ACUVA Rhode Island Chapter Youth Volunteering Spotlights
Event Name: Rhode Island Warwick Rotary 5K
Event Date: 11-28-24 Thanksgiving
Volunteer Participation: HongMing (Harry) Yang, Mia He, Taylor McGuiness, Yishan Brady, Yiling Brady
Theme: On November 28, 2024, at 6:30 a.m., in collaboration with the Warwick Rotary Club, the ACUVA-RI Chapter successfully hosted its 1st fundraising event since its establishment in November. The event featured hot tea, coffee, donuts, and cake rolls for attendees, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for the crowd while introducing ACUVA’s mission. Although inclement weather impacted attendance, reducing the expected turnout of 600+ runners, the event was a valuable learning experience. While the fundraising total came to -$50 after accounting for costs, the event's success was raising awareness of ACUVA's mission and significantly increasing our community presence. This effort has provided invaluable insights, and we are confident that future events will build on this experience and achieve even greater success.
Event Name: Community Diversity - Chinese New Year Barrington Library Movie Day
Event Date: 1-26-25
Volunteer Participation: HongMing (Harry) Yang, Mia He, Yishan Brady, Yiling Brady, Vincent Lu
Hours: Please refer to the Hour Allocations Session
Theme: On January 26th, at 1:00 p.m., in collaboration with the Barrington Library, we hosted a Chinese New Year event designed to amplify Chinese culture and promote ACUVA’s mission. The event, held at the Barrington RI Library, brought together local participants to celebrate and become more familiar with Asian culture while fostering meaningful connections within the community. We also took the opportunity to introduce ACUVA’s mission and ongoing efforts to serve and uplift the community. We shared how ACUVA strives to bridge cultural gaps, promote inclusion, and empower individuals to make a difference. Participants were encouraged to get involved by volunteering their time or making a donation to support our initiatives. As part of the program, attendees watched a thought-provoking documentary about the legendary Grace Lee Boggs, an influential Asian American activist, philosopher, and writer whose work has left a lasting impact on social movements in the United States. The film shed light on her remarkable journey, from her advocacy for racial and economic justice to her deep reflections on the power of community and resilience. Following the screening, we hosted a dynamic Q&A session, during which participants discussed the powerful lessons from Grace Lee Boggs' life and legacy, the impact of cultural differences, and the strength and independence she embodied as a female leader in America. Many were inspired by her unwavering dedication to social justice and the ways she bridged cultural divides to create lasting change. The conversation also sparked a broader dialogue about the contributions of Asian Americans to society and the importance of fostering greater understanding and inclusion. In short, this event was not only a celebration of Chinese New Year but also a platform to share invaluable stories, inspire action, and foster meaningful connections within the community. It also provided an opportunity to introduce ACUVA’s impact, highlight the dedication of our hardworking volunteers, and encourage community involvement.
