ANNUAL
REPORT
2024
OUR COMMITMENT
Letter from the Executive Director
Thank you for being such an important part of our journey this year. To me, the magic of Apex lies in the care that is at the heart of everything that we do. It’s in the transformative relationships we build throughout our programs, the palpable sense of belonging our youth feel when they enter the doors of our Lower East Side office, and the unwavering dedication of the caring adults who coach and support our young people.
As we reflect on our growth in this annual report, we focus not only on metrics but also on stories of resilience, depth and meaningful change — stories made possible by the cultural expertise and care we have to serve our community. For more than 30 years, we’ve seen that true impact comes from understanding and empowering youth, creating a ripple effect that strengthens our entire Asian American community.
My own connection with Apex began 15 years ago while teaching leadership and public speaking skills to Asian immigrant youth who were also part of Apex’s mentoring program. I was inspired by and connected to their stories, having grown up in a low-income, immigrant Asian American household. I joined Apex as a Program Manager in mentoring, a foundational pillar of our work then, as it is now. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of forging meaningful relationships with our youth, staff, volunteers and Board, as Director of Programs and now Executive Director. I am continually inspired by the stories our youth proudly share about their accomplishments, their choices and the paths they’ve shaped for themselves.
Thank you for being such an integral part of our youth’s system of support. Together, alongside our youth, we’re creating change that will resonate for generations.
— Jiyoon Chung,
Executive Director
WHY APEX FOR YOUTH?
THE NEED
In NYC, 1 in 2 Asian American youth live in or near poverty. Despite making up 18% of the population, our community is severely and disproportionately underfunded in service contract dollars.
In addition, 24% of Asian American youth in NYC live in homes where no one over 14 speaks English well or at all, and Asian Americans have the lowest rate of any racial group in seeking mental health services. Most tragically, suicide is the leading cause of death among Asian American youth.
Addressing the barriers that this lack of resources and support creates, Apex programs are expertly tailored to our youth’s age, racial identity and socioeconomic status.¹ Based on shared identities and experiences, we foster transformative relationships between them and caring adults — from mentors and therapists to athletic coaches and career guides.²
OUR MISSION
Apex for Youth empowers Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds to unlock their potential today and a world of possibility tomorrow.
OUR VISION
We are building a world without limits for all Asian American youth.
1 Lack of opportunities to explore and develop a positive identity, including a racial identity (Erikson, 1968; Marcia, 1980; Phinney, 1989; Tajfel & Turner 1979)
2 Low-income Asian adolescents in the U.S. have difficulty finding role models and social networks outside their family unit (Lee et al., 2024)
OUR IMPACT
Apex is one of the largest organizations in the country serving primarily Asian American youth.
of Apex youth feel good about themselves and that they can embrace their strengths and identities after a year at Apex.
of Apex youth – upon graduating from high school – feel more confident speaking up when something is important to them.
of Apex young adults are satisfied and fulfilled by their college or career pathway.
OUR REACH
YOUTH SERVED ANNUALLY
Manhattan
Apex was founded in New York’s Chinatown in 1992 by five friends with a shoestring budget of $2,000. Today, our roots and reach have only strengthened, anchored by our headquarters on Chrystie Street.
Brooklyn
As we grew our impact, we recognized Brooklyn as an area with significant needs, limited available services and strong community partners, so we expanded beyond Manhattan for the first time.
Queens
Apex’s expansion into Queens piloted events and programs to build connections and community in an area where half of NYC’s low-income youth reside, yet supportive services remain scarce.
Virtual
Identifying a greater need during the pandemic, we launched our National Virtual Mentoring Program for high school students and Read with Apex for elementary school students, allowing us to reach youth who hadn’t had access to Apex.
2024 IMPACT
of youth are Asian American.
of youth are from low-income families.
hours of total programming and services delivered.
hours of program participation by youth.
OUR APPROACH
At Apex, we combine impactful mentorship with access to critical resources that would not have otherwise been available to Asian American youth from low-income backgrounds. From mentors and therapists to athletic coaches and career guides, these transformative relationships with caring adults create systems of support to help our youth thrive and pursue futures without limits. Throughout our programs, we provide different forms of mentorship and mental health services tailored to the unique needs of our youth based on their developmental stage.
