They/she. Indian-White American

Eleanor is eager to join the Youth Leadership Collective to gain leadership opportunities among peers who share similar experiences and backgrounds. They are driven by a desire to use their voice to inspire others and believe that leadership is a powerful way to make a difference. Eleanor brings a compassionate and understanding perspective to the team, paired with strong leadership skills and the ability to work collaboratively. With their experience and thoughtful opinions, they aim to contribute meaningfully to YLC's initiatives.

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What Eleanor loves most about AGI is its ability to bring kids together, creating a space full of opportunities and fun. One experience that resonated deeply with them was the Amache trip, where they formed strong relationships and learned valuable lessons, making it a memorable and impactful moment in their AGI journey.

In their free time, Eleanor enjoys exploring their creative side through digital and traditional art, as well as needle felting. They also love skating and participating in roller derby when they can. Spending time with friends and family helps them find balance.
Eleanor celebrates themself through their artwork. By putting time and effort into creating something meaningful, they express who they are and reflect on how far they’ve come, using art as a way to honor their personal journey.

She/her. Korean-White American.

Emmy is thrilled to join the Youth Leadership Collective, having been part of AGI since 6th grade. Now in high school, she’s eager to take on a leadership role, contribute to planning events, and mentor younger kids. As a social person who loves connecting with new people, Emmy values learning from others with different passions and perspectives. Known for being reliable, respectful, and inclusive, she’s excited to use her leadership skills to make a positive impact in the AGI community.

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One of Emmy’s favorite aspects of AGI is the exposure to Asian women mentors, which is important to her as a biracial individual with a Korean father and white mother. Having strong Asian women role models has been inspiring, and she also loves learning about different Asian cultural traditions and activities through AGI. Looking ahead, Emmy envisions AGI continuing to grow and eventually gaining a national presence. She is passionate about helping the organization expand and reach more people.

Her favorite AGI experiences include the summer camps and trips to Snow Mountain Ranch, where she appreciated the diversity of activities. Each year, she learned something new while still having a great time. Emmy hopes to see more weekend evening activities in the future, as it can be difficult for her to attend traditional weekend daytime events.

Emmy celebrates herself by enjoying spa days with her sister and mom, where they relax and get manicures. She is also passionate about gymnastics—she's a varsity gymnast—as well as dance, violin, surfing, and science.

She/her. Filipino American.

Heather has been part of AGI since middle school and, as a senior in high school, she is excited to bring a fresh perspective to the Youth Leadership Council. With her own growth journey, she hopes to help others navigate their experiences and broaden AGI’s viewpoints. One of Heather’s key strengths is her positive outlook—she believes in persistence and optimism, even when faced with challenges. Understanding that success takes time, Heather is eager to bring this mindset to YLC.

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What Heather loves most about AGI is how it constantly evolves and grows, not just within the organization but by uplifting other AANHPI voices and stories. AGI’s success is never singular—it’s always shared with the community, and that’s something she deeply admires. In the future, Heather dreams of AGI expanding to different states, with the tradition of storytelling at its core. She believes storytelling has the power to unite and strengthen communities, just as it did for ancestors, and hopes AGI can continue spreading this practice nationwide.

Heather’s hope for AGI is to see it expand beyond the Denver-Metro area, making it more accessible to students in the suburbs and rural parts of Colorado. As someone from further North, she believes students in less diverse areas would benefit greatly from AGI’s inclusive community.

One of her favorite AGI events was hearing the storytelling of AANHPI women who started their own food businesses. She was inspired by how they drew from their culture, memories with their mothers, and the emotions tied to making home-cooked meals. Heather loves how these stories encourage people to pursue their passions and share what they love with the world.

Heather celebrates herself by taking time to listen to her mind and body. Whether it’s enjoying a sweet treat or taking a much-needed nap, she makes sure to prioritize her well-being after facing challenges.

She/her. Chinese-Filipino American.

Jane is excited to take on a more active role in AGI by joining the Youth Leadership Collective. Having participated in various AGI events over the past year, she looks forward to contributing her skills in organizing, fundraising, and event planning. With experience in Mock Trial, Girl Scouts, and Theater Crew, Jane enjoys working with others toward a common goal. One of her favorite things about AGI is the sense of belonging it provides. Growing up in predominantly white Castle Rock, she often felt “not Asian enough” due to her mixed heritage. AGI has helped her gain confidence in her identity, and she hopes to bring more girls from her area into the community.

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What do dim sum, TX BBQ, CO green chili, and lumpia all have in common? These are all foods that make up Jane’s mixed-race background (her exact words!). She was born to a third-generation White Texan father and a first-generation US-born Chinese/Filipino mother. Jane’s parents have always taught her to care for neighbors and community, no matter the political or cultural background, and that food and art bring people together. She has integrated this practice into her high school years through her involvement in the prop and makeup departments of the theater crew and by cooking dishes from her cultural roots for friends and family.

