INITIATIVES

The Civic Fellowship program is a summer program designed for high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in government and civic engagement.

The Very Asian Youth Concert occurs at the St. Louis Art Museum in Spring every year, featuring local youth talent, and celebrity appearances! Click here to view photos from the 2024 and 2025 Very Asian Youth Concerts.

Introducing our newest initiative: the AACS Magazine! The AAPI Experience is a quarterly magazine created to amplify the voices of AAPI youth, featuring opinions, news, features, and showcases of artistic and literary talent.

This quarterly publication will be released in March, June, September, and December in 2026. 
1. March Issue will be edited by MICDS Asian Student Association. For contributions contact Andy Zheng (yzheng@micds.org) and Olivia Hill (ohill@micds.org)
2. June Issue will be edited by Marquette East Asian Club.
3. September Issue will be edited by Ladue Asian Student Association. For contributions contact Felix Zhang felixzhang133@gmail.com and Madeline Fong madelinefong08@gmail.com.
4. December Issue will be edited by John Burroughs Asian Affinity Club. For contributions contact Averill Yi 2028.ayi@jburroughs.org and Eric Chang 2029.echang@jburroughs.org

To join the AACS Magazine team please send an email with a brief bio to AACSstl@gmail.com.

The Young Scholars Program operates as a separate entity from AACS, but many members of our organization are affiliated with this program. YSP helps kids struggling with school by connecting them to hard working volunteers.

The May Book Project works on spreading Asian literacy across St. Louis high school libraries. Literature plays a crucial role in the lives of youth as it shapes and navigates them through the world. Therefore, proper AAPI representation in books is a must.

The AACS Social Media Team works hard to post influential ideas, modern AAPI-related content, and promotions for AAPI authors and events. The team plays a crucial role in fostering awareness, advocacy, and community engagement within the AAPI community. This involves creating spaces for discussions, sharing stories, and facilitating connections among community members.

In AACS, we uphold AAPI representation as an essential value, recognizing its role in fostering cultural appreciation, challenging stereotypes, and empowering individuals. We strive to amplify voices of AAPI individuals in media, literature, and other cultural platforms in order to shape a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the AAPI experience.

Asian American Civic Scholars (AACS) is dedicated to promoting civic engagement among Asian American youth through activism, leadership, and service. Along with that, the organization has undertaken various advocacy initiatives.

As a civic organization, community involvement is a top priority of AACS. Through active participation in local events and dedicated volunteering efforts, our members are committed to serving and strengthening the St. Louis region.

The AACS executive team consistently organizes memorable events through the school year, focusing on celebration, bonding, and cultural enrichment.

This space holds a list of recognition for people from Asian American Civic Scholars as well as recognition for AACS itself.

The Mental Health Initiative is an important one in Asian American Civic Scholars. AAPI Communities often face cultural stigmas surrounding mental health issues and disparities within access to mental health care and support. AACS works in these communities to prioritize mental health by providing mental health aid, making AAPI youth voices heard, and promoting awareness through discussions.

At AACS, members are passionate about the significance of AAPI history. They recognize that delving into and understanding AAPI historical narratives is important for promoting representation, social justice, cultural understanding, and political engagement. Members wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to research endeavors and impactful service initiatives.