CULTIVATING IMPACTFUL MENTORSHIP
Promoting long-lasting connections with mentors and adult role models
PROVIDING EXPOSURE AND EXPLORATION
Offering access to opportunities and resources to close the opportunity gap and help youth to create the lives that they want
DEVELOPING INTERNAL STRENGTHS AND MINDSETS
Fostering skills and providing support to pursue futures that reflect their own individual values, interests and priorities
NURTURING POSITIVE SELF-IDENTITY
Encourage youth to value themselves and embrace a growth mindset, defining what it means to be Asian American on their own terms
THE APEX JOURNEY
With more than 30 years of experience working with Asian American youth, Apex has a deep understanding of their unique experiences and is committed to helping them unlock possibilities from elementary school through young adulthood.
At the start of their Apex journey, youth begin to form transformative relationships with caring adults and peers, helping them see themselves in new ways: as individuals with unique strengths and as valuable members of a community.
Across the entirety of the Apex journey, committed volunteers, deeply invested staff, and a broad network of supporters form robust systems of support to help our youth thrive in a world where they have access and agency, with the power to shape their own lives.
— Yaya Yuan,
Director of Programs
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Beginning their Apex journey, youth in our Elementary Enrichment Programs (from kindergarten through 5th grade) begin to establish transformative relationships with both adults and peers. During this key developmental stage, group mentorship and activities help youth explore new interests and gain a sense of community.
Programs
- Mentoring focuses on group mentorship, such as the Elementary Explorers and Read with Apex programs, which help students bond with adults and peers through hands-on activities, immersive field trips and small-group reading and storytelling.
- Mental Health Services, such as Family Nights, create a space for caregivers and youth to come together, connect deeply through different activities, and explore healing intergenerational traumas as a unit.
- Athletics empower our youth to feel confident, both on and off the court, with a strong community of coaches and peers helping to nourish their minds and bodies to cultivate essential life skills such as perseverance and resilience.
- Winter, spring and summer break programs provide safe and productive spaces for students to learn, play and make new friends while school is out.
IMPACT
of youth built positive relationships with volunteers, coaches and Apex staff.
frequently tried new things at Apex.
felt like an important part of their team.
Helen used to never want to participate in anything where the spotlight would be on just her, but I could see her confidence starting to build each time she would, shyly at first, volunteer to read a little in our small group. That then turned into her raising her hand to answer a question in front of the whole class, while looking at me for support. I’m like, ‘You got it.’ And now she’s definitely gotten much more comfortable and confident in speaking up for her wants and needs. I’m so proud; Asian American women aren’t exactly known to be like that.”
— Joy Kim,
Volunteer
JAYDEN,
6th grade
“ [My coach said] that it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes on the court, you’ll learn from them. It’s important to have a role model to look up to because they can motivate you and you can learn from them. It’s like someone that went through that time with you and didn’t give up. When I have Paul by my side, it’s like he’s going through the steps with me.”
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle school youth in our programs are building upon transformative relationships as they begin to see themselves as individuals with unique strengths and as valuable members of their community. Focusing specifically on youth as individuals and their specific needs, Apex helps students cope with difficult emotions, such as those created by bicultural identity, and explore new experiences they might not have had access to.
Programs
- Mentoring, focused on 1:1 mentorship in a cohort setting, allows youth to build both mentor and peer relationships as they explore their identity and emotions.
- Mental Health Services, both 1:1 and group therapies, are offered in the form of art therapy, talk therapy and play therapy to meet the unique needs of our youth and support parents and caregivers. Apex also attends to crises and offers case management.
- Athletics, including basketball, running club, yoga, volleyball and the We Run as One Basketball Tournament, leverage strong relationships with committed volunteer coaches to hone physical wellbeing and cultivate a strong growth mindset.
Our main goal is always to make sure our kids are going to get to wherever they want to be, whether that be on the athletic field or off the athletic field. I want to continue doing whatever I can to make sure that they’re ready for sports, college and life.”
— Paul Arroy,
Manhattan Athletics Coordinator
IMPACT
of youth felt close to their mentor or coach.
said Apex helped them feel close to adults who care about them.
said Apex helped them feel like they can be themselves.
HIGH SCHOOL
Entering high school, youth develop the skills and supports to pursue futures that reflect their own individual values, interests and priorities. Apex programs allow students to explore college or career pathways, developing real-world skills and empowering them to feel that they have agency to make choices about their future. Apex helps youth gain the confidence to know that they have both the internal and external resources to overcome challenges.
Programs
- Mentoring, both Apex’s National Virtual Mentoring Program and High School Mentoring Program, provides support to youth as they pursue their social, emotional and academic goals.