Her favorite AGI event was the activism and allyship workshop, where she connected her passion for social justice with art. Jane hopes to help AGI grow by suggesting a private Instagram page for members to share their interests and experiences, fostering deeper connections beyond in-person events.

She’s excited to mentor younger girls and ensure that everyone feels included at AGI, especially introverts like herself.
In her free time, Jane enjoys traveling, reading with a goal of 50 books this year, and listening to Taylor Swift. She also loves spending time with her dog, London.

Jane celebrates herself by cooking and eating! One of her fondest memories was cooking Filipino dishes with her grandpa during the pandemic, a tradition she continues to cherish.

She/her. Filipino-White American.

Jemma is excited to take on a more active role in AGI, giving back to a community she’s loved being part of. While fulfilling her high school service learning requirement, she saw an opportunity to help plan events, collaborate with others, and learn more about AGI behind the scenes.

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Creative and a quick learner, Jemma enjoys brainstorming solutions and contributing ideas. She values teamwork and looks forward to ensuring events are engaging and well-organized. What she loves most about AGI is its inclusivity— as someone who is half Filipino, she has never had to question whether she is “Asian enough” in this welcoming community.

Her favorite AGI event is the Lunar New Year Celebration. Though her family is not Chinese, they have adopted their own traditions around the holiday, and she loves the lion dance, festive atmosphere, and delicious food.

Jemma hopes to connect with inspiring Asian women, share her culture, and learn from others' experiences. She’s excited to contribute to the events she has enjoyed attending and help AGI continue to grow.

She celebrates herself through baking sweets, cooking Filipino dishes with her Lola and mother, long walks with her dog on snowy days, summer bike rides, and capturing memories through travel photography. She also enjoys origami, especially folding peace cranes.

She/her. Indian American.

Janelle has been part of Asian Girls Ignite since 2020 and loves the supportive community that AGI provides. At AGI events she enjoys making new friends and participating in exciting activities like rock climbing and tubing, all while also learning more about her South Asian culture and identity.  She joined the AGI Youth Leadership Collective to help spread AGI’s message and support students in embracing their Asian identity, just as AGI has done for her. 

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She strives to be a strong role model to uplift her peers and foster a sense of community, diversity, and inclusivity. Being part of AGI has helped her gain confidence and a deeper understanding of herself. Outside of AGI, Janelle likes to play the violin, bake, and play field hockey. Janelle loves spending time outdoors, hiking, biking, and playing soccer with her sister. 

Janelle loves to celebrate herself by indulging in desserts and traveling, finding joy in exploring new places and cultures.

She/her. Indian American.

Jessica is eager to contribute to AGI by organizing events, volunteering, and sharing her personal experiences. She looks forward to connecting with girls who share similar backgrounds, while also learning more about herself and finding ways to give back to the community. With a love for public speaking, Jessica brings creativity, approachability, and a positive attitude to the Youth Leadership Collective. She’s eager to share her ideas and experiences, especially when speaking at events to raise awareness about AGI and its mission.

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Jessica loves AGI for the opportunity to meet girls from diverse backgrounds and learn about Asian cultures. Through trying new cuisines and mastering chopsticks, she has embraced her heritage and felt empowered by connecting with others who share similar experiences. Her favorite program was the summer camp, where she bonded with other girls through fun activities, even during indoor camping. 

She also envisions AGI expanding its reach to more AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth in the Denver area and creating a group for boys, allowing even more AANHPI youth to benefit from AGI's positive impact.

In her free time, Jessica has a deep love for soccer, having played since she was four. She now competes on a select team for the Rapids, and also enjoys being part of the orchestra program at DSA. 

Jessica loves to celebrate herself by watching movies and spending quality time with her family.

She/her. Korean Jewish.

Josie has loved being part of AGI and is excited to join the Youth Leadership Collective to stay involved, learn new skills, and take on new challenges. She’s eager to contribute her dedication, hard work, and commitment as a leader within the community. What Josie values most about AGI is the sense of acceptance and belonging it provides. Being surrounded by others who share similar backgrounds reassures and empowers her to be herself. She also enjoys AGI’s fun, engaging events, where she can form meaningful connections with others.

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Her favorite AGI event was the summer camp, where she enjoyed all the activities, food, and places they explored. Most importantly, the camp gave her the chance to make lasting friendships with girls who share her cultural background, allowing her to connect with them on a deeper level.

Josie wouldn’t change anything about AGI, as she has thoroughly enjoyed all the events she’s attended. Her hopes for the organization are to see it grow and expand, reaching more people and continuing to be a place where everyone feels comfortable and accepted.

