Roots and Branches: Our Intergenerational Programs Need You
Roots and Branches: Our Intergenerational Programs Need You
Where It Started — and Why It Still Matters
Fil-Am CAG was founded in 1991 because Filipino American youth in Hampton Roads were in crisis. There were more than 30 gangs operating in the region, with drive-by shootings and real violence pulling young Filipino Americans into harm’s way. The community’s response — including what became known as the “truce dance,” where rival gang members were brought together in a neutral space — wasn’t just creative. It was a recognition of something fundamental: young people need to be seen, claimed, and invested in by the adults around them.
That insight hasn’t aged. It’s just taken different forms over thirty-plus years. Today, Fil-Am CAG’s intergenerational programs focus on building the kind of relationships between older and younger Filipino Americans that give young people roots — and give older community members a reason to keep showing up.
What We’re Doing Right Now
Two of our most active intergenerational initiatives are happening in Virginia Beach and the broader Hampton Roads area:
Mentoring at Salem Middle School
Fil-Am CAG volunteers work directly with students at Salem Middle School in Virginia Beach — a school with a significant Filipino American student population. Our mentors meet regularly with students, providing academic support, talking through challenges, and modeling what it looks like to be a Filipino American adult who is engaged, educated, and invested in the community. For many of these students, this relationship is the first time they’ve had a Filipino American adult in their corner who isn’t a family member.
Tagalog Language Classes
Language is one of the most direct lines between generations. Our Tagalog classes give second-generation Filipino Americans — many of whom grew up hearing Tagalog at home but never formally learned it — a structured space to develop real proficiency. These classes are taught by community volunteers, and they’re as much about cultural connection as they are about linguistics. Students learn the vocabulary of family, history, and identity alongside the grammar.
Community Leadership Seminars
Our leadership seminars are designed to develop the next generation of Filipino American civic participants in Hampton Roads. We cover practical skills — how local government works, how to register to vote, how to advocate effectively for your community — alongside broader conversations about Filipino American history and identity. These seminars are open to adults and older teens.
We Need Volunteers — Especially If You’re Between 25 and 55
Intergenerational programs only work if there are adults willing to show up consistently. We’re looking for volunteers who can commit to one of the following:
- School mentors — available during school hours or after school in Virginia Beach
- Tagalog class instructors or teaching assistants — fluent or strong conversational Tagalog required
- Leadership seminar facilitators — experience in civic engagement, government, law, business, or education preferred
- Event support volunteers — help coordinate intergenerational activities and cultural events
You don’t need a credential or a resume — you need consistency and a genuine interest in investing in younger Filipino Americans. If that’s you, we want to talk.
To sign up or learn more, visit our volunteer page or contact us directly. You can also see the full range of our community programs at our causes page.