1. A small ensemble forms
Lyudong Yan founds AHC as a student music group with one goal: give Asian youth in Michigan a real reason to engage with their heritage.
"Foster youth cultural development by empowering young people to learn about their heritage, strengthen their identity, and serve their communities."
01 · Identity
Cultivating cultural identity
For a lot of Asian-American students, cultural education means Saturday language school and a few holidays. AHC tries to go further. Through traditional music, calligraphy, origami, painting, and Chinese language tutoring, we give students actual engagement with their heritage rather than a surface-level familiarity with it.
We also create opportunities for students to put that knowledge in front of people. Members have performed classical Chinese pieces for audiences of thousands, led calligraphy sessions open to the public, and given presentations on Asian history and culture at schools and libraries across Michigan.
02 · Service
Community at the core
Our volunteer work is straightforward: show up, contribute something real, and leave a place better than you found it. AHC members have prepared over 300 meals for homeless individuals and veterans through Grace Centers of Hope, run craft and cultural activity booths at public libraries, and brought music and art programming to community organizations across Michigan.
We approach service as the natural extension of what we do. If you spend time learning about your culture, the next step is sharing it with the people around you.
03 · Access
Where tradition meets now
AHC takes art forms that have existed for centuries and puts them in front of real audiences in real places. We've performed at Eastern Market for crowds of 2,500, run public calligraphy sessions, and brought origami and craft workshops to kids who had never tried them before.
The point is making these things accessible and enjoyable for people who might otherwise never encounter them, including the young people in our own organization.
04 · Milestones
From ensemble to organization
Every stop on this road actually happened — from the first rehearsal in October 2023 to a crowd of 2,500 in the heart of Detroit.
Oct 2023
1. A small ensemble forms
Lyudong Yan founds AHC as a student music group with one goal: give Asian youth in Michigan a real reason to engage with their heritage.
2024
2. Candid Bronze Seal
In its founding year as a registered nonprofit, AHC earns the Candid Bronze Seal of Transparency.
Aug 2025
3. First community open house
Sticker-making, badminton, and a cultural presentation welcome 35 attendees at Oakland Chinese Church.
Sep 2025
4. Butterfly Lovers for 400
AHC performs the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto for 400 guests at the Michigan Chinese Women's Association banquet — its first large-audience performance.
Apr 2026
5. Eastern Market, crowd of 2,500
Traditional Chinese music in the heart of Detroit, alongside a free public calligraphy activity with 60 participants.
2026
6. Candid Silver Seal
AHC's transparency rating is renewed and upgraded to Silver, with 3,600+ volunteer hours now logged.
Our Commitment
Free to participants. Accountable to everyone.
Asian Heritage Collective is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every program we run — tutoring, workshops, performances, community events — is offered free to participants. We operate through sponsorships, partnerships with local organizations, and the volunteer hours of our members. Our finances are publicly documented, and we hold the Candid Silver Seal of Transparency for 2026.