On the afternoon of February 20th, the first “Youth Leadership Workshop,” hosted by MOVENC Foundation, was successfully held in the Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina. The workshop aimed to encourage Chinese American youth to actively participate in socio-political affairs and become drivers of change and leadership. Chairwoman Sue Mu personally traveled to New York to invite the renowned Chinese American politician and entrepreneur, Mr. Andrew Yang, as the special guest speaker.
Under the meticulous organization of the preparation team, the workshop attracted over forty middle and high school students from the Research Triangle area. Also in attendance were supportive parents, event sponsors, organizational leaders, and representatives from various Chinese media outlets. The atmosphere was vibrant and warm, filled with continuous applause and laughter throughout the event.
Despite their heavy academic loads and ongoing college applications, the three youth moderators—Eric Ye, Katie Shen, and Maggie Su—dedicated valuable time to thoroughly prepare for the session. They led the discussion by posing questions to Mr. Yang on behalf of the students. In his responses, Andrew shared the struggles and challenges he faced growing up as one of only two Chinese students in his grade. Rather than allowing his minority identity to restrict his academic or professional growth, he leveraged his ingenuity to turn perceived disadvantages into strengths. This flexibility and resilience allowed him to quickly bounce back from his first failed business venture, try again boldly, and eventually achieve massive commercial success. Following the acquisition of his company, Andrew founded “Venture for America,” a non-profit fellowship program designed to “generate jobs in American cities by mobilizing the next generation of entrepreneurs and providing them with the skills and resources necessary for job creation.” Andrew did not stop there. In 2020, he ran in the Democratic presidential primary, and the following year, he campaigned for Mayor of New York City. To better realize his political vision of “restoring a fair and prosperous economy,” Andrew founded the independent “Forward Party.” His journey—from a shy, introverted Chinese boy to a prominent entrepreneur and political activist—served as a profound source of inspiration for the youth and parents in attendance.
The next segment featured a team debate on the topic: “What is the most important superpower or skill for a leader?” The debate teams were given ten minutes to prepare before a representative presented their arguments. The four groups proposed “Rhetoric and Empathy,” “Communication,” “Courage,” and “Adaptability,” providing substantial evidence for each. The subsequent crossfire debate was particularly exhilarating, demanding high-level logical thinking, linguistic organization, and quick reflexes. Debaters had to rapidly gather material to rebut attacks and defend their own stances while simultaneously identifying logical flaws in their opponents’ arguments to launch counter-offensives. The representatives demonstrated admirable courage, composure under pressure, seamless teamwork, and linguistic agility. The closing statements further reinforced each group’s position; all four teams were so distinct and capable that it was difficult to pick a winner. Andrew praised the performance of every group, ultimately declaring the “Adaptability” team the winner. They received a special prize from the organizers, and all participants were gifted notebooks personally signed by Andrew. He encouraged the children to write down their life goals, noting that doing so makes dreams more likely to become reality.
During the open Q&A session, students asked questions related to leadership based on their own experiences and interests, to which Andrew provided insightful answers and advice. One of the most memorable points he made was emphasizing that Chinese American youth would play a pivotal role in solving the prominent issue of “political polarization” in the U.S. He noted, “We Chinese are system thinkers.” This forward-looking perspective has already seen preliminary validation through the service of several Chinese American cabinet members (such as Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao). Chinese American children possess a rich, multicultural background; they absorb Western values like independence while inheriting the essence of Chinese culture, such as holistic, “big picture” thinking. The author believes that treating social ailments like political polarization requires an integration of both Eastern and Western “medicine”—an approach that focuses on both the specific parts and the whole. In this sense, the future contributions of Chinese American youth to the stability, development, and prosperity of American society will be irreplaceable.
Throughout his interaction with the children, Andrew fully displayed the charisma of a leader. His demeanor radiated confidence, sincerity, humor, and wisdom. Simultaneously, he remained warm and approachable, serving as a perfect role model. This enthusiastic interaction continued through the Chinese New Year banquet that evening, where he patiently engaged in conversations and took photos with students and parents.
The first “Youth Leadership Workshop” hosted by MOVENC Foundation was of immense significance to the Chinese American youth in the Research Triangle area. It provided more than just a chance to meet a political star like Andrew Yang; it planted a seed and ignited a spark in their hearts. In the days to come, this seed will continue to be nurtured by sunlight and rain, taking root and growing into a towering tree. With this spark, these children will have the courage to cut through thorns and move toward their life ideals and noble goals, learning to adapt whenever they face setbacks. These are the leaders needed not only for the future of America but for the world. Keep going, Chinese American youth! The future is at your feet, and the world is in your hands!
