The Lantern Project

There is limited engagement from the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) communities in the civic arena, perhaps a result of disinterest, a lack of education, immigration status, or a feeling of general powerlessness. In the summer of 2007, ASIA, Inc. piloted a service learning program for youth who were previously participants of its Community Adult Mentoring program. This program, The Lantern Project, provides meaningful learning opportunities and mentoring for AAPI youth in grades 8 – 12. Through these opportunities, critical thinking skills are enhanced for the purpose of preparing these youth for the working world and higher education, as well as to begin to engage them in civic life.

The students who live in the City of Cleveland are children of immigrants or first generation immigrants themselves. Many of them have parents who are unable to speak English or are limited English proficient. Sometimes the youth attend ESL schools. The language issue impacts almost every aspect of their lives: academic progress in high school, their perceived sphere of influence (their social sphere); the number and quality of opportunities that will be available for them; and the type of parental involvement in their education and social lives.

The students’ involvement in our project, where they can exercise choice, use their assets and abilities, as well as be influenced by positive role models, can help prevent academic failure and drop-out, drug use, and violence. The opportunity to serve others in the community also helps them understand the world that exists beyond their immediate environment.

Recently, the Lantern Project students completed a neighborhood safety survey for Midtown area of Cleveland that was presented at a community meeting attended by local council person and other key stakeholders in the area.  Currently, the youth have taken the initiative and are convening regular neighborhood meetings to engage neighbors, business owners, law enforcement, and schools and to discuss challenges and concerns but also to find opportunities to strengthen ties among all the critical members with vested interests in the neighborhood.  Meetings are conducted with assistance from language interpreters.

For further information, please contact Kitty Leung, Project Director, (kitty.leung@asiainc-ohio.org) or call 216-881-0330.