Conference Made for and by AAPI Youth Focuses on Community Healing and Activism
Youth ages 12-24 can attend ‘Healing Hope,’ SIPA’s third-annual AAPI Conference on May 17th for free
Youth programming at SIPA (photos provided by SIPA)
Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles, CA - April 28, 2025 – Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)’s annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth Solidarity Conference returns for a third run on May 17th, from 11am to 5pm. This year’s youth-led, youth-centered conference — themed ‘Healing Hope’ — features workshops, speakers, and wellness offerings focused on educating young people about activism, leadership, and community healing while celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (APAHM).
“‘Healing Hope’ felt like the most appropriate name for the conference because we wanted to acknowledge the current state of the world: we’ve recognized the discrimination and racism that is happening as well as the stress that comes along with all of that,” says Alexa (she/her), SIPA Youth Leadership intern. “So our goal with this year’s conference is to gather in community, recognize these difficulties, and heal from our collective struggle as we continue on.”
Youth programming at SIPA (photos provided by SIPA)
How SIPA’s AAPI Youth Conference is Healing Hope
Youth conference programming highlights include:
Serve the People! Filipino Youth Respond to Los Angeles Fires: Facilitated by Anakbayan LA, this workshop will focus on the grassroots mobilization efforts youth can implement in their own community using Anakbayan’s guidebook they utilized during the historic LA Wildfires of January 2025. This workshop along with three other workshops all center the theme of activism and advocacy for the conference.
Breaking the Silence: Mental Wellness in AAPI Communities: Facilitated by Yellow Chair Collective, this workshop outlines and breaks down mental health stigmas present within the AAPI diaspora. This workshop as well as three others will highlight processes and practices to work through stressful situations facing BIPOC communities today.
Drag Performance: Aiana Shaw: A returning performer for the program, the explosive talent that is Aiana has been pivotal for our youth. In witnessing her performances, our interns have been able to explore their own gender expression and personal creative endeavors. She, alongside cultural dance teams, spoken word poets and more will provide entertainment during our end-of-day community gathering which features several other community organizations offering free resources to attendees!
Youth programming at SIPA (photos provided by SIPA)
SIPA Serves LA’s Youth and Foster the Future
The Youth Solidarity Conference is one of many ways in which SIPA is dedicated to the future, engaging and empowering youth and families to be better leaders in their own communities. With a legacy as long as SIPA's, the driving force behind all of the organization’s decisions has been always influenced by young people. Upcoming free events for youth, located at SIPA’s headquarters at HiFi Collective, include:
Kultural Kaibigian Days (ongoing, started March 7th): Every first Friday of the month from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM starting in March, SIPA will be hosting fun workshops where youth ages 6-13 will learn about Pilipino culture and traditions through fun arts and crafts-based activities
HiFi Adventure Days (Ongoing): Every Tuesday and Thursday this spring, join SIPA for free drop-in workshops where youths (ages 6-13) will be able to explore their cultural identity and local community through engaging art projects like sculpture, painting, and more
Kapamilya Days (ongoing, started March 8th): Workshops every Saturday centering Pilipino culture
Tagalog Language Classes (ongoing, started March 12th): Provided in partnership with HiFi Neighborhood Council and the Office of Hilda Solis, SIPA will be hosting Tagalog language classes every Wednesday from 4-5 PM. Students ages 6-13 will have a chance to engage in fun lessons to learn how to speak in Tagalog
SIPA’s Youth Advisory Board (starting soon): The purpose of the Youth Advisory Board is to empower youth by giving them a platform to influence decisions that affect their lives. The board will focus on a range of issues including education, mental health, safety, and community engagement. The scope includes meetings, community outreach, and collaboration with local organizations to address these issues.
“All the youth and all of the interns I have been able to work with over the past three years have continued to motivate me,” says Beatrice Avanceña (she/her), SIPA Youth Leadership Coordinator & Healing Hope Conference Director. “For this specific cohort, they have gone through a lot of real-time events, issues and topics that we collectively will have to work through for the foreseeable future; but I believe their insight and opinions on those experiences are extremely necessary. Despite the many unpredictable changes that have come their way already, they continue to show up for (and be passionate about) all the community-driven work we do. That in and of itself is so inspiring to me.”
Healing Hope: AAPI Youth Solidarity Conference
May 17th, 2025, 11am-5pm
HiFi Collective
3200 W Temple St, STE 100
Los Angeles CA 90026
RSVP here.
RSVPs are open to youth 12-24 years old. Food is guaranteed for the first 100 to RSVP. Youth can also gain volunteer & community service hours as a participant! For questions, reach out to Beatrice Avanceña at beatrice@sipacares.org
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About Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA): Since 1972, SIPA has enriched and empowered generations of Pilipino Americans and others by providing health and human services, community economic development, arts and culture, and a place where people of all backgrounds come together to strengthen the community.