In her free time, Josie enjoys hanging out with friends and playing basketball.

Josie loves celebrating herself by surrounding herself with friends and family, spending time with the people who love and support her.

She/her. Chinese-Caucasian American.

Katie is excited to join the Youth Leadership Collective and contribute to planning and providing feedback on AGI’s programs. Having enjoyed past AGI events, she looks forward to using her organizational skills and outgoing nature to create a welcoming environment for new members. Katie values the connections she’s made with other AANHPI girls, women, and gender-expansive individuals, which have deepened her passion for human rights. Inspired by AGI’s role models and the team’s dedication, she’s eager to continue advocating for the rights of women and people of color.

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Katie’s favorite AGI program is the summer camp, especially the "glamping" trip where she and her friends bonded over friendship bracelets, braiding hair, and listening to Taylor Swift. One of the most impactful stories for her was Mimi Luong Ye’s, who taught Katie to value her culture and heritage. The deep connections she formed with others during the camp left a lasting impression.

Katie hopes to see AGI continue to expand and connect more AANHPI girls and women, targeting even more individuals and building a strong, thriving community. She’s excited about the organization’s growth and hopes that others will continue to recognize AGI as a change-making force. Katie loves seeing the team, grants, and partnerships grow and is proud to be part of its incredible journey since she joined in 2020. She dreams of seeing AGI alumni return to share their stories as mentors. 

In her free time, Katie enjoys both synchronized and regular swimming. She loves hanging out with friends and volunteering, and is actively involved in several school clubs, including Knitting for Newborns (knitting baby hats for the Newborns in Need Program at Denver Health), Children’s Hospital Colorado Club, Speech & Debate, Kokopelli (a literary magazine), and Horizons, where she tutors lower school students.

Passionate about working with kids, Katie enjoys babysitting, nannying, and volunteering with local organizations, including at her school's Early Learning Center. She also secured a summer job as a camp counselor working with kids ages 4-12, including kids involved in the Horizons summer program. Additionally, she loves playing piano, hiking, skiing, baking, shopping, and spending time outdoors. Katie is also a self-proclaimed “crazy Swiftie.”

Katie is inspired by how Mehgan phrases it in her bio on the AGI website: “I love to celebrate myself by existing as an AANHPI girl.” Katie resonates deeply with this idea and believes that by simply existing, AANHPI girls are already breaking barriers and celebrating themselves.

She/they. Thai American.

Naiya is excited to continue her journey with AGI as part of the Youth Leadership Collective. She values the opportunity to connect with other AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth shared experiences that celebrate their unique backgrounds. Naiya has been deeply inspired by stories from AGI events, particularly Akemi's heartfelt story during the Amache Trip, which helped her connect more deeply with her own heritage and history.

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Her favorite AGI memory is from the trip to Snow Mountain Ranch, where she had a blast spending time with friends while ice skating and snowshoeing.

Naiya is looking forward to contributing to AGI and continuing to foster the sense of community that has helped her and others feel seen and empowered.
In her free time, Naiya enjoys aerial dance and painting, along with spending time with friends. 

She celebrates herself by doing things she loves, like reading, baking, and dancing, which allow her to recharge and express her creativity.

She/her. Chinese-Caucasian American.

Noura is excited to join the Youth Leadership Collective to develop her leadership skills and make new friends with people who share similar backgrounds. She is eager to step out of her comfort zone and try new things, while helping others discover AGI’s welcoming community. With previous experience as a school ambassador, Noura is confident in her ability to represent AGI and encourage others to join the community. She enjoys meeting new people and loves that AGI gives her the opportunity to participate in unique activities that she hasn’t tried before.

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Her favorite AGI event was the canoeing adventure, where she learned new skills, made new friends, and enjoyed delicious food. This experience encapsulated what Noura loves most about AGI—trying new things and connecting with others who share her identity. She was also inspired by Chef Mary Nguyen's story during a sushi-making event, where Chef Mary shared how her parents wanted her to become a businesswoman, but she chose to follow her passion for cooking.

Noura relates to this, as she feels similar pressure from her parents to pursue a career in business or medicine, while her true passion lies in becoming a designer.
Noura loves AGI and the supportive community it fosters, and she's especially grateful for the opportunities it provides to connect with others.

As she looks to the future, Noura hopes AGI will continue to expand its events to more locations, including her hometown of Boulder, making events more accessible to girls outside of Denver. She envisions AGI growing larger and becoming widely recognized as a safe space for AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth to try new things, connect with others, and discover their potential in a nurturing environment.

Noura celebrates herself by acknowledging her hard work and accomplishments. After completing something she worked hard on, she reminds herself that she did a great job and deserves recognition, often treating herself to a small reward as a way to celebrate her efforts.