- Mental Health Services, such as group and individual counseling, help to address the specific needs of high school youth, particularly stress, anxiety, depression and intergenerational family dynamics.
- College Access Program matches pairs of 11th and 12th graders with an adult volunteer College Guide to help students navigate all parts of the college application, financial aid, acceptance and scholarship search process.
- Career Exploration Program provides high school students with networking opportunities and professional development workshops to learn about diverse career pathways and identify their professional interests and strengths.
- JT Tai Summer Internship Program provides paid summer internships across a variety of fields to open doors for students to new career pathways, as well as regular professional development.
- College Tours offer Apex youth the opportunity to attend overnight college tours and introduce them to new geographies and experiences.
IMPACT
of 12th graders graduated high school within 4 years last year.
enrolled in college for the fall.
are now confident that they can overcome challenges after participating in Apex.
WILLIAM,
11th grade
“Being part of the Apex community is enjoyable because I can choose my own space. I feel glad to have friends from outside of school and family. I think I’ve changed since five years ago. It’s a real learning experience. I learned some disability actions; I wrote a poem about autism. I learned about myself and my mental health since I’ve joined Apex.”
I’m honestly proud of William every day. He seems to have a little more courage every time I see him, and I have no doubt that he’ll be able to tackle any problems that come at him.
Even if I wasn’t William’s mentor, I would see so much potential in him. I think he will make an incredible mentor in the future as well. There’s no doubt in my mind that Apex has given him a home.”
— Terry Nguyen,
William’s Mentor
VICKI ZHENG,
Former Apex alum and current Apex Facilities Assistant
“I feel like Apex has already given me so much — how can I ask them for more? But I think [I’m] continuing to take advantage of the different opportunities. Once I really got involved in Apex, I didn’t see it as giving back to the community; I saw it as another opportunity. Apex has just given me so many opportunities, and I’m really grateful to be involved in the community.”
YOUNG ADULTHOOD
As Apex youth enter adulthood, they harness their years of experience in Apex to achieve their personal and professional goals beyond stereotypes. Young adults feel they have control over their futures and connection to the resources they need to get them there.
Programs
- Career Mentoring focuses on pairing students in college or early career with a 1:1 mentor to support their career development and growth.
- Career Exploration Program provides college students with networking opportunities and professional development workshops to learn about diverse career pathways and identify their professional interests and strengths.
- First Year Support Program allows students to continue their mentoring relationship from high school through the crucial transitional period of the first year of college, which is especially important for first-generation college students.
- General Support eases the transition out of high school with 1:1 check-ins, care packages, socials and events, volunteer opportunities, and an online community to stay connected with Apex.
IMPACT
said Apex helped them make choices in college and career that reflect their interests and priorities.
said Apex helped them be resilient in the face of adversity.
of Apex young adults who have graduated college are more socioeconomically stable than when they were growing up.
HIGHLIGHTS
On April 2, 2024, we celebrated an evening of community and connection that inspired more than 600 attendees and raised more than $3 million. Actress Constance Wu received her award with a moving speech about authenticity and representation. Actor/activist BD Wong and student Jason Wong reminded us of the importance of giving back and inspiring the next generation. Our student speaker Matthew Mau shared his journey of growth through Apex’s mentoring program. The extraordinary generosity of our supporters will help us continue serving 2,500 youth annually, expanding our impact and fostering the next generation of leaders.
32ND INSPIRATION AWARDS GALA
ACES FOR APEX
At our 13th annual Aces for Apex celebration, we witnessed an extraordinary gathering of community spirit and support. The evening surpassed expectations, raising a record-breaking $425,000 to support Apex’s mission. The event, hosted by the Apex Associate Board, featured an unprecedented 79 vendors and performers, predominantly Asian American-owned businesses, who brought vibrant energy to the event. Our dedicated volunteers and staff created an atmosphere of genuine connection while guests experienced the power of collective impact.
PROGRAM EXPANSION IN SUNSET PARK
We launched our Middle School Mentoring program in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, creating a bridge for Elementary Explorers entering middle school. Through 1:1 mentorship, students explored their identities while building meaningful community connections. Youth and mentors implemented community projects, including a public mural with local artist Yukiko Izumi. Recognizing that growth happens in partnership with families, we expanded family night programming, enabling parents and caregivers to connect and participate in their children’s development through activities that celebrate cultural heritage and strengthen family bonds.
