In July 2020, thanks to the full support of all AYLUS branches, the Greater Princeton Branch editors have been producing a video for AYLUS: The Five Years of Leadership to celebrate AYLUS National Five-Year Anniversary! The published video is on YouTube and other social media.
Intro
Martin Luther King Jr., a world renowned American civil rights leader, once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?”
AYLUS or Alliance of Youth Leaders in the United States, was founded in July 2015 to embody this message by a group of ordinary teens who wanted to contribute to society and help others to become the best versions of themselves. What started out as an idea, soon grew into the national organization we know of today.
The mission of AYLUS is to promote the development of its members’ leadership, integrity and innovation, through the planning and implementation of volunteer projects that aim at benefiting their communities.
The volunteers who joined AYLUS are unique in their interests, backgrounds and talents and in turn, they have supported their communities with a variety of programs. These projects range from musical performances to fundraisers, all to provide the public with the service they deserve. Next, we will take a look at AYLUS’s history and programs in detail, beginning with the most recent efforts to combat COVID-19.
2020, the Age of the Coronavirus and Social Upheaval
Despite the pandemic of Covid-19 limiting the public to staying home, AYLUS members have still been hard at work. In response to the outbreak, AYLUS initiated the SAVE A LIFE: DEFEAT COVID-19 event with donations pouring in to help buy ventilators for hospitals. AYLUS members all over the country have combined their efforts to help fight the pandemic. They have made donations of over 30,500 masks, 4,000 ICU gowns, 2,900 face shields, 260 bottles of hand sanitizers, 300 disinfectant spray bottles, and 70 pairs of goggles for hospitals across the United States. In addition, volunteers also wrote thank-you notes for frontline workers with hopes that they could realize that AYLUS members appreciate their bravery for fighting on the front lines. AYLUS has done and continues to do its very best to help those in need during these troubling times.
2015
Founded in 2015, AYLUS was born in Fort Bend and Houston, Texas. By the end of 2015, their vision had already expanded to a total of 19 branches, including Miami, Florida, San Diego, California, Fairfax, Virginia, Pearland, Texas, Western Long Island Branch, New York, Lincolnshire, Illinois, McLean-Tysons, Virginia, Bergen County, New Jersey, San Marcos, California, South Boston, Massachusetts, Manhasset, New York, Half Hallow Hills, New York, Jersey Coast, New Jersey, Arcadia, California, San Jose, California, Sunnyvale, California, Silicon Valley, California.
In 2015, AYLUS offered a variety of nationwide programs. These programs included the 2015 AYLUS Food drive, which benefitted members’ local communities by providing food donations, the 2015 AYLUS essay contest helped to perfect members’ writing skills while expanding the students’ love for AYLUS. Similarly, the 2015 AYLUS Art Event provided young artists with the opportunity to develop their creativity and spread their passion to the world.
The 2015 AYLUS Music from the Heart concert was also very impactful as aspiring musicians, singers and other performers submitted their pieces to be viewed by extremely qualified judges and got a chance to be featured on the website. Throughout 2015, in addition to these excellent national services and opportunities, the members began using their own talents and interests, such as math, art, robotics etc. to help teach, tutor, and inspire those around them.
2016
As more branches, such as Basking Ridge, New Jersey, Columbus, Ohio, Metro-Detroit, Missouri, East Nassau, New York, North Shore, New York, Syosset, New York, Santa Clara, California, and Conejo Valley, California joined in 2016, AYLUS continued to contribute wonderful service. AYLUS also added committees to its national board with their own important tasks.
AYLUS continued to support charities and communities by hosting local performances, which ranged from instruments, singing, dancing and other forms of art. These performances were conducted at a variety of locations, including retirement homes, hospitals, the Ronald McDonald House, but were all for a very good cause. In particular, many events to help the fight against Alzheimers were also conducted, with musical performances and a walk.
2017
2017 saw more branch growth, as Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Enlearning, New York, Rancho Santa Margarita, California, East Cobb Branch, Georgia and Dallas, Texas joined.
These new branches, along with previous branches, were eager to contribute to the community as they performed music at various places, including care centers and community centers. AYLUS members also worked diligently on water bottle recycling drives, sunglasses drives and book drives to those in need.
2017 was the year of Hurricane Harvey, a natural disaster which caused much pain and unhappiness to all. In an effort to rebuild communities and help those displaced and in need, AYLUS branches focused on Harvey Flood fundraising for kids and refugees and donating to those impacted by this terrible disaster. United, AYLUS members from all around the country worked hard to ensure that those around them would be served.
