PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Harry Leong is the longtime president of the Philadelphia Suns, a volunteer-led youth group where he teaches teamwork, builds self-esteem, and instills a love of culture in the youth who come through his doors.
Each year, hundreds of students take part in what the Philadelphia Suns has to offer — programs that include sports like basketball and volleyball, community-building, service opportunities, and the chance to spread cultural awareness through the traditional Chinese lion dance.
Youth with the Philadelphia Suns perform the lion dance at events across the Philadelphia region throughout the year. Their colorful costumes and lively presence have earned them wide acclaim.
”Most of the time people do look at us and say, ‘They’re the Lion dance group!’” said Leong.
Leong, a second-generation Philadelphian, started participating with the Philadelphia Suns as a 12-year-old, playing basketball. There, he learned the value of identity, teamwork and community, and he continues to try to pass that on to younger generations.
“Trying to teach them values — everything from how to interact with one another,” Leong said. “How to deal with success. How to deal with failure.”
Core tenets of the Philadelphia Suns include outreach, volunteerism, youth empowerment and charity service projects. Leong has carried on that mission for decades, helping shape new generations of Asian Americans, many of whom come from immigrant families or disadvantaged homes.
“To see little kids at 6 years old grow up to be active and productive — the benefit I get is to have the opportunity to impact people’s lives,” he said. “This is just not basketball. It’s bigger than basketball. It’s building values for the rest of their lives.”
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Throughout Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, KYW Newsradio is celebrating the contributions of these diverse and essential communities with an audio series called “Asian Americans Making Their Mark.”
Asian Americans are a diverse group comprising more than 30 ethnicities and nationalities and are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States. This series, led by KYW’s Denise Nakano and Tim Jimenez, recognizes their history, culture and achievements in the Philadelphia region at a time when AAPI communities are seeing a rise in anti-Asian speech and activity across the country.
Join KYW throughout the month of May as we celebrate the journeys, cultures and unique life experiences of people from Philadelphia’s AAPI communities.