LAUNCH IN QUEENS
Following extensive community research in Queens last year, we identified Flushing as a critical area for expansion, where nearly 70% of residents are Asian but the community lacks access to programs to support them. Our pilot initiatives focused on providing access to new opportunities and experiences through family nights and basketball clinics. Throughout the summer, elementary students explored their identities through hands-on activities, built connections with partner organizations through Flushing Field Day, and joined with youth from diverse backgrounds at our Hoops Over Hate tournament. Building on these successes, we look forward to launching our foundational elementary school programs in Flushing to support youth and help them grow into confident community leaders.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
August 2023 to July 2024
Statement of Financial Position
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
$3,308,047
Accounts receivable and other assets
$2,651,539
Lease right-of-use assets
$1,652,592
Total assets
$7,612,178
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
$380,764
Lease right-of-use liabilities
$1,806,575
Total liabilities
$2,187,339
NET ASSETS
Without donor restrictions
$3,979,793
With donor restriction
$1,445,046
Total net assets
$5,424,839
Total liabilities and net assets
$7,612,178
Statement of Activities
SOURCE OF REVENUE
Contributions and grants
$3,089,911
Special events (net of direct cost)
$2,880,148
Programming, in-kind, and other income
$160,274
Total revenue
$6,130,333
EXPENSES
Program services
$4,817,437
Fundraising and development
$722,616
Management and general
$481,744
Total expenses
$6,021,796
Change in net assets
$108,537
IN GRATITUDE
$250,000+
Anonymous
$100,000-$249,000
Chang Family Foundation
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Dalio Philanthropies
Hajin Lee & Michael Chung
J.T. Tai & Co. Foundation
Joe & Lily Wong
Karen & Robert Lee
Norman C.T. Liu
Stephanie Ng & Richard Li
$50,000-$99,999
Alex Alger & Dan Chung
Alger Investment Management
Assured Guaranty
Atalaya Capital Management LP
Beth Maccaroni & Peter Poopat
Blackstone Charitable Foundation
Jennifer Prosek, Prosek Partners
Jeremy Lin Foundation
Merkley+Partners
NIKE, Inc. (direct support and ink-kind)
Old Machine (in-kind)
The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)
The Kevin D. Eng and Un Hae
Song Foundation
$25,000-$49,999
Calvin Yee
Civil Art
Credera
Esther Lee & Cary Paik
Jessie Ding & Ning Jin
Kennedys
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kramer Levin
Latham & Watkins
Michael Li
Neuberger Berman Foundation
Peter & Shirley Ma
RoAndCo (in-kind)
Simon Kim, Gracious Hospitality Management
TD Securities
The Chan Foundation
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation
The Plum Spring Foundation
Warburg Pincus LLC
Wellington Management
Foundation
WuFam Charitable Fund
$15,000-$24,999
Aaron Ong
Aimee Chang
AMC Networks
Anonymous (2)
Capital Group
Charlene Wang
Cleary Gottlieb Steen &
Hamilton LLP
Corporate Matching Gift
David Liu & Carley Roney
Fanatics Foundation
Fish Cheeks (in-kind)
Goldman Sachs Gives Annual Giving Fund
Goodwin Procter
Joseph Handleman I Believe in Yout Trust
JPMorgan Chase
Lisa Qi
Marshall Wace
Mercedes-Benz (in-kind)
Oaktree Capital Management (direct support and in-kind)
Quality Building Services
Stone Point Capital
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Taylor Yi
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP
$10,000-$14,999
Affirm Cares
Allister Chan & Angela Wang
Ally Bridge Group
American Korean Friendship Society
Andrew Tsai
Anonymous
Atlas SP
Bloomingdale’s
Boston Consulting Group
Brevet Capital
CAIPA
Cecilia Wang
Corporate Matching Gift (4)
Czarnowski Collective
Davis Polk
Dependable Mechanical Corp
DK Construction One Corp
Edward Cheng and Mary Chen Family Foundation
Engine Shop
Ernst & Young
Fay Sardjono & Shujaat Islam
IEX
Initialized Capital Management
Jonathan Chan
Jonathan Chu
Julia Chiang & KAWS
Justin Walsh & Kristie Lebron
Karen & Samuel Choi
KKR & Co.
KPMG
Material Kitchen
McDermott Will & Emery
Melissa & Alec Gunn
MillerKnoll Foundation
MIO Partners, Inc.
