Summer Programs
SumOurRoots (SOR)
An intensive summer youth social justice internship, aimed at engaging 24 Vietnamese, Khmer, and Indonesian high school students in a) building social, cultural, and emotional awareness, b) cultivating healthy self-expressions, c) expanding emotional & political capacity, and d) imagining & implementing new ways to transform their communities. Students will participate in political education workshops, storytelling & interview projects, cooking projects, and gardening projects, ending their summer through a final event and final product to engage community members in their work and learning.
Ryan Thach (he/him)
If I had to put my experience of SOR into one word, it would be “monumental”. Coming into the program, I felt so eager to learn about the history and cultural practices. I remember thinking, “this will be a new journey”, and it was. My words were not diminished, but reshaped and empowered because what SumOurRoots introduced to us was inspirational. We went through workshops where we established our community’s environment and organized the space to improve the learning for everyone. We learned about emotional intelligence and the different styles of conflict resolution! I learned more about myself before my ethnic background in those first few days. We also began looking into our ethnic backgrounds and our roles, including impacts and contributions to society. We touched on topics that were quite relevant to our current social issues and how we could improve ourselves to help those battling these problems in our society. When we looked back into how each person in the program contributed a dynamic in, not only the space but their lives, I felt like i had been relearning ideas that I had been fixated on my whole lie. We took on understandings of our identities along with their impacts on the community and looked into the roots for these problems that were relevant in the community or our identities. In the end, I became a better person, but that journey of looking backward just to move forward is not done yet. The program critically influenced how our youth began uncovering our ethnic backgrounds and our identities. SOR initiated a pivot within our minds that may take one person a lifetime to exhibit. SumOurRoots does not just present the roots of your ethnicity and culture, but the roots of your identity, roots of oppression, roots of shared history, and roots of society. As one may see, roots stem from one another, building off of each other and is how a plant stays alive, is restricted and recognized.
Alina Tran (she/her)
Honestly, this summer has far exceeded my expectations because of SOR. In this space, we discuss a lot about the systems in society that contribute to our personal experiences and the formations of our identities. Going through that process is kind of like liberation in a sense. Like for me, I have always come out of workshops feeling like my experiences are validated, and it’s something I’m always grateful to SOR for. Not only that, but all of that members and leads are so fun, and always make the space comfortable.
Apply Here!
tinyurl.com/applysorinternship2021
Real Internships in Community Engagement (RICE)
21 high school students will be placed in up to 15 different organizations that are addressing social problems across Philadelphia. These including DBHIDS, Asian Arts Initiative, Victim/Witness Services, and more. Students gain more work experience and worksite best practices. Students will also receive support to develop key life skills and personal leadership as how to apply for government IDs, email etiquette, financial literacy, communication/public speaking, and time management, while building a portfolio of career preparedness items.
Joseph Tan (he/him)
RICE was a very fulfilling experience for me. The Friday workshops helped me learn more about Asian history and helped me form my Asian identity. The college workshops helped me learn more about how to navigate through college life and how to afford it. My time at my worksite, Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia, was very eye opening and informative. Through analyzing police reports we determined who qualifies for aid and provide aid for them. Even though it was remote, it’s definitely an experience I will remember.
Lisa Huang (she/her)
My experience in RICE was an enjoyable one! Through my personal interests that I discussed through the initial individual orientation, I was connected with Vietlead’s Civic Engagement - Education Program . It’s really awesome how RICE tries to tailor itself to each individual. During the program, I was able to form close connections with my team! I really like that it is small group-focused yet connects to a big idea! I love how Vietlead focuses on things that can benefit society and current problems that needs to be address. Plus, the whole RICE squad meets every Friday, so there really is a sense of overall community! I am a socially awkward kid; however, through the small team of amazing people, I was able to express my ideas clearer and with more confidence! Through the program, I was able to really form a sense of teamwork and boost my clarity when it comes to addressing my ideas. I’ll definitely recommend this program for other people who are looking for something productive to do during the summer!
Apply Here!
tinyurl/applyriceinternship2021