Summer Leadership Academy (SLA)

The application for Summer Leadership Academy 2025 has closed. To stay up to date on ACDC's youth programs, please fill out our A-VOYCE interest form.

Photo from SLA Showcase in 2023. Photo by Mel Taing.

About SLA

ACDC’s A-VOYCE Summer Leadership Academy (SLA) is a seven-week paid youth leadership program! The SLA engages the cohort with an innovative, community-centered curriculum, equipping youth with skills in community-building, creative placekeeping and professional development while introducing youth leaders to an ecosystem of ACDC staff, activists, partners, artists, and professionals.

As a final project, the SLA Cohort apply their developed skills and reflections from SLA’s curriculum towards leading Films At The Gate—ACDC’s annual, youth-led kung fu film festival. With support from ACDC staff, youth receive mentorships towards event planning, fundraising, design, and more. Check us out @filmsatthegate to see what it’s like! 

“This program deserves more recognition in terms of providing a space of comfort and vulnerability when discussing grim moments of history.”
— Chelsea Tang, SBU 26'

The SLA Curriculum

Youth will learn about Asian American identity and history, and explore how systemic racism affects the Asian community.

Youth will develop skills in building empathy, creative storytelling, critical thinking and analysis, and collaboration. We will be reflecting on our lived experiences making art, and other creative processes. We will host guest speakers and artists, and go on field trips! We will provide lunch stipends for participants for every day of the program. 

Video by Harrison Tran, 2022 SLA Youth & Communications Intern

Each year SLA Curriculum centers around a unique and insightful theme.

This year’s theme is Community Safety! This summer, we will explore questions like…

  • How might Asian American history and my intersecting identities inform my life experiences?

  • What are alternative ways of keeping my neighborhood safe? 

  • How do our neighborhoods’ designs impact our everyday lives and communities?

  • What might a sustainable and caring community look like?

 

Check out our Previous themes!

 
 

2021’s “The Art of PersuAsian:”
Understanding of Asian identities and experiences and learn about Asian American History through a lens of creative storytelling and anti-oppression frameworks.

Check out 2021’s showcase here!

 

2022’s “Windows and Mirrors:”
Comparing how Asian identities are different and how they are similar.

Check out 2022’s showcase here!

 

Eligibility

  • High schoolers in the classes of 2025-2029

  • Those able to attend Films at the Gate Festival on August 22-24, 2025

  • This program centers Asian American experiences but is open to young people of all identities who express commitment to these topics of social justice, and are open to talking about race and identity. Youth must have an interest in personal identity development, learning about social justice and have a strong commitment to the Asian American community. 

  • Youth must be available to attend all program sessions across the seven week long program cycle. 

Photo from SLA Showcase in 2023. Photo by Mel Taing.

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