Identity, Culture & Belonging

For many young people, questions of purpose and leadership are deeply connected to where they come from, what their families expect, and the different worlds they may be learning to navigate. This experience is for young people navigating culture, family expectations, identity, belonging, and the tension between who they have been taught to be and who they are becoming.

Ton's own Vietnamese-American story shapes the way he facilitates these conversations. He does not tell participants what their identity should mean. Instead, he creates space for youth and young adults to reflect on their own experiences, listen to one another, and explore how culture and identity shape the way they lead, connect, and see themselves.

The conversation can touch on cultural identity and belonging, family expectations and personal direction, navigating between worlds, sharing and hearing one another's stories, and how culture shapes leadership and connection.

This is not a lecture. Ton uses interactive activities, storytelling, and guided conversation to create room for young people to explore these questions together. Rather than being handed answers, participants reflect on their own stories and hear the experiences of others in the room.

Through structured small-group conversation and reflective prompts, participants begin to better understand how culture shapes the way they see themselves and one another. The goal is not a single conclusion but a deeper, more honest awareness of where they come from and where they are headed.

This experience is designed for youth and young adults, including high school students, college students, and young adult groups. It fits high school assemblies, student leadership days, retreats, youth conferences, and parish and community youth events.

These experiences can be adapted for Vietnamese-American, Southeast Asian, AANHPI, first-generation, multicultural, and broader youth and young-adult communities. Cultural student organizations, VSA and AANHPI groups, first-generation programs, multicultural conferences, and leadership retreats are all natural settings for this conversation.

Prefer email? Reach Ton directly at hello@tonspeaks.com