Asian Girls Ignite

No leftovers were left behind at our annual AANHPI Heritage Month CelebrAsian, and our hearts left just as full as our stomachs. 🥟 🍙 🧋

We set our own table to turn food into a bridge for culture, connection, and heritage—sharing the space we wish we all had growing up.

Our students split into small groups for two hours of hands-on workshops, learning the art of the fold, wrap, and shake from local caterers:
🥟 Nepalese Momos with Rabee Sharma (she/her) of
🍙 Japanese Onigiri with Maddie Dunhoff (she/her) of
🧋 Taiwanese Boba with Victoria Lam (she/her) of

Together, they mastered traditional recipes while sharing the real, unpolished stories of how food intersects with who we are.

Our community is made up of so many different stories and cultures, and every single one of them had a place at the table. That magic carried right into our closing circle. When we asked our students what belonging felt like, they spoke directly from the heart:
💜 "I felt like I belonged after hearing about people that don’t always ‘feel Asian enough’.”
💜 "I really loved the solidarity of making the hands-on foods with everyone. It made me feel really involved and happy!!"
💜 "I felt a sense of belonging when I made new friends, while connecting over food (the best thing ever)."
💜 "One time I felt a sense of belonging today was when my group made onigiri because ‘we are all the same in different font.’"

Shared culture and lived experiences create a connection unlike any other—it really does feel like someone saving you the last handmade momo.

✨ A massive shoutout to our friends at I Matter () whose generous $1,000 sponsorship made this intentional, identity-affirming space possible and Social Fabric Hub () for hosting us in your beautiful space!

To every student who walked through the door, took their shoes off, and pulled up a chair: You belong here, exactly as you are, including the food you grew up with. 💜🥡

On May 19th, was buzzing! 🥟💫 The space was full of laughter, flavor, and the exact kind of energy we built our This Is Belonging campaign to celebrate. Thank you to everyone who came out for Bites & Belonging — it truly felt like one big family gathering, with new friendships forming, old friends reconnecting, kids running around, laughter across tables, and endless food and drinks.

Thanks to everyone's collective effort, we raised $8,400 from the dinner! 🎉

A heartfelt thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Francis Cheung 💝 Thank you for helping power this night of community and connection, and for supporting a space where AGI students feel like they belong.

A huge thank you to our board hosts, UnSuk Zucker () and Miguel In Suk Lovato (), for opening up the table and making space for such a vibrant gathering. And to — a proudly Pro-MSG restaurant that uses the savory magic of umami to challenge outdated stereotypes — thank you for letting us savor your culture, loud and unapologetic. It was the perfect home for a night about being seen exactly as you are!

We're also so grateful to the local AANHPI-owned businesses who made the night even more special with their generous raffle giveaways: , , , , , , and . 💜 Please show them some love!

From the first bite to the last toast, you helped us prove what this campaign is all about: belonging isn't something we're building someday. It's already here. ✨