NAAPIMHA Welcomes 2026 Act to Change Youth Ambassadors

The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) is excited to welcome four Act to Change Youth Ambassadors for 2026. The Ambassadors join us as we prepare for the 6th Annual National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day. NAAPIMHA was previously a host site for the ambassador program last year.

The four ambassadors joining the team this year are:

• Barathi Balamurugan | Los Angeles, California

• Camille Chu | Bay Area, California

• Cindy Le | San Diego, California

• Megan Sugiyama | Moraga, California

The Youth Ambassador Program is an initiative that aims to empower and engage high-school AANHPI youth, leveraging their strengths, creativity, and leadership potential to develop impactful, community-driven solutions to bullying and social exclusion. Over the course of eight months, high school students will receive leadership training, have personalized guidance from AANHPI leaders making a difference in their fields, connect with other passionate youth across the country who want to make a difference in their communities, and develop a project that combats bullying and channels inclusivity.

The Youth Ambassadors will be supporting NAAPIMHA in the implementation of this year’s AANHPI Mental Health Day, with a specific focus on engaging AANHPI youth. They will have the opportunity to engage in advocacy efforts to pass resolutions proclaiming May 10th as AANHPI Mental Health Day in their hometowns, provide program development input, and craft youth-centric resources and materials to celebrate National AANHPI Mental Health Day.

NAAPIMHA Community Engagement Director Elizabeth Sweet and Project Coordinator Aryelle Montecer serve as Community Action Project Advisors.

“We are incredibly excited to have these four youth leaders joining our team this season! Their passion for mental health advocacy is evident, and we can’t wait to see how they find ways to channel their passions and skills to support the AANHPI community!” - Elizabeth

“We can’t wait to work with the four ambassadors this season! We hope to support them on their journey as young leaders and to build on their passion for mental health advocacy. I am looking forward to seeing what ideas these four leaders will bring to the table to support AANHPI youth mental health!” - Aryelle

Learn more about National AANHPI Mental Health Day, stay connected with NAAPIMHA via our newsletter, and find us on Instagram @naapimha!

Get to Know NAAPIMHA’s Act to Change Youth Ambassadors

Barathi Balamurugan is a junior from Los Angeles, California. She frequently promotes inclusivity by leading “Artistic Ascent,” an art program for young children of all abilities to express their minds and identities. Barathi is also dedicated to representing Asian American groups to bring greater appreciation in her school community and beyond.

Camille Chu is a junior from the Bay Area, California, passionate about health and racial equity. As a leader at the local, state, and national levels, she has advocated for legislation addressing racial disparities, led initiatives to empower AAPI communities, and expanded access to youth mental health resources. Camille is dedicated to using creative mediums to drive meaningful change and amplify youth voices.

Khue (Cindy) Le is a junior from San Diego, California. She is the founder of Sweet Relief, a student-led organization raising awareness about diabetes and health equity, and co-host of Twilight Talks, a podcast focused on youth mental health. As a Vietnamese immigrant, she is passionate about building empathy, inclusion, and representation for AANHPI youth.

Megan Sugiyama is a sophomore from Moraga, California. At school, Megan is the president of a teen mental health club, Active Minds, which increases awareness of mental health and gives students a safe place to express themselves. Megan envisions a community where people are welcomed and safe, and she hopes that by using her voice to stand up for AAPI members will be the beginning of making that dream come true.

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About NAAPIMHA

NAAPIMHA, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, is a national 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and redefine the mental health and wellbeing of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, through mental health trainings, community mental health programs, national policy and advocacy, and rapid community crisis response, while centering those with lived experience. 

Since 2001, NAAPIMHA has worked with AANHPI-serving community-based organizations across the country to identify and respond to the mental health needs of AANHPI communities nationwide. Over the past 25 years, NAAPIMHA has provided training and consultation to over 150 AANHPI-serving community-based organizations and 3,500 AANHPIs around the country, resulting in behavior change and improved skills to promote positive health outcomes for individuals and the communities they serve. 

Learn more at: www.naapimha.org 

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