Asian Heritage Collective logoMichigan 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Est. 2023

Heritage inspires the aspiring.

We're a youth-led collective empowering young people to learn about their heritage, strengthen their identity, and serve their communities — through music, art, language, and showing up.

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2,500 listeners at Detroit Eastern Market300 meals prepared at Grace Centers of Hope6,200+ individuals directly impacted3,600+ volunteer & service hours51.4k digital content impactsCandid Silver Seal of Transparency · 2026Every program free to participantsMichigan 501(c)(3) · Est. 20232,500 listeners at Detroit Eastern Market300 meals prepared at Grace Centers of Hope6,200+ individuals directly impacted3,600+ volunteer & service hours51.4k digital content impactsCandid Silver Seal of Transparency · 2026Every program free to participantsMichigan 501(c)(3) · Est. 2023
01 · Who We Are

Culture you can do, not just sit through.

Asian Heritage Collective is a Michigan nonprofit that runs cultural programs for Asian youth — music, art, language tutoring, and community service. We started in 2023 because a lot of students were checking out of heritage education entirely, and we thought there was a better way to do it.

Most of what we do is hands-on. Students perform traditional music in front of real audiences, learn calligraphy and traditional crafts, and tutor younger kids in Chinese. The goal is to make cultural engagement something students actually want to do — not something they're obligated to sit through.

Our Detailed Journeyarrow_forward
'23founded as a
music ensemble
Our Mission
"Foster youth cultural development by empowering young people to learn about their heritage, strengthen their identity, and serve their communities."
What every word means to usarrow_forward
02 · Our Story

It started with a few instruments and a stubborn idea.

AHC started in October 2023, when Lyudong Yan founded a small music ensemble with a straightforward goal: give Asian youth in Michigan a real reason to engage with their heritage. He had watched students lose interest in traditional cultural education because it felt disconnected from anything meaningful. Language schools felt like chores. Cultural programming felt obligatory. He wanted to build something different.

What began as a music group grew quickly. As more students joined and more community organizations reached out, AHC expanded into arts, tutoring, and volunteer programming. Today the organization runs events across Michigan, has reached thousands of people directly, and continues to grow — still built around the same idea: cultural education works best when it's something people actually want to show up for.

Trace the full milestone roadmaparrow_forward
Students preparing food at a service eventElderly audience members watching a performanceAHC team members together
03 · Programs

Four ways in. All hands-on.

Making culture learning meaningful and relevant — every program is free to participants and run by students who've done the work themselves.

school
01

Education

Chinese language tutoring from elementary level through HSK Level 4, plus AP Chinese prep. Every tutor has scored a 5 out of 5 on the exam they teach.

palette
02

Arts

Workshops in calligraphy, painting, origami, and traditional crafts. Most are open to the public and free to attend.

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03

Performance

Traditional and classical Chinese music performed at public events and community banquets, for audiences ranging from small gatherings to crowds of 2,500.

volunteer_activism
04

Community

From preparing meals at Grace Centers of Hope to running cultural activity booths at public libraries, our members do real volunteer work in their communities.

AHC ensemble performing together
The ensemble that started it all

From living-room rehearsals to audiences of 2,500.

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People Reached

Individuals directly impacted by performances, workshops, and tutoring

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Service Hours

Volunteer and community service hours logged by members

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Digital Impacts

Content impressions across AHC's digital channels

calendar_todayBrowse Past EventsgroupsMeet the Teamvideogame_assetPlay Cultural Games
04 · Accountability

Transparent by default.

Asian Heritage Collective is invested in maintaining full transparency, integrity, and honesty in how it operates. Our programs are free to participants, our finances are publicly documented, and our transparency rating has gone up every time it's been reviewed.

Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 39-4558056.

Candid Bronze Seal 2024
2024

Candid Bronze

Earned in AHC's founding year as a registered nonprofit.

Candid Silver Seal 2026
2026

Candid Silver

The Silver Seal of Transparency, renewed for 2026.

05 · Partners

We don't do this alone.

Working with local organizations to bring cultural programming to more people across Michigan.

Eastern Market
Eastern Market
Michigan Chinese Women's Association
Michigan Chinese Women's Association
Oakland Chinese Church
Oakland Chinese Church
Association of Chinese Americans
Association of Chinese Americans
Metro Detroit Chinese Alliance Church
Metro Detroit Chinese Alliance Church
Auburn Hills Public Library
Auburn Hills Public Library
Eastern Market
Eastern Market
Michigan Chinese Women's Association
Michigan Chinese Women's Association
Oakland Chinese Church
Oakland Chinese Church
Association of Chinese Americans
Association of Chinese Americans
Metro Detroit Chinese Alliance Church
Metro Detroit Chinese Alliance Church
Auburn Hills Public Library
Auburn Hills Public Library
Community Voices

What the community says back.

From churches to classrooms to community associations — the people we show up for, in their own words.

The Asian Heritage Collective brought something truly special to our congregation. Watching these young people share their culture with such confidence and joy was deeply moving. Their commitment to community is exactly what we need more of.

BM
Brady Morishita
Oakland Chinese Church
06 · Try It Yourself

A small piece of the workshop.

Experience the music and brushwork of traditional heritage right here — pluck a synthesized guzheng tuned to the pentatonic scale, or trace a proverb in virtual ink.

Pentatonic tuning: Gong · Shang · Jiao · Zhi · Yu

Tip: Drag or click across strings to play a serene pentatonic sweep (glissando)!

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Mooncake Maker

Sculpt, seal & kiln-fire pastries

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Lantern Riddles

Traditional homophone wordplay

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Guzheng Recorder

Record pentatonic sweeps

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Tea Brewmaster

Steep the perfect pot

Four full minigames live in the Games Room →

07 · Join Us

Come build something with us.

Whether you're a student looking to explore your heritage, a parent wanting to get involved, or a community member eager to contribute — we'd love to hear from you.

  • music_notePerform traditional music for real audiences
  • brushLead calligraphy, origami, and craft workshops
  • schoolTutor Chinese, from elementary level to AP
  • volunteer_activismEarn certified volunteer & service hours

Questions first? Write to asianheritagecollective@gmail.com

We typically respond within 2–3 business days.

Stay in the Loop

Monthly updates on events, performances, and opportunities.