Who We Are

Founded in 2017, Adopt Our Community is a student-led non-profit organization dedicated to serving communities and strengthening bonds between community members. We empower youth to lead initiatives on issues they care about, bringing together student volunteers from diverse locations. Our shared gratitude for the places we call home sparks our desire to give back and make a positive impact. Overall, our focus areas are: (1) community building, (2) supporting underserved communities, and (3) raising awareness of current issues.

Milestones

200+

Donated 200+ items of clothing items to Directions Youth Services

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400+

Donated $400+ dollars worth of Christmas Wishlist items to Ray-Cam Community Centre

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2000+

Raised $2000+ dollars for Hogar De Gina in Peru to fund school trips

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250+

Raised $250+ dollars for BC Children's Hospital to support the medical workers in BC

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150+

Delivered 150+ sandwiches to less fortunate communities and shelters

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700+

Fundraised $700+ dollars for care packages to support local health services

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100+

Donated 100+ care packages to BC Children's Hospital during the pandemic

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30+

Compiled and sent 30+ videos to frontline workers to express our gratitude and thanks

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130+

Wrote 130+ letters to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic to foster connection

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100+

100+ entries worldwide in our "Earth Week, Every Week" raffle draw and BINGO

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20+

Had people in 20+ different areas around the world participate in our projects

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3200+

Raised over $3200+ for Covenant House Vancouver in support of homeless youth

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70+

Had 70+ attendees in our "Art Beyond the Classroom" online auction and raised $400+

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3500+

Raised $3500+ dollars to help Lytton First Nation rebuild homes after wildfire

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1000+

Raised $1000+ dollars for Alzheimer Society of BC to help those impacted by dementia

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470+

Handcrafted and donated 470+ bookmarks to community spaces like libraries

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Executive Directors

Emma Xiang

Co-President
Emma Xiang

Emma Xiang is a Grade 11 student at Sentinel Secondary School in West Vancouver, British Columbia. She is honoured to serve in the Human Resources department of AOC. She aims to actively support efficient operations of AOC as well as promote its values. Emma enjoys painting, playing tennis, and debating. She hopes to contribute positively to the community by helping and inspiring others, making meaningful connections throughout the process.

Charlotte He

Co-President
Charlotte He

Charlotte is a Grade 12 student at Stratford Hall Secondary School. She is a student leader passionate about creating positive impacts on her community. She currently serves as President of Strings of Culture, and Vice President of the Vancouver Youth Model United Nations Association (VYMMA.ca). Across these organizations, she leads youth-led community initiatives, organizes cultural and service activities, and creates opportunities for students to connect, contribute, and make a difference in their communities. She has also been interested in dance since the age of six, with years of experience in Latin and K-pop dance and participation in numerous competitions. This experience inspired her to found the Dance Club at school, helping students from different grades learn dance in a fun and creative environment and organizing dance performances for school events. These experiences have strengthened her leadership, communication, and organizational skills, while inspiring her to turn ideas into action and continue making a positive impact on her community.

Cary Zhang

Vice President
Cary Zhang

Cary Zhang is a Grade 11 student at Collingwood Secondary School. He is grateful to be serving as the Vice President of AOC. He is an active core member and leader in AOC’s activities and enjoys to contribute his time and talent to this association. He has been working for his school math club and chess club as both of presidents, meantime contributing to business club at school. He looks forward to holding community events as the Vice President of AOC. Cary is gratified to spread kindness and warmth to society through the efforts of him and his peers. He is ready to devote his time and enthusiasm to the work of AOC.

Aliyah Xu

Vice President
Aliyah Xu

As an incoming Grade 12 student, Aliyah is currently attending royal bridge high school, and she is ecstatic to once again serve AOC. She is brimming with enthusiasm and is ready to host a variety of fun and impactful events throughout the 2025-2026 year. Aliyah will bring to AOC his passionate spirit, not only for music, but also for communicating and engaging with others in the year ahead.

Ziyi Zhao

Finance Co-Director
Ziyi Zhao

Ziyi Zhao is a senior at Magee Secondary School in Vancouver, and she is honored to be the Chief Marketing Officer Assistant of the Vancouver Youth Mathematical Modeling Foundation. With a strong passion for mathematics, she is especially interested in applying concepts can be used to solve real-world challenges, which inspires her to keep learning and improving. She manages the organization’s budgeting, fundraising, and partnership initiatives. Beyond academics, she finds balance through her hobbies—Singing, playing the piano, playing the violin, and playing badminton. She uses these hobbies to participate in various rehearsals and performances of the school choir and orchestra, which help her stay creative, focused, and resilient. She looks forward to engaging with peers in the organization, contributing her enthusiasm for math.

Gia Zhang

Finance Co-Director
Gia Zhang

A grade 11 student at Point Grey Secondary School, Gia Zhang is a general member of AOC Foundation. She is fortunate to work in AOC Foundation, and she wishes to inspire others to take actions. She is looking forward to having a great time with all team members.

Anna Mao

Marketing Co-Director
Anna Mao

Anna is a Grade 12 student at Royal Bridge High School in Vancouver and is excited to serve as the Director of Outreach for the organization. She has a strong interest in business, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship, and enjoys exploring how technology and innovation can solve real-world challenges. Anna is especially passionate about leadership, creativity, and developing new ideas that can make a positive impact in her community. Outside of academics, she enjoys fencing, photography, and traveling, which help her stay disciplined, curious, and open-minded. She looks forward to collaborating with peers, sharing her enthusiasm for business and AI, and contributing to projects that encourage teamwork, innovation, and personal growth.

