What is YES Camp?
The Youth Empowerment Summit (YES) Camp is organized to address the lack of civic engagement and civic leadership among youths and young adults in Asian American organizations across Houston.
The Y.E.S. Camp is a transformative, 3-day camp that empowers our next generation of leaders in the Greater Houston area. Through collaborative workshops, inspiring talks, and civic engagement training, it equips the next generation to become active participants and leaders in their communities.
The Y.E.S. Summit prepares young leaders through these 3 pillars:
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Community Building & Inspiring Change
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Build strong, enduring connections among young leaders across the Greater Houston Area
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Act as catalysts for positive change
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Leadership Development
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Develop essential leadership skills like critical thinking and public speaking
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Enhance participants’ ability to lead effectively within their communities
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Wellness Empowerment
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Embrace the GRACE model, creating a positive foundation for all actions
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Identify and understand personal strengths and weaknesses, leading to a deeper self-awareness
Camp Details:
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Date: Friday, August 7 @ 4pm to Sunday, August 9 @ 5pm
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Campsite: YMCA Camp Cullen (460 Cullen Lp, Trinity, TX 75862)
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Age: 17-25
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Fee: $150
Why Should I Attend:
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Impactful Network Building with Young Houston Leaders
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Connect with like-minded organizations and leaders committed to youth and civic engagement
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Build long-lasting partnerships that extend beyond the summit.
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Empowerment through Education
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Exclusive workshops and sessions led by experts in voter engagement and community organizing
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Personalized leadership development workshops
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Access to Unparalleled Resources and Support
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Benefit from ongoing support, tools, and communication from the YES Summit team
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Utilize resources and support to foster emotional health and resilience
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Gain access to tools and funding that support your group’s activities and goals
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Incentives and Recognition
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Immediate financial incentives for youth organizations’ early commitment and successful campaign milestones.
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Recognition at the summit and at all Viet Vote Houston community events
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Our YES Speakers
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Keynote Speaker: Rosie Nguyen
Former Emmy Award-Winning Journalist
Rosie Nguyen is a professional storyteller and communicator. She's a former Emmy award-winning journalist who spent nearly a decade working as a local TV news reporter and anchor. Now, she works as the Director of Communications and Projects in Free Expression for the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence at Rice University, using her multimedia reporting and strategic communications experience to create visual and written content that highlights the university's programs, resources, and access initiatives.
Workshop Presenter: Dr. Anhlan Nguyen
#1 International Best-Selling Author • ICF Certified Emotional Intelligence Coach
Dr. Anhlan Nguyen is a passionate educator, life coach, and international speaker known for her work in emotional intelligence, youth empowerment, and personal development. As the founder of Lyceum Global, she has developed training programs and workshops that have inspired thousands of students and professionals to live with purpose and lead with intention. A former refugee from Vietnam, Dr. Nguyen has turned her life experience into a mission of service, using her GRACE model (Gratitude, Respect, Accountability, Courage, Engagement) to guide others on their wellness journey.
Dr. Nguyen’s dedication to leadership and education has earned her national recognition, including a presidential appointment to the Vietnam Education Foundation by President Barack Obama. She is also the bestselling author of Living in GRACE – Living Your Best Life Now! and has played a key role in youth leadership development through programs like the Len Duong Camp. Her message of resilience, self-awareness, and emotional wellness continues to inspire communities across the globe.
Workshop Presenter: Dr. Renea Skelton
Certified Life & Communication Coach • Writer
Dr. Renea Skelton is a certified life and communication coach, emotional intelligence expert, and retired Air Force officer with over 20 years of leadership experience. Holding a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership focused on Emotional Intelligence, she is passionate about empowering women, parents, and leaders to overcome personal barriers and live with purpose. She is also the creator of ShiFt Happens, a free weekly email that helps people understand why people do what they do - and gives them the words to navigate life's everyday conversations.
Her approach combines neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and real-life experience to inspire individuals to live unapologetically with clarity and strength. Known for her authenticity and practical strategies, Dr. Skelton encourages self-awareness and resilience, helping people thrive even in the face of adversity.
Workshop Presenter: Dr. Haitrieu Nguyen
Sociology Professor (Sam Houston State University), a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer, and a TEDx speaker (2025)
Dr. Haitrieu Nguyen is a sociology professor at Sam Houston State University, a certified Mental Health First Aid trainer, and a TEDx speaker (2025). A first-generation Vietnamese American, she equips Vietnamese communities across the US with practical tools for emotional regulation. Her work is deeply shaped by her own journey through profound loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the deaths of her father, the loss of her career, and the uncertainty of the time forced her to learn how to regulate her emotions in order to care for herself and her family. Through teaching, workshops, and public speaking, Prof. Haitrieu combines research with lived experience to help others see emotions not as "good" or "bad," but as valuable sources of information. She teaches audiences how to use that information to regulate their emotions, make wiser decisions, and become the best version of themselves.
Our YES Wellness & Leadership Presenters
Lena Ngoc Nguyen
Master of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao
Master Lena Ngoc Nguyen began her martial arts journey in 1988 at the Viet Vo Dao Club in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. Now based in Richmond, Texas, she leads one of the most active Vovinam Viet Vo Dao schools in the U.S., offering multiple weekly classes and instructor-level training. Having earned her Red Belt in 2025 at Tổ Đường in Vietnam, Master Lena Ngoc Nguyen brings a lifetime of dedication to discipline and self-empowerment. At YES Camp, she will guide a practical self-defense workshop to build strength,
confidence, and awareness.
Kevin Trung Cao
Master of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao
Master Kevin Trung Cao began his Vovinam Viet Vo Dao journey in 1991 in Hamburg, Germany. Today, based in Richmond, Texas, he leads one of the most active Vovinam schools in the United States, offering multiple classes each week, along with instructor and master-level training. After earning his Red Belt in 2005 at Tổ Đường in Vietnam, Master Trung has trained, taught, and collaborated with Vovinam masters and schools across Europe, the United States, Australia, and Vietnam. His dedication to preserving and advancing the art has helped develop practitioners and instructors both nationally and internationally. At YES Camp, Master Trung will lead a practical self-defense workshop designed to enhance participants’ strength, confidence, situational awareness, and ability to respond effectively in real-world situations.
Jane Adams
Leadership Development Coordinator of Annie's List Training and Engagement Fund
Jane Adams is a Leadership Development Coordinator for Annie's List Training and Engagement Fund, traveling the Gulf Coast to train and develop leaders and build a recruitment infrastructure for Texas. She also serves on the executive board of Movement Workers United, Local 2030, to fight for a pro-worker climate in the campaign and nonprofit space. Additionally, she has served as a Medicare advocate and has been actively involved with several healthcare advocacy organizations over the years. Born and raised in New Orleans to Vietnamese immigrant parents, she has a passion for bringing awareness and creating space and belonging for second- and third-generation AAPIs in social justice work.
