DEVAY
Developing & Empowering Voices of Asian American Youth
Following the Asians of NYC mission to amplify Asian American voices in NYC, our founder, Chloe Quan, is beginning the the DEVAY (Developing & Empowering Voices of Asian-American Youth) program for all middle and high schoolers, partnering with American Legion Auxiliary. Weekly workshops are led by Chloe and will be focused on building public speaking skills.
Session I workshops were held virtually. Session II workshops were held in person in Chinatown NY at American Legion Kimlau Post 1291. Attendance at all workshops is not required!
"I want to encourage, not just participation, but ambition and success with public speaking. I have seen how it is difficult to find adequate exposure to public speaking, speech and debate, and topics like politics, economics, ethics, and foreign relations, before college, especially in many public, non-specialized middle and high schools in NYC. As a competitor in speech and the leader of my schools’s middle school debate club, I’ve seen the benefits of exposure to public speaking firsthand and experienced them myself—I have developed increased self confidence, critical thinking, argumentative, and communication skills."
— Chloe, Founder of Asians of NYC
Despite these becoming increasingly valued skills in colleges and jobs, only 24% of public secondary schools in NYC offer debate programs, while 82% of private secondary schools offer debate¹. DEVAY aims to provide middle and high schoolers with the opportunity to learn these skills through introducing them to the basics of public speaking and speech and debate.
Since beginning DEVAY workshops, Chloe has worked with over 15 students on their public speaking and presentational skills! 100% of students surveyed after attending a session of DEVAY indicated that they would be more likely to or already began to seek participation in a public speaking activity, like acting, speech and debate, or Model UN.
from our participants
"You were very good at teaching and make the sessions fun and engaging. Thank you :)"
– MW, Session II
"Very good drills and classes :)"
– AZ, Session II
"It was really fun and I enjoyed it!"
– WW, Session II
"I love the lessons! They are so fun every time and it makes my public speaking better."
– AZ, Session II
DEVAY Session I Cohort