Looking for a supportive learning community for your child to grow in their identities?

This spring, join the Explore Program, one of the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center’s student-led nonprofit community outreach efforts.

By connecting with the Fort Collins community, the program creates that “home away from home” experience. Explore is an educational space for Asian Pacific American fourth through sixth graders. The program also provides Colorado State University students with quality leadership opportunities, allowing their understanding of the API identity to grow alongside that of their mentees. Each of these volunteers are background-checked through the school district and are paired with one or two Fort Collins students.

Explore is based in discovering and understanding identities. Its primary objective is to empower the API children who are served. Unpacking discrimination and racism are never easy, and the program acknowledges those obstacles. Explore takes on difficult subject matter through a sensitive and humanistic approach, which allows the “explorers” to develop a greater sense of self and confidence in who they are. In the past we have discussed a variety of topics such as microaggressions (forms of everyday discrimination), common stereotypes and representations of API people in the media. Of course, these subjects extend far beyond our discussions and activities, and therefore opportunities for growth will not end once the program is over. We get the conversation started.

Each session runs from 10 a.m. until noon on Sundays, and these will be spread throughout the 2018 spring semester, occurring approximately every other weekend on campus (the schedule is included on the last page of the application). These programs have a real impact on our university and the Fort Collins community, and could be the perfect opportunity for your child.

If you are a parent who would like your child(ren) to participate as an Explorer, please email us at explore@colostate.edu, and don’t forget to check out our website where the applications are linked: http://apacc.colostate.edu/explore. The deadline for applying is Feb. 5.