Red Envelope Collective, an International Initiative

Asian celebration and culture slip through the hands of many Asian American students trying to find their identity as they navigate high school. Finding ways to authentically connect and experience the intricate variety of Asian cultures becomes increasingly challenging as generations pass.

However, a light emerges through the upstart of the student-run, Asian-led initiative Red Envelope Collective (REC). Founded by CVHS juniors Tai Nguyen and Maggie Xie, REC challenges Asian stereotypes and encourages discussion around cultural disconnection through various forms of multimedia–crafts, video, design, and art–bringing communities together and uplifting Asian narratives.

“Asian culture in America has long been holistically coalesced into a monolithic title of ‘Asian,’ and thus glosses over the beauty in each individual culture that drowns in this stereotype,” said Nguyen. To him, REC has become his way of bridging the gap between people and cultures. “My experiences growing up as Vietnamese American built so many facets of who I am, and learning that people will put me down for that part of me was unacceptable.”

With their initiative beginning here in Castro Valley, Nguyen and Xie began by running events locally, collaborating with Castro Valley elementary schools and nearby libraries to inspire communal discussion about their purpose. Using their network to build up and reach out into an international organization, they now have communities in Canada, Hawai’i, Australia, and more. REC has created a constant, global celebration of Asian Culture, inspiring students to advocate for themselves and continue the legacy of, as stated by Xie, “people who have fought to have their voices heard against the concrete barrier that has continuously pushed our efforts back.”

“REC, to me, is a reflection of so many facets of my identity; it is me. It’s the embodiment of the culture, practices, and traditions that have been so integrated into me, but it’s also an extension of it,” said Xie. The movement that they have created is truly inspiring, and it grounds Asian American students with a part of their identity that easily becomes lost.

“We feel that this work is becoming even more important, especially in the next couple of years in light of setbacks in diversity, equity, and inclusion acts,” said Xie. Become a part of this movement and learn more about REC on their website (bit.ly/redenvelopecollective). It only takes one student – one attempt – to make a difference in recapturing this part of Asian American identity.