Asian American Stories Events

The 2025 AAS Youth Internship Program brought together a diverse group of passionate young leaders, mentors, and community advocates to co-create stories that matter. Through hands-on experiences, collaborative learning, and impactful storytelling, interns explored their identities, strengthened their voices, and built lasting connections across generations and cultures.

In these videos, meet the people behind the program — Chair Diana Ding, Co-Chair Joel, Volunteer Ambassadors Penny and Elly, and Program Assistant & Designer Nina — as they share their insights and contributions. You’ll also learn from Nina how to create a compelling 1-minute video that tells your story with impact and heart.



Diana, founder of Asian American Stories (AAS), introduces the broader vision and origin of the program. As a community-driven initiative under Silicon Valley Community Media and Ding Ding TV, AAS was established in 2009 with a mission to tell authentic stories from across the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Participants come from diverse Asian backgrounds, including China, Korea, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, and more.

Since the launch of the Youth Video Contest in 2024, the program has gained significant attention—reaching over 200,000 viewers and supporters online. The second annual contest in 2025 further deepened the program’s impact, offering a platform for young people to explore identity, culture, and community through storytelling.

In this video, Joel shares the inspiring story behind Asian American Stories and the vision that launched the Youth Internship Program. As one of the early mentors and community leaders, Joel reflects on how storytelling can empower young people, build bridges across cultures, and amplify Asian American voices. Learn why this internship is more than just a summer program — it’s a movement to uplift the next generation.

Penny introduces the 2025 Asian American Stories Youth Internship Program, a 6-week summer experience designed for high school students. She highlights how the program provides valuable real-world experience through research projects, teamwork, and time management planning. Penny emphasizes that this internship not only helps students build practical skills but also strengthens their college applications by showing initiative and leadership.

Elly provides a clear and concise overview of the volunteer schedule and workflow for the Asian American Stories Summer Internship. She explains the daily sign-in process, team roles, task assignments, and how volunteers are expected to participate in interviews, editing, and event support. This is a helpful guide for new interns to understand what to expect and how to prepare.

Nina walks through the step-by-step process of making a short video — from brainstorming ideas and writing scripts to filming, editing, and adding subtitles. She emphasizes the importance of planning, choosing the right visuals, using editing tools like CapCut, and ensuring that the message is clear and engaging. This practical guide is perfect for beginners who want to create impactful and professional-looking videos.