Josephine Villanueva and five other De Anza students were invited as Asian Pacific American student leader representatives to speak at the White House in July for the Asian American Pacific Islander Youth Summit in Washington, D.C.
Villanueva said she was empowered to speak out by IMPACT: De Anza’s “Initiatives to Maximize Positive Academic Achievement and Cultural Thriving for Asian American and Pacific Islanders.”
Professor Christine Chai, Dr. Michael Chang, Alerie Flandez, Professor Jim Nguyen, Dr. Mae Lee, were like second moms and dads to the group,” said Villanueva, a third year De Anza student majoring in global studies.
The youth summit is a gathering where Asian Pacific American federal leaders inform students of their personal stories.
Students discussed their struggles and hopes back home.
Student leaders were also given a chance to speak out to share their demands to the White House at town hall.
De Anza College was one of 11 recipients awarded the “Asian American and Native Pacific Islander” grant by the U.S. Department of Education for five years.
These funds will help lay the groundwork for improving job opportunities for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islanders and give them the skills they need to compete in the 21st century, global economy, according to the department
Villanueva was pleased with the grant.
“The grant empowered me of my worth here,” she said.
“Even though I’m an immigrant and an international student, I am an American and I also deserve the same rights.”
Villanueva said in her speech that this grant was very helpful, and she was privileged to learn more about her own history because many other colleges do not have the luxury to have this grant.
She said she thought the main purpose of coming to the U.S. was to excel in English and its culture.
The Youth Summit was an eye opener for her to retain her culture and identity.
Through De Anza’s Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute, a subgroup of IMPACT AAPI, Villanueva found what to strive for in life.
She said she hopes to someday get her doctorate in philosophy and be involved in the community and nonprofit organizations as well as teaching, preferably in De Anza.
“I really like this school and really want to help the students here,” she said.
REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS- Josephina Villanueva, Sabrina Jueseekul, Aileen Supnet, Robert Ehara, Adrienne Mactal, and Alexander Okashita stand together
SCHEDULED TO SPEAK – Josephine Villanueva and Matt Lai attend the AAPI Youth Leadership Briefing
