Stories

On Sunday, September 27, 2026, the Cupertino Chapter partnered with the City of Mountain View to restore the habitat of the Western Burrowing Owls at Stevens Creek Trail. This previous landfill is now a work in progress to become a biodiversity hotspot and a safe breeding ground for the endangered Western Burrowing Owls.

A diverse group of passionate individuals joined in creating a natural hotspot for all types of native organisms in order to provide a haven for a pair of breeding owls and other wildlife. The volunteers worked all morning along with Matthew, a Mountain View Environmental Specialist, to pull out invasive plants and help organisms within the garden. Volunteers encountered animals like the monarch butterfly, red milkweed beetle, bees, and hummingbirds. The volunteers cleared out 40 buckets of weeds and invasive plants and learned about identifying different plants within the region. Thank you Angela, Ruipeng, Cynthia, Allie, Loreen and others for volunteering.

Written by Loreen Lu

On August 23rd, the Kids4Kids chapter of NorCal Student Corps hosted the 3rd Physics Playground at the Cupertino Library. Designed to spark curiosity and excitement for science in kids and families, the interactive workshop featured a variety of hands-on stations where participants explored key physics concepts through fun and engaging activities. Children learned about DIY telegraphs and submarines, experimented with electrostatic forces, and discovered the wonders of Bernoulli’s principle. Other demonstrations included exploring capillary action, testing the effects of surface tension, and more.

With opportunities to tinker, create, and learn, the Physics Playground turned complex physics ideas into playful, accessible experiments, leaving participants inspired to see science in everyday life.

Written by Olivia Zhu

On December 14th, the Student Corps NorCal Chapter met with Sharmaine Sun from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area. As part of their ongoing partnership, Student Corps presented a $1,000 check to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area during the gathering. The chapter supervisor and members Iris Zeng, Melinda Wong, and Michelle Li discussed Student Corps’ activities and even potential future events with BBBS of the Bay Area.

Written by Michelle Li

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