As we head into May, the AAPI Heritage Month, we’re excited to announce a fundraising event to support our 2026 program by joining a coming event 2026 Common Roots Fest.

Date & Time: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026
Location: Durham Central Park, Durham, NC

Why We Do Fundraising and Its Impact

Fundraising is often the first real test of a leader. It supports two main goals. First, it allows us to reduce the cost of the program for every family, such as training sessions, classroom materials and group spending etc. Second, it builds scholarship funds so future students with financial need can apply. This makes the program more accessible, so that financial reasons are not a barrier for interested students from participating.

Every dollar raised helps improve the program and opens the door for more students to participate. Fundraising is not just about money. It is about responsibility, teamwork, and creating opportunity for others. These activities also help our team members build practical skills such as communication, planning, and problem-solving. These are the same skills we will use during the trip and beyond.

How You Can Help

We don’t want a standard “bake sale.” We want a showcase of the incredible range of talent within this specific 2026 team. We invite you to contribute in the way that best fits your strengths:

• Cooking & Baking: Making dishes or baked goods to sell. Any type of food is welcome so we can offer a good variety.
• Live Performance: For our musicians (trumpet, guitar, etc.), your talent is our best crowd-magnet. Live music creates an atmosphere of celebration and draws people to our booth.
• Visual Arts: Designing the 2026 Teach-in-China flyer, creating posters, or sketching live at the booth. We also need photographers/videographers to act as our “media crew” to capture the vibe and create short highlight video for this fundraising effort.
• Volunteer at the booth: Everyone is encouraged to join us at the booth to help manage sales and connect with our NC neighbors.

Every contribution is highly appreciated. Please reach out to let us know which talent you’ll be bringing to our fundraising efforts!