NECAA’s Youth Session Celebrates Art, Leadership, and AAPI Voice

by | Nov 1, 2025 | announcements

By Allen Chen, Juliet Dong

Alongside the New England Chinese American Alliance (NECAA) Annual Alliance Gala, the NECAA Youth Council (NECAA Youth) hosted the Annual Gala Youth Session at the Massachusetts Statehouse this past Monday, October 20th. Young leaders, artists, and public officials gathered for discussion, cultural engagement, and celebration. The event brought together and highlighted Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voices, experiences, and opportunities.

NECAA Youth Launch Ceremony, Photo: BARTV.
From left to right: NECAA Vice President Lixin Qin, NECAA Advisory Board Member Ying Le, Allen Chen, Dylan Yang, David Guo, Juliet Dong, Alice Fang, Jason Yin, William Qin, NECAA Co-Chairs Xiaodan Zhuang and Guoliang Yu, NECAA Co-President Hua Wang.

The Youth Session opened with remarks and introductions from NECAA Youth co-presidents Juliet Dong and Jason Yin, as well as from fellow Youth Council members Dylan Yang, Allen Chen, and Alice Fang. Each shared their personal connections to Asian American activism and motivations for joining the council. Ms. Mary Rinehart from the Massachusetts Statehouse also introduced the High School Internship Program, for high school students to directly gain experience in government and public service.

NECAA Youth Council leaders.
From left to right: Project and Events Coordinator Alice Fang, Project and Events Lead Dylan Yang, Website and Communications Lead Allen Chen, Co-Presidents Jason Yin and Juliet Dong. Not pictured: Social Media Coordinator Serena Lai.
Ms. Mary Rinehart from the Massachusetts Statehouse.

Following introductions, awards were presented for NECAA Youth Art Contest. In its inaugural year, the NECAA Youth Art Contest received 26 submissions from talented AAPI artists from across the Massachusetts communities, and ten finalists were displayed at the Youth Session. Judges Shuyuan Zheng of MoMA and Yiting Liu, a New York–based artist, were responsible for awarding prizes. Following an introduction from Yang and Chen, NECAA’s Chair Guoliang Yu presented awards. Rachel Liu won first prize for her piece 姥姥教我学中文 , Sherry Ye won second prize for her piece Tell Me Your Story, and Ella Huang and Ellie Peng tied for third with their pieces Together and Sister respectively.

From left to right: NECAA Co-Chair Guoliang Yu, First prize winner-Rachel Liu’s father, State Representative Vanna Howard, and NECAA Co-Chair Xiaodan Zhuang.

Following the award ceremony and group photos, Dong and Fang served as moderators for the NECAA Youth × Politician Roundtable Talk. AAPI Youth and community members were joined by Rep. Amy Sangiolo, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Rep.
Vanna Howard, City Councilor Coco Alinsug of Lynn, and Former Mayor of Cambridge Sumbul Siddiqui. The discussion-based Roundtable Talk connected youth with public representatives and explored themes of identity, civic service, and overcoming cultural stereotypes in redefining representation in Massachusetts.

NECAA Youth hosted Round Table Talk.
NECAA Youth Round Table Talk group picture.
Invited elected officials: Second row 2nd to the left State Rep. Amy Sangiolo, State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, Former Mayor of Cambridge Sumbul Siddiqui, State Rep. Vanna Howard, and City Councilor Coco Alinsug of Lynn.

The Youth Session concluded with flowers, group photos, and time for lunch and socialization. Participants joined the Great Hall for the main NECAA Gala, where Youth Council Members spoke on their accomplishments thus far, upcoming opportunities for AAPI youth in Massachusetts, and their new visions for the numerous initiatives and possibilities in the near future.