San Mateo High Schooler Named Silicon Valley Student Leader

SAN MATEO, CA — A San Mateo high school student was among five Bay Area winners selected by Bank of America to take part in their Student Leaders program, which recognizes 300 community-focused juniors and seniors from across the country.

Grace Xia of Aragon High School was recognized for starting a nonprofit called Asian Uplift and organizing a Unite with Asians Rally in San Mateo in the wake of the recent rise in anti-Asian hate incidents.

“I've always been extremely passionate about issues related to Asian communities,” Xia said in an email to Patch. “From witnessing microaggressions to learning about the unique challenges Asian Americans face, I frequently explore topics of Asian identity and racism. In the wake of the violent hate crimes and assaults against the Asian community, I knew I had to do something to address the injustices I was seeing, as well as bring light to the deep-rooted inequities plaguing Asian communities, which we don't often recognize or discuss.”

Xia and a group of friends formed Asian Uplift — a youth organization with a goal of empowering Asian communities through campaigns, education and fundraisers — last summer, and it currently has around 12 members.

The group organized the Unite with Asians Rally at San Mateo City Hall on April 10 that drew around 300 attendees and included a panel of community leaders. Xia said the group worked for 10 straight days to plan the event, intended to denounce anti-Asian hate and create a space for empowerment and healing.

“The rally is one of the most unforgettable moments of my life,” Xia said. “It serves as a testament to the strength of unity and that anything is achievable when we put our minds to it.”

The group has worked on three campaigns, according to Xia, the most recent being an effort to bring volunteer patrols to downtown San Mateo to assist the elderly. They are also working on a pride campaign to uplift Asians that identify as LGBTQ+ and plan to launch a mental health campaign to address a stigma in Asian communities.

Through the Bank of American Student Leaders program, Xia and the other students are taking part in an eight-week paid internship working with the Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County and Caminar.

Xia said the overall experience has given her invaluable leadership experience, communication skills and knowledge from speaking to other community leaders and elected officials.

“I've learned that leadership is tougher than it seems, as it requires more than passion and drive to effectively galvanize people into fighting for a common goal,” Xia said. “I've also learned that I have what it takes to achieve anything I put my mind to in life.”

Along with Xia, the other 2021 Silicon Valley Bank of America Student Leaders are:

• Brian Dinh, Milpitas, Milpitas High School
• Chudi Abraham-Igwe, San José, University Preparatory Academy
• Chantel White, San José, Branham High School
• Joselyn Espinoza, San José, James Lick High School

Click here for more on the program.