Empowering AANHPI Youth Through Storytelling and Leadership: Meet Joanne Liu
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month we are proud to highlight Joanne Liu. Joanne Liu is the Co-Founder and CEO of Asian Girls Ignite.
Tell us about your journey:
Growing up in a predominantly White high school as one of only two Asian girls in my class, I just wanted to belong. I remember a friend once saying to me, “Joanne, sometimes I forget that you’re Asian.” At the time, high school Joanne took that as a compliment because I wanted nothing more than to blend in. It wasn’t until much later that I realized what I had been missing—the chance to explore, embrace, and celebrate a vital part of who I am. I didn’t even know that identity was something I could celebrate.
That realization didn’t come until college, when I met other Asian Americans, joined Asian student organizations, and discovered Asian American history. It was then that I began to truly explore my identity. At the same time, I pursued my studies in English & American Literature and Secondary Education, which led me to join Teach For America. I was placed in a middle school special education classroom for two years before returning to my hometown of Boston, where I taught high school students with special needs for four more years.
About 15 years ago, I moved to Denver and became an assistant principal at a public charter middle school, a role I held for five years before transitioning into nonprofit work. Over the next few years, I focused on business operations and community engagement for an adult technology school and supported first-generation college students at the University of Colorado Boulder. Eventually, I felt drawn back to working with young people. With the guidance of a career coach, I began to recognize how deeply my identity as a Chinese American woman shaped my sense of purpose. I realized I had the power to redefine my career in a way that aligned with my values.
That realization led me to join a fellowship with Moonshot, and in 2020, I co-founded Asian Girls Ignite (AGI), a nonprofit dedicated to igniting the individual and collective power of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) girls and gender-expansive youth. This work has been both healing and fulfilling, allowing me to create the kind of space I wish I had growing up.
What pivotal experiences shaped your current path?
Several experiences have deeply shaped my journey.
In seventh grade, I was struggling with my confidence when my reading teacher quietly handed me a copy of Farewell to Manzanar—a memoir about a Japanese American girl’s experiences in a WWII incarceration camp and her journey of identity, resilience, and belonging. I devoured the book, and that small but powerful gesture left a lasting impact. It inspired me to become a teacher who ensures that every student feels seen and valued—just as my teacher had done for me.
Early in my career, I joined Gund Kwok, the only Asian women’s lion and dragon dance troupe in the United States. Created to empower Asian women, the troupe showcases their creativity, strength, and resilience through performance. For four years, I trained in professional lion and dragon dance—an art form traditionally restricted to men in China due to its deep roots in martial arts, endurance, and physical strength—traits that many believed women lacked. Through this experience, I uncovered a power within myself that I hadn’t recognized before.
I had unknowingly internalized the same doubts that society placed on women, but training with Gund Kwok transformed my perspective. Lion and dragon dancing not only strengthened me physically but also helped me develop the inner resilience to take on life’s challenges. Surrounded by a diverse group of strong Asian women, I found role models who expanded my vision of what was possible for myself and my future.
When I joined Moonshot’s fellowship program, I expected to balance a full-time job while running my nonprofit as a passion project. However, the fellowship transformed my perspective. I learned to center my identity in my leadership, design with equity, and, most importantly, recognize that this work wasn’t just something I could do—it was something I was meant to do. Moonshot gave me the clarity and confidence to turn my nonprofit into my full-time career, allowing me to fully commit to creating meaningful change. Ultimately, launching Asian Girls Ignite has been a transformative experience, reinforcing my belief in the power of storytelling, representation, and community.
What are the most valuable lessons you’ve learned about yourself through your life and career?
Community sustains me. My leadership and well-being are deeply connected to the relationships, support, and shared experiences within it. My joy comes from connecting with others, and belonging fuels my purpose.
Identity is at the core of my leadership. I am shaped by my lived experiences, cultural background, values, and personal journey, and these elements guide how I lead, make decisions, and engage with others.
I embrace ambiguity, navigating the unknown with curiosity and staying open to possibilities rather than being paralyzed by uncertainty. I see ambiguity not as something to "fix" but as an opportunity for growth, creativity, and innovation—knowing that we are not broken, but evolving.
What drives your desire to contribute and make a difference?
As a mother of two, including a daughter who identifies as a Chinese American girl, building AGI has been a deeply personal and healing journey. It’s more than just an organization—it’s a space where AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth can embrace their full identities without feeling the need to hide. Here, they are seen, valued, and celebrated—just as they are. It’s the space high school Joanne longed for, and now it exists for my daughter and so many others.
At the same time, I recognize the impact of systemic inequities and feel a deep responsibility to drive change—especially in Colorado, where representation for our community remains limited.
If you could go back and advise your younger self, what would it be?
You don’t have to hide yourself to belong. You are worthy, exactly as you are. Your story matters, and one day, you’ll help others see the power in theirs too.
How can GlobalMindED support leaders like yourself in achieving your goals and advancing your aspirations?
GlobalMindED can support leaders like me by continuing to foster spaces for connection, provide resources for sustainable leadership, and amplify diverse voices and stories. Doing heart work means navigating burnout and emotional labor, so support for sustaining joy and well-being is essential. Additionally, elevating the experiences of AANHPI and other underrepresented communities is key to driving visibility, awareness, and long-term impact.
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