The ASPIRE program provides a foundational knowledge of contemporary Asian Pacific American issues for Philadelphia high school students by facilitating open dialogue and identity-based discussions. Our mission is to give participants useful skills such as the ability to analyze and understand current sociopolitical issues and events and the ability to see a more nuanced, inclusive view of America. We also will mentor our participants to help them gain skills they could use for college or other future endeavors and help them utilize the resources available to them.
High school students travel to Penn’s campus twice a month for these 2-hour long, facilitator-led discussions, and receive SEPTA tokens for their return-trip back home. The program is open to all high school students with tokens for transportation to Penn’s campus included.
ASPIRE Board and Facilitators
Seyoon Chun
Tri-Chair
Seyoon Chun (he/him) is a Junior studying History with minors in East Asian Languages and Civilizations and Asian American studies. He is from Long Island and was inspired to join ASPIRE due to his experience in advocating for a diverse curriculum during high school. Outside of ASPIRE, Seyoon is involved with admissions work through the College Cognoscenti, and conducts research through the Kim Center and Wolf Humanities Forum. Coming from a suburban area, he loves to explore Philly in his free time, trying new restaurants and solo traveling! He also enjoys playing the piano and viola, petting dogs, and reading every book he can get his hands on.
Kimi Li
Tri-Chair
Kimi Li (she/her/hers) is a senior studying Neuroscience with minors in Healthcare Management and Chemistry on the predental track. She is a Northeast Philly native who appreciates the abundance of water ice and cheesesteaks. After witnessing firsthand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, she became heavily involved in the Stop Asian Hate movement and founded the first Asian-American Cultural Association at her high school to create a safe space for Asian students and raise awareness of Asian culture. She’s been a part of the ASPIRE board as the past finance chair and now serves as one of the tri-chairs. Outside of ASPIRE, Kimi loves to rank new restaurants on Beli and paints for her online business!
Grace Tan
Tri-Chair
Grace Tan (she/her) is a junior, majoring in neuroscience on the pre-med track! Born and raised in Los Angeles, California within the Chinatown area, she wanted to be more connected with Asian communities. From there, she wants to focus more on AAPI issues and creates discussion involving other peers which compelled her to join ASPIRE as an academic chair and facilitator. This year, Grace is one of the ASPIRE tri-chairs! Other than ASPIRE, she is a clinical researcher at CHOP, secretary in VAW Global Health Alliances, and volunteers with harm-reduction groups at Kensington. Outside of academics, she loves to play video games and watch crime documentaries.
Sorim Lee
Finance Chair
Sorim Lee (she/her/hers) is a freshman majoring in finance and accounting from Ann Arbor, Michigan. As an immigrant, her love for her culture empowers her to discover more about the diverse places people call home. She is incredibly excited to help build an inclusive community through ASPIRE, and seeks to foster open dialogue and awareness through shared experiences. Beyond ASPIRE, Sorim’s other involvements include WUFC, WAX, and W-KUBS. In her free time, she loves binge-watching Netflix, planning non-existent travel itineraries, and exploring different cuisines as an avid foodie!
Nicolas Dorazio
Finance Chair
Nicolas Dorazio (he/him) is a freshman studying Statistics and Operations, Information, and Decisions. A Philadelphia native, Nicolas participated in ASPIRE as a high school student and is excited to return to the program in a mentor capacity. He is particularly grateful for the opportunity to further explore his identity and become more involved with the AAPI community. Outside of ASPIRE, Nicolas loves to play badminton and squash, learn new languages, and enjoy delicious meals with close friends in our beautiful city.
Queena Chen
Academic Chair
Queena Chen is a freshman at the Wharton School of Business, concentrating in Marketing & Operations Management and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Born in South Philadelphia, she is dedicated to improving educational opportunities for youth across the city, with a focus on underserved AAPI communities. She participated in ASPIRE twice as a student in high school and is excited to return now as an Academic Chair. Beyond ASPIRE, Queena is involved with APSC, CSA, WUEC, WUVG, and the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project. Outside of academics, she loves baking matcha tiramisu, playing badminton and squash, solving crossword puzzles and sudoku, and enjoying a little sweet treat.
Christina Ly
Academic Chair
Christina Ly (she/her/hers) is a senior majoring in Cognitive Science (concentrating in Cognitive Neuroscience) and minoring in Asian American Studies and Psychology. She is a Southwest Philly native who, starting in high school, became an organizer with VietLead. She was heavily involved with working alongside Philly youth learning about our AAPI identities and advocating against issues like school underfunding, gentrification, and deportation. Christina, a former Co-Chair and current Academic Chair of ASPIRE, hopes to offer knowledge and inspiration for current Philly high schoolers to be involved in healing our broken world. Outside of ASPIRE, Christina likes to listen/make music, powerlift, and do anything arts & crafts!
Melody Luo
Academic Chair
Melody Luo (she/her) is a Junior majoring in Political Science and English and minoring in Legal Studies, History, and Urban Education Policy. Hailing from New York, Melody spent much of her time as a teaching assistant for Saturday Chinese School and an advocate/cultural educator with the Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors. Outside of ASPIRE, you can find her competing across the nation with the Penn Mock Trial team, singing with PennYo (Penn's premier Chinese A Cappella group), and working on projects with the Undergraduate Assembly. She also enjoys hiking, watching egregiously long YouTube videos, playing the piano, and embroidering in her free time.
Kasey Xu
Academic Chair
Kasey Xu (she/her/hers) is a sophomore majoring in Biology on the pre-med track. She was born and raised in Guam, a beautiful island in the Pacific Ocean. In high school, she dedicated her time to empower and mentor young island girls through an organization called Island Girl Power. Now in Philly, she hopes to be involved with the community by connecting with AAPI youth and helping them navigate their multifaceted identities and cultures. Apart from ASPIRE, Kasey is involved in the West Philadelphia Tutoring Project, APAMSA (Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association), and PWBS (Penn Women’s Biomedical Society). In her downtime, she enjoys playing basketball, listening to music, and exploring Philly!
