Grantee Spotlight: Asian Girls Ignite
Building Community for AANHPI Girls and Gender-Expansive Youth
Content warning: This post discusses suicidal feelings. Colorado Crisis Services and 988 are free emotional support lines available to the people of Colorado if you need help.
The “model minority” myth hides a crisis
The “model minority” myth hides a crisis. For Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth ages 15–24, suicide is the leading cause of death. Behind this statistic are heavy academic pressures, family expectations, racism, and microaggressions.
Joanne Liu and Mehgan Yen saw the harm firsthand. Growing up, both felt isolated and unseen. In 2020, they founded Asian Girls Ignite (AGI) to change that.
Offering AANHPI youth a place to belong
AGI builds community for AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth. Through shared stories, participants celebrate their identities and collective power.
Katherine B., now a high school senior, joined AGI as a middle schooler during COVID. “I didn’t find community at school,” she says. “AGI is a space to connect with others.”
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado (WFCO) supports AGI through its Women & Girls of Color Fund, which invests in BIPOC-led nonprofits that build economic and social power. Since 2021, the fund has awarded $2.8 million to over 80 women and gender-expansive leaders of color.
“Women caring for other women – the funding just feels different coming from The Women’s Foundation,” said Joanne. “It’s not just unrestricted, but we’re also encouraged to take care of ourselves with the grant.”
Standing out, not blending in
Growing up, Joanne rarely saw herself in school materials. She thought belonging meant blending in—until a teacher gave her Farewell to Manzanar. It was the first time she saw her identity reflected in a story.
AGI flips the “blend in” narrative. It celebrates standing out. Leaders like Tran Nguyen-Wills, deputy outreach director for Denver’s mayor, and Christina Ifurung, energy medicine practitioner, share their journeys to inspire the next generation.
“I Am Powerful” summer program
AGI’s summer program is a week-long experience for students in grades 6–9. This year’s theme drew 25 students for activities under the theme, “I Am Powerful.” For the first time, high school students like Katherine served as camp counselors, mentoring younger peers while building their own leadership skills.
The program takes place at the Denver Botanic Gardens—a living metaphor for AGI’s mission. Like a diverse garden, each participant adds unique beauty and purpose to a thriving community. Activities, from scavenger hunts to art projects, help students see how cultures connect.
Twelve-year-old participant Zohra U. says, “AGI helps me express myself with arts and craft.”
Growing impact shows AGI is meeting community needs
In addition to its summer program, which as nearly doubled in size since 2021, AGI also offers:
- Monthly events for middle schoolers
- Weekend workshops for high schoolers
- An annual summit
- Outdoor programs to build resilience
- The Lotus Collective, a quarterly gathering for AANHPI women and gender-expansive adults
Interest and community support has skyrocketed—from 300 to 3,000 social media subscribers. “That speaks to how much AGI has evolved,” Katherine says.
Eleven-year-old participant Ellie T. puts it simply: “AGI is a place to feel safe and connected.”
Get involved:
Subscribe to AGI’s newsletter to follow their impact.
The next grantmaking opportunity for the Women & Girls of Color Fund will be in January 2026.
