Empowering the Next Generation of AAPI Leaders

DTLA AAPI Alliance believes that young people are not only the future of our community, but active leaders, artists, organizers, and changemakers today. Our Youth Leadership Labs create welcoming spaces for emerging AAPI leaders to explore their identities, strengthen their voices, develop practical skills, and build meaningful relationships with peers, mentors, artists, and community partners.

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Through hands-on workshops, creative projects, cultural experiences, and community-based learning, participants engage with the stories, histories, and contemporary issues shaping AAPI communities in Downtown Los Angeles and beyond. Youth may explore art, storytelling, performance, entrepreneurship, event production, public speaking, leadership development, and civic awareness in an inclusive environment designed to encourage curiosity and confidence.

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Our labs connect cultural pride with real-world opportunity. By centering collaboration, creativity, and intergenerational learning, we help young people see themselves as capable contributors to their neighborhoods and to the future of AAPI arts and culture. Participants leave with stronger leadership skills, deeper community connections, and the tools to turn their ideas into action.