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2025-2026 Asian Youth For Collective Liberation Fellowship

The Asian Youth for Collective Liberation (AYCL) Fellowship is a civic leadership cohort for Asian and Asian American high school age youth who are passionate about building the skills, confidence, and community power to create meaningful change in Spokane, in their lives, and beyond.

 

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How to Apply

Fill out the short application form by Sunday, November 23, 2025, at 11:59PM PT. It only takes about 10–15 minutes. After you apply, we’ll reach out to invite you for a short conversation with our Youth Organizer so we can get to know you better.

And if you know a friend who might love this too, encourage them to apply. AYCL is even better when we grow and learn together.

Got questions? Reach out to us at info@aclspokane.org or send us a DM on Instagram @aclspokane.

Who This Fellowship Is For

  • High school age Asian or Asian American youth. Special cases are always welcome. For example, youth with GED qualifications or non-traditional schooling are encouraged to apply.
  • Interested in getting involved in your community, exploring leadership, and taking part in collective action.
  • Commit to showing up for fellowship sessions, staying engaged, responding to messages in a timely way, and participating to the best of your ability.

AYCL Fellows Will:
  • Learn organizing, leadership and storytelling skills
  • Explore who you are and what you consider to be your identity 
  • Connect with your community and develop a sense of belonging
  • Co-create projects, campaigns, and community events 
  • Learn from local leaders and youth organizers
  • Participate in Legislative Day, field trips, workshops and Fellowship Summits
  • Receive a stipend ($300/month for the duration of the fellowship) 
Count Me In!
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2025 – 2026 AYCL Fellowship Timeline

The inaugural Asian Youth for Collective Liberation (AYCL) Fellowship runs from December 2025 through July 2026, bringing together a cohort of Asian and Asian American youth to learn, lead, and grow through civic engagement, storytelling, and hands-on community initiatives.

This first year, we’re welcoming up to 12 youth fellows so we can create a close, supportive space for learning and connection. Everyone who applies will hear back from us, and we’ll share fellowship invitations by Dec.5th, 2025.

Fellows will take part in two focused learning intensives — the Winter Summit and Spring Summit — with activities in between to practice leadership, engage with local issues, and gain real-world experience through their chosen projects, community events and campaigns.

❄️ Winter Summit: Fellowship kickoff and community-building intensive focused on organizing, storytelling, and training for Legislative Day. Fellows will connect with one another, learn foundational skills, and explore how their stories can create change.

🌸 Spring Summit: A time for deeper learning and growth. Fellows will strengthen key skills, practice communication and facilitation, and contribute to programs that center the issues and values most meaningful to them.

Co-Created Curriculum
The AYCL curriculum will be built with you, not just for you. Your ideas, experiences, and voice will help shape what we learn and do together. Each year’s program focuses on the issues, skills, and stories that matter most to you and your community. Together, we’ll create something that represents who we are and the future we want to see.

I am ready to apply!
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Our AYCL Artwork

by Lain Bundalian

Designer and illustrator Lain Bundalian brings a bold, nostalgic, and forward-looking vision to the Asian Youth for Collective Liberation (AYCL) Fellowship through a Y2K / early-2000s–inspired art direction.

This era defined by its bright optimism and boundary-pushing creativity — reflects a time when young people imagined the future with endless possibilities. That same energy of hope, connection, and collective imagination resonates deeply with ACL’s values of joy and belonging.

Revisiting the Y2K aesthetic isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about reclaiming that sense of excitement and possibility. Through vibrant colors, expressive design, and a playful, futuristic feel, Lain’s work captures the essence of youth-led creativity and the spirit of co-creating brighter futures together.

Beyond its look and feel, this design direction celebrates a cultural moment when technology and creativity collided, sparking global connection and imagination. It reminds us that art and storytelling have always been tools for belonging, and that collective liberation begins with shared creativity and joy.

It’s a visual reflection of everything the fellowship embodies: a generation of young Asian and Asian American leaders imagining new possibilities for themselves, their communities, and the collective future they’re shaping together.

Meet the artist: LAIN BUNDALIAN

LB is a queer Asian-American/Native Hawaiian designer and illustrator whose practice bridges collaboration and research. They have worked alongside nonprofits, fellow artists, researchers, live musicians, and authors to explore new forms of artistic expression and social engagement.

As the founder of Loveless Press, LB has established a zinemaking praxis rooted in radical accessibility: each publication is freely distributed with the belief that art and information should belong to everyone. Their zines and artworks have been shared and exhibited across the United States and internationally, underscoring a commitment to creative freedom and collective exchange.

Drawing from the visual movements of the past, LB investigates their histories and cultural impact to reimagine aesthetics for contemporary audiences. Through deep research and exploration, they fuse analog and digital archives, weaving nostalgia with forward- looking energy to honor both present and future.

LB earned a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Technology and Culture, with an emphasis in digital design, from Washington State University.

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