2018
In 2018, AYLUS added 8 additional branches which included Hampton Roads, Virginia, Greater Princeton, New Jersey, Woodlands, Texas, South Bay Area, California, Greater Lansing, Michigan, Edison, New Jersey, Spring, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama.
During this year, AYLUS continued its multitude of musical performance programs at schools, retirement care centers and local holiday festivals. AYLUS also continued its focus on cleaning the environment both the East Coast and the West Coast lending a hand. Furthermore, AYLUS helped another walk to end Alzheimers, cheering participants on.
Tutoring and computer labs for students exploded as well, with different branches offering week-long volunteer-run programs dedicated to educating students from various backgrounds and igniting a lifelong desire to learn.
2019
In 2019, AYLUS continued to expand, adding 10 more branches: Cypress, Texas, Gladstone, New Jersey, Phoenix, Arizona, Westport, Connecticut, North Oakland, Michigan, Cary, North Carolina, MetroWest, Massachusetts, Missouri City, Texas, Clarksville, Mary Land, Sugar Land, Texas.
The AYLUS International Art Contest received 196 artworks of young artists from 4 countries.
The Newsletter AYLUS Times was started in September 2019. Each month, editors across the country work together and produce articles discussing important volunteering events that AYLUS organized to serve local communities.
Countless AYLUS branches participated and supported a walk to end Alzheimer’s disease. With Face painting, preparing signs and posters, and supporting community members during walks, AYLUS members did their part to raise the spirits of the people in the face of debilitating disease.
Several “Save A Life” performances were organized for local first aid and rescue squads to help raise money to support the amazing work they do to protect us. Through their hard work, AYLUS members were able to bring joy and hope to many. AYLUS also did their part to protect the environment by tending to gardens and hosting water bottle and plastic film recycling programs.
2020
By July 2020, the number of AYLUS branches has swelled to 72: Warren, New Jersey, Albany, New York, College Station, Texas, Olympia, Washington, Baltimore, Maryland, Jericho, New York, Austin, Texas, East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Raritan Valley, New Jersey, New York City, New York, Lake Washington, Washington, Edmond, Oklahoma, Greater Memphis, Tennessee, Marlboro, New Jersey, Raleigh, North Carolina, Puget Sound, Washington, and many more are joining AYLUS!
These branches and all of AYLUS have been extremely diligent in helping fight the Coronavirus in the present day. We commend their efforts and once again thank all the frontline workers for their hard work.
AYLUS also began holding Leadership Summits since April, and Virtual Seminars with guest speakers since June, in an effort to connect mindfully as a community. The Leadership Team met monthly to discuss how to best move forward as an organization. Through clear communication and a reliable support system the AYLUS community was there and will be there for each other as they continue to serve the nation. This unity has been present since the founding of AYLUS.
Conclusion
AYLUS has grown significantly over the past five years- from just 2 branches based in Texas to over 70 branches all around the country. Students from all different backgrounds and walks of life have joined, bringing their varied interests and talents together to create authentic, helpful programs that have and still continue to help aid communities and enrich those around them. Regardless of circumstances, AYLUS members are always eager to aid the people through their own talents, and recognized by the President’s Volunteer Service Awards. AYLUS has helped thousands of people and we hope you will join our mission as well, to bring hope for a brighter future.
Ending
Contact AYLUS: aylus.org@gmail.com, aylus.org
Credits
Director: Xinyi Christine Zhang
Editor: Xinyi Christine Zhang
Screenwriters: Amber Yu & Karen Yang
Narrator: Xinyi Christine Zhang
Producer: Cassie Tammy Wang
Advisor: Dr. John Xiaowu Wang
Participants and Service Hours: Karen Yang (6/24, 2 hrs, 6/25, 1 hr, 6/26, 0.5 hr, 6/28, 1 hr, 6/29, 1 hr, 6/30, 1 hr, 7/6, 1.5 hr), Amber Yu (6/24, 2 hrs, 6/25, 1 hr, 6/26, 2 hr, 6/27, 1 hr, 6/28, 1 hr, 6/29, 2 hr, 6/30, 2 hr, 7/1, 1 hr, 7/2, 1 hr, 7/3, 1 hr, 7/4, 1 hr, 7/6, 1.5 hr, 7/7, 1 hr), Cassie Tammy Wang (6/28, 1 hr, 7/1, 2 hrs, 7/7, 2 hrs, 7/14, 2 hrs), and Xinyi Christine Zhang (7/4, 3 hrs, 7/5, 5 hrs, 7/6, 6 hrs, 7/7, 2 hrs, 7/10, 4.5 hrs, 7/13, 3 hrs, 7/14, 5 hrs).
