2023’s Under 30 Women Who Make History

Mar 13

Creatively Asian and REALSOUL are partnering up this Women’s History Month to bring you a gallery of young Asian American and Pacific Islander (APIA) women who are already making history. While we know age is just a number, we’re still amazed that most of these leaders, artists, organizers, and storytellers haven’t even reached 30 years old yet.

This gallery highlights young Asian American women leaders and role models for students, offering educators and families stories that can be used in Women’s History Month lessons, ethnic studies classrooms, and conversations about leadership and social change.

When we think about historical figures, we often imagine people who have spent decades building their work. But many social movements have always been shaped by young people. That’s one of the reasons we wanted to highlight young APIA women who are already creating change in their communities.

Representation matters, especially for students. Research shows that young people who see role models that reflect their identities are more likely to feel confident in their own abilities and imagine new possibilities for themselves. At the same time, many school materials still underrepresent women’s contributions, particularly women of color, which can shape how students understand leadership and history.

For educators and families, stories like these can open up meaningful conversations. Leadership and activism don’t always look like holding a formal position or waiting until later in life. Sometimes, it looks like organizing your community, creating art, advocating for justice, or starting something new.

By sharing the work of these young Asian American and Pacific Islander women leaders, we hope students can see that making a difference doesn’t have to wait until adulthood. Change is already happening all around us, often led by people who are still figuring things out themselves.

And maybe most importantly, we hope young people see themselves as future leaders who can create positive change in their communities!

Educators looking for ethnic studies lesson ideas, interdisciplinary classroom activities, and culturally responsive curriculum resources can explore more at REALSOUL.