COMMUNITY SERVICE

I love finding ways to give back to my community and make a positive impact. Whether helping organize local projects, mentoring younger students, or using technology and art to bring people together, I enjoy working with others to create something meaningful and fun.

YOUTH STEAM INITIATIVE (YSI)

The Youth STEAM Initiative supports and engages with the community through a combination of technology and art, using computer science to empower local nonprofit organizations. We have completed many community projects with various focuses, and I have participated in them as both a member and a leader. For more information, see the YSI Website.

Lex Lux Projection Shows

The LexLux Animated Projection Mapping project was a key feature of the LexLux illumination activity (2025) in the town of Lexington. In collaboration with the Munroe Center for the Arts and the Lexington Lyceum Advocates (LLA), the Youth STEAM Initiative team created two unique projection mapping installations that seamlessly blended creativity, technology, and historical storytelling. This interdisciplinary project showcased the powerful fusion of art and technology, demonstrating how innovation can reimagine public spaces. More than just a visual spectacle, the installation fostered a sense of community, sparking curiosity, conversation, and a deeper appreciation for Lexington’s cultural heritage.

Final Projection Video: Lexington Historical Society & Ellen Stone Building

“This project served as a pilot project in Lexington, as projection mapping is something that had never happened in Lexington before. We had to start everything from scratch. As the co-coordinator of the YSI side, I worked through the entire project process with my team members. From measuring the dimensions of the building and researching projectors to onsite testing, from discussing the theme of the video to the actual creation process, and then to the incorporation of music and the buildings’ features (e.g. windows, pillars, doors), each step is a brand new experience and an important challenge we needed to overcome. We were really nervous about the final product, and we were afraid that no one would show up for the show. However, nearly 200 people showed up on our first projection night, and the LexMedia, the local news report, interviewed us for the event.

Through this project, I learned a lot about coordinating tasks within our group and communicating efficiently with collaborators. It also allowed me to get a better understanding of what I need to consider when organizing an event, and deepened my resolve to become a good leader.”

ChiRP Project

The Children’s Room Project, also called the ChiRP Project, was to raise money for the renovation of Cary Memorial Library’s children’s room and the large meeting room on the lower level. The ChiRP Project included two parts: a webpage development competition, where the YSI gave competitors tutorials of creating a webpage, giving people chances to learn new skills and get involved with Cary Memorial Library’s funding process, and the website construction, where YSI members constructed the different parts of the ChiRP fundraising website.

For the website competition, I took charge of fundraising for the event, as we did not have much budget for the different things we needed. No one on the team had ever done fundraising before, so it was a huge challenge for me to try to figure out how to raise fund from the beginning. I

For the website construction, I was responsible for the development of the info page, which is also the landing page of the ChiRP website. I was really nervous at first, as the landing page is usually the most important page that needs to be concise and attractive to the visitors of the website. After many rounds of discussion of how my page should look like with the people in Cary Library Foundation, I was able to eventually construct a page that we were all satisfied of. I also helped out at the Gala Night on 4/6/2024, where I checked people in for the event and guided them to the activities. I am very appreciative of how patient the Cary Library Foundation advisors were and how helpful our team members were. This project taught me a lot about not only website development, but also about efficient communication and collaboration.

CHINESE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of LEXINGTON (CAAL)

The Chinese American Association of Lexington serves Lexington and the Chinese American community in town affairs and community activities, especially public-school education, civic engagement, and cultural sharing, as well as provides opportunities for Chinese Americans to engage with the Lexington community through volunteerism, networking, and social events. I have participated in various programs and community events that combine my passion for art and Chinese culture with community engagement.