy, and rapid community crisis response, while centering those with lived experience.
Since 2001, NAAPIMHA has worked with AANHPI-serving community based organizations across the country to identify and respond to the mental health needs of AANHPI communities nationwide. Over the past 20 years, provided training and consultation to over 150 AANHPI-serving community-based organizations and 3500 AANHPIs around the country resulting in behavior change and improved skills to promote positive health outcomes for individuals and the communities they serve.
Learn more at: www.naapimha.org
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