Sherry Kong
Marketing Chair
Sherry Kong (she/her/hers) is a sophomore studying biophysics on a pre-med track. She was born and raised in Shanghai China, and moved to South Carolina/Georgia when she was 10. Sherry was involved in various cultural clubs in high school, spreading cultural awareness to the community around her. She serves as the marketing/design chair and hopes to help more highschool students learn about ASPIRE so they can explore their identities as Asians or Asian Americans. Outside of ASPIRE, Sherry likes to practice art, write Chinese calligraphy, dance, play tennis, binge watch Chinese dramas and eat lots of food!
Jessica Mach
Marketing Chair
Jessica Mach (she/her/hers) is a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Design. From North Philadelphia, she started getting involved in VietLead and the ASPIRE program, where she focused on issues revolving around the AAPI community. Through volunteering and community involvement, she has a strong sense of advocacy. Wanting to inspire others the way she has been inspired, Jessica serves as an ASPIRE marketing and design chair and hopes to share her stories to enrich the perspective of her peers. Outside of ASPIRE, Jessica is a part of VSA and likes to go to concerts and figure skate.
Viveka Sinha
Marketing Chair
Viveka Sinha (she/her/hers) is a freshman in Wharton studying economics. She is from Bethesda, Maryland, where she was very involved in advocacy efforts to combat stereotypes against Asian American students, such as the Model Minority Myth. She joined Aspire to further these efforts and equip AAPI youth with the tools to navigate these challenges, and she's excited to contribute to Aspire's goals this year as a Marketing/Design Chair. Outside of Aspire, Viveka is involved with a few consulting clubs and she loves playing board games, watching horror movies, and going on boba runs!
Pita Keo
Facilitator
Peter Keo (he/him/his) or alternatively, you can call him Pita, is a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences studying Health & Societies with a concentration in Bioethics. A native of South Philadelphia and a product of the local Philadelphia public school system, Peter is dedicated towards shaping the next generation of young voices who want to learn more about the kind of power that they have and how to actualize their desires of what an ideal community could look like for them. He cites his intersecting interests in both AAPI histories & cultures alongside his passion for public health as reasons for his continued interest in the ASPIRE program. Outside of Penn, Peter loves playing video games, rooting for Philly sports, and listening to K-pop.
Anna Son
Facilitator
Anna Son (she/her) is a senior majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Urban Education on the Pre-Med Track. She became empowered to join ASPIRE as a facilitator because of her passion for uplifting AAPI youth. Having attended a predominantly white high school, she knows what it's like to feel isolated and lack of connection with peers who do not share the same experiences of being a minority. Through ASPIRE, she hopes to guide Philly youth through meaningful conversations about cultural identity and create deep friendships. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends & family, running, watching movies, and sleeping!
Linda Xu
Facilitator
Linda Xu (she/her/hers) is a junior studying Sociology and Physics with a minor in Data Science and Analytics. She is from New Hope, Pennsylvania - "suburbs of the Philly suburbs" - and having grown up in a small town with a single-digit Asian population, is excited to get involved with the Asian community at Penn and greater Philadelphia. Previously, Linda took part in APALI (Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative) and found the experience of identity building and community discussion to be highly rewarding, and so hopes to help create a similar space for local high school students! Outside of ASPIRE, Linda is involved with Penn's Government and Politics Association, Women in Physics Association, and alpha Kappa Delta Phi.
ASPIRE Testimonials
“Aspire has been my go-to place every Saturday to meet with my extended family where we discuss issues relating to race, ethnicity, and identity in the Asian American community. Through family group discussions, I was more aware of the many underlying issues that would hinders us as Asian Americans. I have enriched my knowledge with this great opportunity. And of course, the capstone project in the end was a blast!”
Felicia Chen
11th grade, Masterman School
“Education is a uniting force, no matter where you go in the world. While we may not be able to find education on Asian American history and issues in school, ASPIRE made an opportunity for it. The education I received through ASPIRE has helped me to explore my history and my role in the Asian American community.”
Amina Fong
12th grade, Central High School
“For me, ASPIRE was a key resource that helped me to further develop my understanding of identity and culture as well as make meaningful connections. Through ASPIRE, I was able to learn about many issues facing the APA community that I otherwise would not have learned about. Without ASPIRE, I would not have been able to learn about issues of bamboo ceiling, model minority myth, tokenism, microaggressions, etc. I highly recommend ASPIRE for high school students looking to get an enriching and educational experience regarding APA issues.”
Andy Nguyen
William Penn Charter School Class of 2016, University of Pennsylvania Class of 2020
“I joined ASPIRE for its willingness to discuss important issues centered around minorities and specifically Asian Pacific-Americans. On the day of orientation, I saw many familiar faces which is always great. The sessions following orientation, we delved into talking about identity, small scale things like microaggressions, affirmative action, racial profiling, the model minority, representations of Asian Americans in the U.S, and internal issues. Though this isn’t the first time I’ve heard about these things, it felt great to just openly talk about them. It was even more enlightening to hear how everyone felt on these issues. I felt very comfortable to speak on these things within my group and with our facilitator and to hear what everyone needed to say. Even though I’m not Asian American, I felt just as much connected to these issues, that’s what makes ASPIRE great, that it is inclusive of other minority races. I highly encourage joining ASPIRE, it will enlighten you for good!”
Amna Khalafalla
Senior at Philadelphia High School for Girls