Coco Lyu

Marketing Co-Director
Coco Lyu

Coco Lyu is a Grade 11 student at Crofton House School in Vancouver. She is interested in business and entrepreneurship, and enjoys marketing, creative projects, and collaborating with others. Outside of school, she pursues art and dance and spends time with friends. Coco values creativity, teamwork, and responsibility, and hopes to make a positive impact in her community.

Bob Mao

IT Co-Director
Bob Mao

Bob Mao is a Grade 11 student with a strong passion for mathematics and social practice. He has shown remarkable growth in both academic pursuits and community engagement, always seeking to connect what he learns with meaningful real-world impact. Bob has participated in prestigious mathematics competitions such as AMC 12, AIME, and USAMO, where he achieved excellent results through dedication, perseverance, and strong analytical ability. Beyond academics, he is also one of the Vice President of VYMMA, actively contributing to its initiatives and social practice projects. Bob hopes to continue using his knowledge, leadership, and sense of responsibility to make meaningful contributions to society and create a lasting positive impact on the community.

Eric Huang

IT Co-Director
Eric Huang

Eric Huang is a Grade 10 student at Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver with a strong passion for Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science, who enjoys tackling complex problems through analytical reasoning and hands-on coding projects while aspiring to pursue a career in engineering or technology. Beyond academics, Eric is a dedicated runner who believes in the power of relentless training, spending countless hours pushing his limits on the track to constantly improve his personal bests, and he actively volunteers in his community by helping with food drives, running clinics for younger kids, and participating in local clean-up events. In his spare time, he enjoys chess, science fiction, and collaborating with peers on creative projects, and he values teamwork, responsibility, and perseverance--believing that hard work and collaboration lead to the best results. Eric looks forward to making a positive contribution to any team he joins and to the community at large

Harry Zhong

Human Resources Co-Director
Harry Zhong

Serving as District Director for White Rock AOC, Harry is an ambitious grade 11 student in Grandview Heights Secondary School driven by a keen interest in strategic leadership and data analysis. He thrives on tackling complex challenges, cultivating meaningful connections, and fostering collaborative growth across his team. Aspiring to pursue a future in applied mathematics. Harry continually seeks opportunities to broaden his intellectual horizons and refine his executive capabilities. Beyond his academic and leadership pursuits, he enjoys single engine flying and engaging with his local community. Guided by the core principles of integrity, adaptability, and vision, Harry believes that empathetic leadership empowers communities to achieve transformative results. He remains dedicated to leading White Rock AOC with purpose and driving sustained positive impact.

Martina Ling

Human Resources Co-Director
Martina Ling

Martina Ling, a Grade 10 student at York House School, is passionate about supporting women and having a more positive community. She is eager to impact the community by supporting the AOC Foundation. Martina strives to contribute to the foundation's empowerment and positive change mission and is inclined to volunteer. Martina is looking forward to working with the team members and significantly and positively impacting feminine hygiene.

Vivian Ding

Secretary-General
Vivian Ding

Vivian Ding is a Grade 9 junior student at Point Grey Secondary School. She is passionate about music and has a special love for singing. She enjoys sharing her voice through performances at local senior homes, hoping to bring warmth and joy to the residents, and is grateful for every opportunity to use her singing to make others smile

James Hong

Project Manager
James Hong

James is a student with strong interests in analytical thinking, strategy, and problem-solving. With a passion for mathematics, chess, and critical reasoning, he approaches challenges with a competitive mindset and a focus on logical solutions. James enjoys exploring how mathematical and strategic thinking can be applied beyond the classroom, from complex problem solving to real-world decision making. Through his involvement with the Vancouver Youth Mathematical Modeling Association, he aims to deepen his understanding of applied mathematics while collaborating with other motivated students. James believes that disciplined thinking and curiosity are essential for tackling difficult problems and developing innovative ideas.

Honorary Presidents

Yichen Li

Honorary President
Yichen Li

Yichen is a sophomore student at Harvard College double concentrating in East Asian Studies and History & Literature. She first joined Adopt Our Community in Grade 7, and she has been dedicated to its vision since, expanding it into new districts and leading projects in her hometown Nanaimo throughout her high school career. As the founder and the editor of Initiating Our Voices Journal (italicize), Yichen continues to find joy in encouraging and supporting Adopt Our Community members as they give back to their communities and find their special place in this world.

Joy Fan

Honorary President
Joy Fan

Joy, a student at Northwestern University studying economics and data science, served as AOC President for the 2024–2025 term. She began as a general member in Grade 10 and rose through roles including Vancouver District Director and high school club founder. As President, she launched the Vancouver Youth Greenway Sustainability Foundation with the City of Vancouver, leading 800km of cleanups and securing $2,500 for trail enhancements. She expanded AOC to Surrey, Victoria, and Saskatchewan. Grateful for the friendships, skills, and memories, Joy values her time in AOC and carries those experiences with her into university life.

Jessica Liu

Honorary President
Jessica Liu

Jessica is a second year student at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. where she is pursuing an Arts Degree. She enjoys a diverse range of hobbies from photography to music writing, and has a passion and love for improving the community. She joined AOC in grade ten where she participated and led various events in the Vancouver district, and also joined other community-based volunteering like Adopt a Block street cleanup.

Cindy Wu

Honorary President
Cindy Wu

Cindy Wu is a student at Northwestern University . She is grateful to be serving as the Vice President of AOC. Cindy is an active member in charity activities and enjoys reading and hiking in her spare time. This is the third year that Cindy has been working for AOC and she is passionate about contributing to local societies and looks forward to holding community events as the Vice President of AOC. Cindy is gratified to spread kindness and warmth to society through the efforts of her and her peers. She is ready to devote her time and enthusiasm to the work of AOC!