KNX Hero: Working toward a future safe for all

This summer, 18-year-old Kai Yamamoto of Long Beach was named a recipient of the nationwide 2024 Girl Scout Gold Award for her incredible educational project!

Yamamoto designed the project with the goal of building an anti-racist future and developing more respect and empathy for those of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.

The project was so impressive it not only earned Yamamoto the Girl Scout's highest award, but California State University-Long Beach now offers it as a free college credit course!

Yamamoto was born in China and adopted by Japanese American parents, and grew up in southern California.

She tells Heroes Host Heather Jordan that the idea for the project started a few years ago at Milliken High School during a class addressing the recent rise in AAPI attacks.

"The teacher just wanted the students to feel safe and feel comfortable about speaking about this." she said.

With the guidance of that teacher over the next few years, Yamamoto researched and created her incredible project.

She hopes her college course is a resource, inspiring young people to learn and grow.

"There's a lot of good people in this world," she said. "A lot of them just don't have the resources or opportunities to continue to be good. They can't spread it as far as they wish and I just want to help them achieve those goals."

Yamamoto is heading to UC Berkeley this fall, majoring in political science and specializing in international relations. She hopes to work in local government and eventually reach the United Nations.

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