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AALEAD
http://www.aalead.org
1323 Girard Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-884-0322
Founded in 1998
Founder, Executive Director: Sandy Dang
Board Chair: Teresa L. Lee
Staff: 14 full time, 18 part time
2005 Budget: $1.2M
Mission and History
AALEAD promotes the well-being of Asian American youth and families through education, leadership, and community-building.
AALEAD was founded in 1998 by Sandy Dang, a young Vietnamese
woman whose family fled their homeland in the 1970s. The
family lived in several refugee camps before coming to the
United States. Dang was a survivor. She did well in school,
won a scholarship to Duke University, and earned a graduate
degree from Catholic University. But she never forgot what
she and so many others had left behind in their homelands.
Dang began AALEAD to help Asian children and their families
bridge cultural divides and develop a strong community of
people based on shared values, tradition, and history.
The organization is located in Columbia Heights. In 2003,
AALEAD will relocate to a facility on Girard Street that
it has purchased for renovation.
Services
AALEAD serves children ranging in age from 6 to 18. The
organization has developed a holistic and multifaceted approach
to helping students achieve academic success and go on to
college. The organization delivers educational enrichment
through four programs:
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After School Academic Enrichment Program
The After School Academic Enrichment Program provides academic enrichment, homework support, arts classes, and recreational activities to elementary school students each weekday. Youth also participate in group projects and field trips. The program continues into the summer through a six week Summer Enrichment Program. Elementary and middle school youth are invited to participate in our Tutoring Program, held every Saturday afternoon at the AALEAD Community Center. This For Love of Children designed program has proven to significantly improve student ability to master grade appropriate math and reading skills
- Family Strengthening Program
The Family Strengthening Program provides case management services to families to increase their access to services, manage family crises, and increase parents' knowledge and use of appropriate parenting practices. AALEAD uses educational advocacy to increase parental involvement in their children’s education and to increase parents’ awareness of available school choices. Activities include informing parents about the American educational system, teaching them to understand report cards and standardized test scores, and helping them apply to out of boundary, charter and private schools on behalf of their children.
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Mentoring Program
The Mentoring Program recruits, selects, matches, and trains adult volunteers to mentor students one-on-one, helping them to develop the academic and life skills necessary to succeed in school. Each mentor receives a detailed handbook, undergoes a two-day orientation, and is supervised regularly by the Volunteer Coordinator.
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High School Academic and Leadership Program
The High School Academic and Leadership Program offers multimedia projects, one-on-one tutoring, community service activities, guidance, counseling, homework support, and educational advocacy to high school students. High school seniors receive individual assistance in completing college applications, financial aid forms, and fee waiver requests. In the summer, AALEAD provides employment opportunities for youth through the District of Columbia Summer Youth Employment Program.


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