Immigrants and refugees shape history. Today, thousands of Afghan refugees are forced to leave their home country and many immigrate to the San Francisco Bay Area, just as Southeast Asian families did in the 1970s. For some of us, home is the place and people we return to at the end of the day. For others, home can also be a group of close friends, a favorite reading spot at the local library, or a community where we feel a sense of belonging and care for one another. Please reflect and share what home means to you and how you can help others to feel at home.
Use the questions below to help spark ideas. You do not have to answer any/all of these specific questions.
- What does home mean to you? When you think of home, what do you see, touch, hear, smell, and taste?
- How has your idea of home changed over time and why?
- If you and/or your family have ever moved or relocated, either across town or even across the globe, how did you find a sense of home or a community in a new place?
- How would you welcome someone who is new to your home and include them in your community?
- Engage Your Family: Ask a family member like a grandparent, parent, or elder what home means to them. How is their concept of home different or similar to yours?
Online submissions open March 1, 2022 and close March 15, 2022.Winners will be announced May 1, 2022.
Please note: Participants must live and/or attend a school within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Marin, Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Alameda, or San Mateo County.
ABOUT GUAA
Hosted by AACI and in partnership with NBC Bay Area, Growing Up Asian in America (GUAA) is an annual art, essay, and video contest that reaches thousands of Bay Area students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded 25+ years ago, GUAA encourages young Asian Americans to take pride in their identities and helps others understand the varied experiences of our youth growing up in the Bay Area’s diverse communities.
Founded by Lance Lew of NBC Bay Area in 1995, the contest provides a unique platform for young artists to creatively explore and celebrate being both Asian or Pacific Islander and American. It remains one of the essential celebrations of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and 10 students will be selected for a cash award and a chance to appear on NBC Bay Area!
Visit https://aaci.org/guaa to learn more. For questions, please contact AACI at (408) 975-2730 x403 or e-mail guaa@aaci.org
