The Roots & Wings Youth Symposium is a premier, one-day, in-person convening dedicated to the holistic development of Asian American youth (ages 14–21) during their most formative years.
Join the movement. Connect with mentors, uncover your heritage, and gain the tools to lead with confidence.
Your future starts here.
DATE
September 19, 2026
LOCATION
College of San Mateo Theatre
TIME
8:15 AM - 5:00 PM
More than a Symposium.
It's a Launchpad.
Roots & Wings is a high-energy, intergenerational takeover designed to bridge the gap between where you come from and where you’re going.
Building on our 2025 theme of Inspiration and Aspiration, our 2026 program—Empowerment through Community Collaboration—expands our focus to more deeply support the "whole child" through expert-led, interactive workshops and sessions.
Whether you’re looking for a career blueprint, a deeper family connection, or the tools to change your classroom, you’ll find your community here.
Who Can Attend?
YOUTH (AGES 14-21)
Agency, Resilience and Purpose
Your Launch Pad to the Future. Ready to define success on your own terms? This track is the ultimate launch pad for youth to build resilience, embrace authenticity, and chart a unique path forward. Whether you are exploring new career possibilities, unpacking your financial narrative, or finding your voice, join us to gain the empowerment and life tool you need to own your future.
PARENTS & GUARDIANS
Mental Health... Bridging Generations
Bridging the Gap, Empowering Growth. Empower your child to soar while staying rooted in your family’s values. This track is a supportive space for dialogue, offering practical ways to navigate the cultural and societal pressures that lead to student burnout. Learn how to shift from expectation to empathy, engage in meaningful intergenerational conversations, and cultivate a family dynamic built on trust and resilience. Join us to learn how you can be the advocate your child needs to thrive.
EDUCATORS & ADVOCATES
Asian American History Curriculum, Classroom Strategies
Empowerment Through Inclusive Practice. Transform your classroom into a space of belonging. This track is designed for educators looking to build solidarity and champion representation. Beyond practical pedagogical tools and hands-on curricula for Asian American history and ethnic studies, you will also engage in high-level conversations with leaders in Edu-Tech and Social Studies implementation. Connect with a community of peers as we collaborate to advocate for our students and reclaim our history.
Recognizing that "it takes a village," we have designed tailored tracks for parents and educators to foster a truly collaborative ecosystem.
Together, we provide the next generation with the foundational resilience (the roots) to navigate their world and the confidence (the wings) to lead it.
Our 2026 goal is to equip Asian American youth with a firm foundation for success in a world increasingly influenced by AI
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Celebrating Asian American Contributions
Exploring the narrative of what it means to be Asian in America. -
Breaking the Model Minority Myth
Challenging stereotypes and broadening perspectives. -
Navigating Identity and Visibility
Addressing bias, underrepresentation, and self-expression. -
Balancing Expectations
Managing cultural, familial, and societal pressures. -
Cross-Generational Dialogue
Building connections of understanding between youth and adults.
SPEAKERS
Alisa Pimentel
Consulting Instructor & West Coast Coordinator, The Asian American Education Project
Dr. Gwenn Lei
Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction, San Mateo County Office of Education
Jia Jiang
CEO & Owner, Rejection Therapy, Author, Entrepreneur, Board Member, LifeHikes
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Rajen Sheth
Founder at Kyron Learning
Barbara Hong
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, Yellow Chair Collective
Gabriel Young
President & Chair, National Federation of Filipino American Association’s (NaFFAA) Northern California Region
John Wang
Author, Big Asian Energy, Host, Big Asian Energy, and Founder, Mastery Academy
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Steven Kan
Other Bets Director, Alphabet
Deb Lui
Co-founder, Ember AI
Jason Chang
Professional Development Manager at The Asian American Education Project
Lindsey Bryan-Podvin
Founder at Mind Money Balance
Freda Lin
Co-Founder/Director of YURI Education Project
Jessica Song
Founder, SEED Education Partners; Lecturer, UC Berkeley
Maggie Xie
Executive Director, Red Envelope Collective
AGENDA
SPONSORS & PARTNERS
SPONSORS
PARTNERS
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