Melinda Yu

In honor of National Autism Acceptance Month, LexiBright, in collaboration with Silk Road Center, spearheaded an initiative to raise awareness and funds for autism research. A group of talented young artists from the chapter sold their hand-drawn canvas bags, adorned with cartoon drawings, with proceeds donated towards the MGH SYNAPSE research program led by esteemed scientist Dr. Xuejun Kong. The initiative, which took place throughout April, not only succeeded in generating financial support but also in spreading acceptance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within the community.

Beyond their fundraising efforts, Silk Road Center also sponsored LexiBright’s young artists to hand-draw 50 canvas bags to donate to children living with autism. These thoughtful gifts would not only bring joy to their recipients but also serve as a powerful expression of inclusivity and compassion.

Thanks to the overwhelming support and generosity of the community, the bag sale managed to raise over $3000 for the SYNAPSE research program. Along with other business and individual donations raised by Silk Road Center, the event raised over $10,000 in total. This significant contribution will aid Dr. Xuejun Kong and her team in their efforts to advance our understanding of autism and develop more effective interventions and treatments.

On April 25^th, Jasmine Wang and Jocelyn Chen, representing LexiBright along with one of the main event organizers, Yifei Wang, and several other fundraising members of Silk Road Center, visited MGH to meet with Dr. Kong and her team. They presented the donation check as well as the hand-drawn bags to Dr. Kong, which will be distributed to children with autism under her care.

We encourage everyone to continue supporting autism research and advocacy efforts beyond April, as every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference in the lives of those affected by ASD.

Written by Jocelyn Chen and Jasmine Wang

The Minuteman Chapter of Student Corps recently held two community service events supporting and collaborating with the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield, MA.

16 volunteers went to the House on July 20 to organize residential and storage rooms, take out the trash, and perform other household chores. In addition, everyone participated in the making of a Meal from the Heart that included homemade pizza, spring rolls, chicken wings, fried rice, salad, chopped fruit, and chocolate chip cookies.

The house manager Celine was also kind to give newcomers a tour of the facility and an overview of the charity’s work supporting and providing housing to families of children requiring medical treatment at local hospitals. Throughout the event, volunteers were also able to connect with current residents, including those from foreign countries like the Dominican Republic and Vietnam.

9 volunteers came to the House on August 17 to set up and organize pantry shelves and the House refrigerator as well as to make another Meal from the Heart with a menu similar to the previous visit. Volunteers from last year reconnected with a boy from Turkey who first came to the House in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake, and all were able to interact with new residents from across the country.

The Minuteman Chapter hopes to continue our partnership with the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield and looks forward to more upcoming events.

Written by Owen He

On February 24th, 2024, the final day of the Spring Festival, the LexiBright Chapter of Student Corps organized a remarkable art exhibition celebrating the history and cultural traditions of the Lunar New Year celebration. From art pieces depicting tang yuan to fantastical scenes of the Marriage of Mice, 48 talented youth artists from Lexington and neighboring communities came together to create framed drawings depicting the traditions of the 16 days of the Spring Festival. These young artists also demonstrated their commitment to environmental sustainability by hand-drawing over 60 canvas tote bags.

The proceeds generated from the sale of the artwork and canvas bags during the event went towards the local Cary Memorial Library’s Children’s Room renovation fund, fostering the flourishing of young minds within the community. The fundraiser, which raised over $900, was hugely successful, highlighting the artistic talent of local youth and sharing the celebrations of the Spring Festival with the community.

Written by Ailan Guo

On February 19th President’s Day a group of volunteers, ranging from 6th to 10th grade, took a trip to the Springfield branch of Ronald McDonald House Charities. That day, volunteers prepared a “meal from the heart” consisting of tasty sweets, juicy chicken wings, delicious noodles, and more. In addition, volunteers interacted with child residents by playing games despite language and cultural barriers. A wonderful day full of big smiles!

Lunar New Year holds profound significance to Chinese communities worldwide as part of our culture and collective identity. The celebration allows us to share the traditions and joys of our festive holiday with more people across the world. By engaging in events like tasting Chinese pastries, paper cutting, and face painting, cultural barriers are no longer bridged as individuals from diverse backgrounds come together. The Bridge Chapter organized volunteers to face-paint Chinese traditional flowers and Chinese symbolic water tattoos on children and adults during Weston High School’s Lunar New Year festival. Seeing all the smiles after painting is truly a delight!

Written by Xixi Cui and Dora Mou
Edited by Melinda Yu