FDR Students Shine at CPC Annual Gala!

Staff • March 27, 2026

This March, Max Shi and Jia Jie Li were invited to speak at the Chinese-American Planning Council’s (CPC) Annual Gala held at Chelsea Piers. The room was filled with many distinguished guests, donors, and political leaders, including Mayor Mamdani and Senator Schumer. Max and Jia Jie shared the stage to explain the impact CPC has had on their lives. According to Mr. Gottlieb, our AP of Guidance, “They spoke with incredible poise about the skills they have been taught and the unique opportunities they have been given to advocate for students and working-class families across all of New York City.”

The New Dealer was very luck to ask Jia Jie and Max about the impact CPC has had on their lives.

Jia Jie Li

I joined CPC during my junior year, and I would say this amazing nonprofit organization has had an immense impact on these 2 years of my life. From the moment I joined this program, I was welcomed into a supportive community that helped me develop both personally and socially. CPC truly transformed my high school experience in ways I did not expect.

One of the most significant changes I experienced was becoming more confident in interacting with others. Before CPC, I often found it hard to step outside my comfort zone and connect with new people. This welcoming environment allowed me to open up, and the staff’s constant support pushed me to accomplish my goals, engage more, and build relationships. Adding on to the welcoming and supportive staff, CPC has provided me countless internships where I developed my personal skills even more. One of the internship sites being CPC Policy Team as a youth advocate. I spoke on issues affecting my community and this is where I truly learned to push beyond my limits in communicating with important elected officials of New York regarding issues like affordability, housing, and SNAP.

Overall, my experience with CPC has been truly transformative. Not only has it turned me into a more confident and outgoing person, but CPC gave me a sense of belonging and purpose during my high school years. The skills, relationships, and lessons I gained will truly be everlasting and I am grateful for the impact CPC has had on my life.

Max Shi

I joined CPC during my junior year, and it quickly became one of the most meaningful parts of my high school experience. Through CPC, I met staff members who consistently checked in on me and made sure I was doing well, not just academically but personally. Their support pushed me to take myself more seriously and stay accountable to my goals.

CPC gave me opportunities to grow outside of class. I developed skills in communication, leadership, and advocacy through these hands-on experiences. I worked closely with CPC’s Policy team as an advocate, speaking out on issues affecting my community, including affordable housing, access to childcare, immigrant rights, and SNAP benefits.

My experience with CPC has had a lasting impact on my personal development. I have grown into a more confident person, become more aware of my place in society, and become more motivated to use my voice and skills to effect positive change.

A big New Dealer congratulations and a huge thank you to Max and Jia Jie for representing, both FDR and CPC, in such an amazing way!