Morgan Stanley
New Era Cap Foundation
New York Life Foundation
Open Society Foundations
Peter W. Chen
Revit Group
Robert Chen & Gabriela Gargano
Roger Huang
Rony Ma
Russ Chong
Serena Lin & Nik Custodio
Sheila & Ron Marcelo
The Margaret & Daniel Loeb Foundation
Toni Wang
Vestar Capital Partners
Vivian Kuan & Loli Wu
Wu Family Charitable Foundation
$5,000-$9,999
Alan Chuang
Alan Guo
Alex Gellert
Amazon
Ami & Hank Yeh
Amy Zhang
Ankur Crawford
Anonymous (2)
Anthony Klarman
Authmade (in-kind)
Barings LLC
Brian Cho
Bryan Czyzewski & Connie Hau Czyzewski
Charity Clients of The Giving Block
Christine Su & Matthew Ting
Conray Tseng
Corporate Matching Gift (4)
David Ke
David Xia
Dr. Karen Su & Dr. Edwin Su
Emily Lu & Leon Tham
Exec-Comm (in-kind)
General Atlantic
George Wang
Guidepoint
Hachette Book Group (in-kind)
Holam Lau
James Shih & Sherry Lee
Jay Bargmann
Jennifer Sheng
Jonathan Wong & Juliana Chan
Leo Wong
LifeSci Partners
Lisa Chu & Coltrane Curtis
May Poon
Michael Jiang
Minya Oh & John McPheters
Miranda Ma
MUFG
Nouveau Elevator Industries
Peter Som
Raymond Gong
Ritu Baral
SeatGeek, Inc.
Shizuka Suzuki
Skylight Mechanical Corp
Slanix Paul Alex
Stefan Greenberg
Sundays Furniture
The Estée Lauder Companies
The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation
Theresa Yap & Federsin Dinsay
Viola Fong
Winnie Qian
Yao King
I love an organization that is fulfilling a great need in a community that no one else is fulfilling. And Apex for Youth is so wonderfully specific and so wonderfully successful in reaching the Asian American youth of our community.
I, of course, grew up as an Asian American youth, and I now know, in a way that I didn’t really always know, the needs that I had as a young person and how they might have been served even better than they were. I have had great experiences, I have had mentorships, and I’ve had transformative relationships with a lot of older people in my life. One of the things that I come to Apex with is a perspective that a lot of the grown-ups on the staff have, which is an empathy and an understanding of how to address the specific needs of this community in a way that nobody else can do and nobody else is doing. When you have an organization that serves them, their mental health, their day-to-day needs, their academic needs, you really are raising the level of their potential.”
- BD Wong,
Apex Supporter
Over our now four-year partnership, Assured Guaranty has taken great pride in knowing our contributions have supported the growth that Apex for Youth has been undergoing in expanding the reach of their services. Through our company site visits, volunteer events and attendance at numerous events, Assured Guaranty has been able to see firsthand the tremendous impact the organization has on its students. We have also learned about the many unique challenges Apex for Youth’s students face, which has helped to build a higher level of understanding and empathy within our organization.”
- Assured Guaranty,
Apex Corporate Partner
There is so much power in feeling seen and heard, to feel like there is someone who will show up for you. Apex for Youth is a vessel that amplifies and empowers AAPI youth to achieve everything they can possibly dream to, and it’s an organization I wish existed when I first came to America. I am so incredibly proud of what it is accomplishing and the real difference it is making in so many lives, including mine.
This organization and its impact is tremendously meaningful to me. Whenever I give, I end up receiving so much more. I am constantly inspired by all of the people, mentors and mentees alike, who are in this organization, who work everyday to create a ripple effect of change. Seeing what they do, day in and day out, has been one of the most rewarding parts of joining this organization.”
- Simon Kim,
Apex Supporter
Serving on Apex’s board has given me much-needed perspective on what is truly important, what it means to change a life and how powerful it is to work toward creating a more equitable future, one life at a time. Being a part of Apex means being a part of something much greater than me — bigger than the sum of its parts — a movement to create lasting, community-based generational change.
Apex must exist, because this generation and the generations of Asian youth to follow need to be seen, they need to be heard, and they need to be empowered. Not all youth can do this without the kind of support and community that Apex can provide, and changing even one life means changing the world.”