2/20/2024【华e生活南卡哥伦比亚伊馨报道】
2月20日下午，由 MOVENC C3 (Margin of Victory Empowerment Foundation）主办的首场 “青少年领导力研讨会”（Youth Leadership Workshop) 在北卡研究三角园区（RTP）成功举行。此次研讨会旨在鼓励华裔青少年积极参与社会政治事务，成为变革的推动者和领导者。穆淑云主席亲赴纽约邀请到了著名美籍华裔政治家、企业家 Andrew Yang (杨安泽) 先生作为特邀嘉宾。
在筹备小组的精心组织下，研讨会吸引到了来自研究三角地区的四十多位初高中学生参与。出席研讨会的还有陪同前来的家长、活动赞助人、主办方领导、及多家华人媒体。活动现场气氛活跃而热烈，全程掌声笑声不断。
三位小主持人，Eric Ye, Katie Shen, 和 Maggie Su， 在繁忙的课业和大学入学申请之余，抽出宝贵的时间提前做足了功课。首先由他们代表在场的青少年向嘉宾提问。在回答问题的过程中，Andrew 分享了自己作为年级中仅有的两名华裔学生在成长过程中经历的困扰和挑战。然而他并没有让少数族裔的身份束缚自己学业和职业发展，反而充分发挥自己的聪明才智，转劣势为优势。这份灵活和坚韧使他在第一次创业失败后，能迅速整顿心情，再次大胆尝试，并获得了巨大的商业成功。公司被收购后，Andrew 创立了名为 “为美国就业” 的非营利性奖学金计划，旨在 “通过动员美国下一代企业家在美国城市创业来为美国制造就业机会，并为这些创业者提供创造就业所需的技能与资源”。 Andrew 并没有止步于此。2020 年，他参加了总统选举民主党初选。次年，参与了纽约市长竞选。为了更好地实现自己”重振公平、繁荣的经济” 的政治理想和抱负，Andrew 成立了独立党派前进党 （Forward Party)。Andrew 从一名内向腼腆的华裔男孩成长为著名企业家、政治活动家的人生历程，给现场的华裔青少年及家长带去了极大的鼓舞和启发。
接下来的环节是团队辩论。辩论题目是：“对于领导来说，最重要的一项超能力/技能是什么？” 辩论小组成员有十分钟准备时间，接着由一名代表来陈述观点。四个小组给出的答案分别是：修辞与共情 (rhetoric and empathy)、沟通 (communication)、勇气 (courage)、及变通 (adaptability), 并提供了详实的论据。接下来的交互提问 (crossfire debate) 尤为精彩。这个环节对辩手的逻辑思维能力、语言组织能力、及现场反应速度要求极高。辩手们一边要迅速挖掘新素材以反驳对方的攻讦，维护己方的观点；另一方面要迅速找出对方论点中的逻辑漏洞，并发起有力进攻。参与这个环节的各小组代表们均表现出了令人敬佩的勇气、临阵不慌的冷静、默契的团队协作精神、及灵活组织语言的能力。小组代表的总结发言进一步强化了各组的观点。四个小组各有特色，难分伯仲。Andrew 对每个小组的表现给予了充分肯定。最后，变通（adaptability）组被判定胜出，获得了由主办方颁发的特别奖品。主办方同时赠予所有辩论参与者人手一本由 Andrew 亲笔签名的笔记本。 Andrew 也鼓励孩子们随手记录下自己的人生目标，因为这样更容易梦想成真。
接下来的自由提问环节，孩子们就领导力这一主题提出了和各自经历及兴趣相关的问题，Andrew 分别给予了精彩的回答并提出了建议。笔者印象最为深刻的是他强调在解决美国当下尤为突出的 “political polarization” (政治两级分化）问题中，华裔青少年将会成为一股起关键作用的力量, 原因是 ”We Chinese are system thinkers”（中国人自古以来就是系统思维者) 。Andrew的这一观点极具前瞻性，也通过数位华裔部长（比如能源部长朱棣文，商务部长骆家辉，劳工部长赵小兰）的任职获得了初步验证。华裔孩子有着丰富多元的文化背景和价值观：他们既吸收了西方文化的精华，比如独立自主意识，又继承了中国文化的精髓，比如全局式思维。笔者认为，对诸如政治两级化 (political polarization) 此类社会顽疾的治疗，中西医结合才是最有效的治疗方式，因为这一方案既注重局部，同时又关注整体。从这个意义上来讲，华裔青少年未来为美国社会的稳定、发展、和繁荣做出的贡献将是其他少数族群无法替代的。
在和孩子们的现场互动中，Andrew 充分展示了一个领袖人物的人格魅力。他的言谈举止散发着自信、真诚、幽默、睿智。同时，也表现得和蔼可亲、平易近人，为孩子们树立了完美的榜样。这样的热情互动一直延续到了晚上的新春晚宴。他耐心地和孩子们及家长亲切交谈并一一合影留念。
MOVENC主办的首场 “青少年领导力研讨会” 对研究三角地区的华裔孩子们来说意义非凡。它不仅为孩子们提供了一个和政治明星 Andrew Young 见面并亲密互动的机会，也在他们的心灵中埋下了一粒种子、点燃了一颗火苗。在未来的日子里，这粒种子将继续吸收阳光雨露的滋润，生根发芽，直到长成参天大树。有了这颗火苗，孩子们将拥有披荆斩棘、朝着自己的人生理想和崇高目标一路迈进的勇气，遇到挫折和困难时也会学会灵活变通。这不仅是未来美国，也是未来全世界需要的领袖人物。加油，华裔青少年们！未来在你们脚下，世界在你们手中！
特别鸣谢：摄影师 Liya 提供活动现场照片