- Melody Lee,
Apex for Youth Board Member
OUR TEAM
Our staff are the driving force behind our impact on the community we serve. Their vast knowledge and experience as educators, youth workers and trained mental health professionals, combined with their deep understanding of the cultural nuances that our Asian American youth experience every day, enable us to provide a deep level of care that is tailored to our youth through one-of-a-kind programming.
CURRENT STAFF
Jiyoon Chung, Executive Director
Wendy Hu-Au, Director of Development
Pavan Makhija Director of Finance and Operations
Kim Thai, Director of Marketing
Yaya Yuan, Director of Programs
Melissa Alvey
Paul Arroy
Mikaela Chang
Shirley Chen
Emily Chow
Beau Dorien
Nicola Forbes
Assumpta Galang
Jason Howald
Jing-Jing Hu
Sabrina Hua
Paul Jochico
Marina Karnofsky
Atiya Khan
Leakena Khy
Erica Kim
Jenn Kong
Derek Kuey
Stephen Lai
Danny Le
Khrystalie Le
Heather Lee
Allen Leung
Ivy Li
Jenn Li
Junyue Liao
Stephanie Loui
Haywood Matthews
Cole Messina
Huong Nguyen
Phung Ninh
Grace Noh
Sarah Park
Nicole Picinich
Chloe Rinehart
Kavita Shah
Ashwath Srivatsan
Isabelle St. Clair
Annie Tan
Jia-Ming Tuan
Serena Wong
Ellie Yeo
Ian Yu
Amy Zhao
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Preeti Sriratana, Chair
Eric T. Lee, Vice Chair
Kathy Wong, Secretary
Blaise Chow, Treasurer
Raymond Chan
Christopher Chao
Jeff Chen
David Jar
Aya Kanai
Roy Kim
Melody Lee
Gilbert Liu
Patrick Lo
Yukari Matsuzawa Pass
Maxine Ng Dalio
Karen Wong
Patrick Yee
Wen Zhou
ASSOCIATE BOARD
Kristen Hom, Chair
Wesley Ru, Vice Chair
Athenie Shi, Treasurer
Alyssa Kuchta, Events & Marketing Chair
King Leung, Fundraising Chair
Jacqueline Liang, Governance Chair
Lucy Cao
Bhargava Chitti
Annie Chen
Bhargava Chitti
Christine Chu
Heather Deng
Do Hee Jeong
Emily Jia
Sherry Kuo
Janelle Teng
Minh-Y Tran
Sean Wang
Elizabeth Yan
Anna Yang
CORNERSTONE COUNCIL
Frank Li
Anthony Liu
John Lu
Chia Pan
Stephanie Sit
Emily Tung
Jonathan Yip
Ben Zhou
LOOKING AHEAD
Letter from the Executive Director
As we close another remarkable year, we reflect with gratitude on the journey we’ve taken together. This year has been one of incredible growth — for our youth, who have demonstrated resilience and determination, and for Apex, as we’ve amplified our impact through the unwavering dedication of our staff, volunteers and supporters.
As I often reflect on the moments when our youth graduate from our programs and step into young adulthood, they remind me of my own personal journey and of the journey of so many others among our staff, volunteers and supporters who grew up as Asian American youth with various challenges and limited resources.
I could never have imagined becoming the Executive Director of an organization as impactful and far-reaching as Apex. Seeing the paths that our youth are embarking on fills me with pride in our collective efforts to help them reach this point and confidence in the impact that they will continue to make in their lives and the lives of so many others.
Looking ahead, our commitment to this community remains steadfast. This upcoming year we’re turning our focus inward to the journey of Apex as an organization. Through upcoming strategic planning efforts, we will chart a thoughtful path forward, prioritizing sustainability to ensure we can continue empowering Asian American youth for generations to come. This process is about more than planning — it’s about honoring our responsibility to grow with intention, adapt to the evolving needs of our community, and remain a pillar of access and agency. Together, we are building an organization that not only supports today’s youth but also creates a legacy of lasting impact.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Each and every one of you plays an integral role as part of our system of support for youth, and we could not do this important work without you.
With gratitude and commitment,
Photos throughout this report are by BFA, Sean Chee, Clara Hung, Derek Kuey, Christina Li, Kevin Liew, Sheng Lin, Liz Magee, Angela Pham, Cindy Trinh, Jayne Wexler and Brittany Winderman.
All survey results in this report use mixed-methods, including both quantitative methodologies (e.g., surveys) and qualitative (e.g., interviews, content analysis), to elevate the voices of Apex youth, volunteers and families.