Instagram story viewer> @achan19ma> Posts

Aaron Chan

@achan19ma

543

followers

398

following

US Y20 Delegate for Youth & Democracy. Presidential appointee to FEMA. Dedicated leader on youth, the Indo-Pacific, and climate change.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

One week ago today, I wrapped up my role as Director of Negotiations for the Y20 USA 2026 Summit, overseeing negotiations among young leaders representing 17 countries.

Our delegates came to the summit with different national priorities, policy proposals, and plenty of red lines. My job was to help them work through those differences and get to a final document everyone could stand behind.

I was really impressed by how they handled that process. With limited space in the final communiqué, not every proposal was going to make it in. Delegates had to make their case, listen to each other, and figure out where they could compromise without giving up what mattered to them.

Young people are told that we will inherit responsibility for solving the world's biggest problems, many of which we had little hand in creating. Watching these delegates work through real disagreements made me confident that our generation has the grit to take on that responsibility.

The result is the Y20 USA 2026 Communiqué—the product of eight months of online negotiations and two pretty grueling days of line-by-line work in person.

That means even more this year. The 2025 Y20 ended without a consensus communiqué, and with no formal Y20 process convened by this year's G20 host, our delegates still showed up, did the work, and reached consensus.

We may have helped create the process that got them there, but the accomplishment belongs to them. I'm incredibly proud of what they achieved together.

As Y20 passes to the United Kingdom, my attention now turns to hosting Y7 next year.

Whether or not you work in youth spaces, I hope you'll read the communiqué and hear what these delegates have to say about the issues shaping our future.

🔗 y20summit.org/communique

There is still a lot more work to do. If you want to help give more young people a real say in global policy, reach out.

#Y20 #Y202026 #G20 #Diplomacy #InternationalRelations #GlobalAffairs #GlobalPolicy #YouthDiplomacy #YouthLeadership taken in Washington, DC by @achan19ma

132

8

2 months ago

Honored to be selected as a #newmember for the Truman National Security Project Class of 2025! The Truman community represents the best in national security leadership, and I’m grateful to be a part of it. It’s an incredible opportunity to work alongside a diverse and talented group of leaders who are dedicated to creating smart, inclusive solutions to some of the world’s most pressing national security challenges.

I'm ready to contribute to creating a brighter, safer future! 🌍✨
#TrumanProject #NationalSecurity #Leadership by @achan19ma

33

0

2 years ago

by @achan19ma

13

1

2 years ago

While I had a very fun (and surprisingly tiring) weekend at @lcoyusa working on US youth priorities on climate for the National Youth Statement ahead of COP29. I’m also extremely excited to look forward to the Summit of the Future! I’ve been so inspired by the passion and knowledge of the young people at LCOY, I’m looking forward to see what the UN summit holds. I can’t believe it’s almost been a year and a half since I’ve been at the UN! taken in ASU Arizona State University by @achan19ma

36

8

2 years ago

To kick off this year's #NationalPreparednessMonth, I was proud to join the MOU signing ceremony between #fema and #ncapa as the President of FEMA's AA & NHPI employee affinity group.

It was such an amazing feeling to have been a part of this year's #Ready campaign team and witness this historic moment.

FEMA’s 2023 National Household Survey showed that nearly two-thirds of Asian Americans (65%) and over a half of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders (58%) do not believe taking a step to prepare will make a difference in a disaster. This is a heartbreaking statistic to see.

It is more important than ever to make sure that underrepresented communities, those who are often at the front line of disasters and bear a disproportionate amount of the burden, are reached when disaster strikes.

Coming from an immigrant family, seeing disaster resources resources created in Olelo Hawai'i (Native Hawaiian), Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Korean, Japanese, Hindi, Tagalog, and Vietnamese, gives me hope that this will be the first step in being able to reach every part of the AA & NHPI community in the near future.

So, download the FEMA app or visit Ready.gov, and start a conversation with your friends and loved ones to make a plan today. #AreYouReady? by @achan19ma

65

0

2 years ago

Happy #InternationalYouthDay🎉

I spent today reflecting on this past year's journey since I left India. So much has happened so quickly, but I'm always drawn back to thinking of all the wonderful people I met there. I wish all the best to the Y20 2024 team who are currently finishing their negotiations for Y20 Brazil.

As I look forward to hosting Y20 in 2026 as a Director for the US Y20 Secretariat, I hope we're all able to see each other again and encourage the next generation of international youth delegates! taken in Varanasi, India by @achan19ma

112

13

2 years ago

Finally got to visit the new ASEAN center in DC! What a joy to celebrate ASEAN day with friends, former work colleagues, and representatives from the ASEAN countries, Department of State. Happy ASEAN Day! 🎉 taken in ASU Barrett O’connor Center by @achan19ma

14

2

2 years ago

I've got a LOT of late posting to do, so I guess I'll start with this! A proud moment celebrating Asian American Heritage Month with Vice President and fellow AA and NHPI political appointees. Working alongside colleagues representing the most diverse White House Administration in history is truly inspiring. Here's to a better future for America!

(Scroll next in the top right to see where I actually am in the sea of faces 😂)

#Team46 #WhiteHouse #AANHPIHeritageMonth #Leadership #VP #PublicService #RepresentationMatters taken in Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building by @achan19ma

53

3

2 years ago

I don’t know how to describe the feeling of entering the White House for the first time. It’s hard to not get swept up in the momentum and energy of all the offices and staff all working together to run the country, but, also hard to not want to try and stop and think of the storied history that must have happened within each hallway. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and excited for this new chapter in my life! taken in Eisenhower Executive Office Building by @achan19ma

40

2

3 years ago

Happy #tbt! I’ve recently been doom scrolling through old photos and ran into these from when I was a panelist for the John’s Hopkins SAIS “trek to the Hill” program. It was so energizing to talk to such a large number of masters students looking to get in a career in public policy and answer their questions. Massive thank you to @park.na.yeon for the invite and photos! #youth #leadership #johnshopkins #trektothehill #publicpolicy #careers #education #youth empowerment taken in Longworth House Office Building by @achan19ma

40

1

3 years ago

Had the privilege to meet Deputy Secretary Tien at DHS HQ and receive my first challenge coin!

The significance of being welcomed into this esteemed community by the first Asian American Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security is not lost on me. I am reminded how fortunate I am to have been able to work for Asian American trailblazers like Deputy Secretary Tien and Senator Tammy Duckworth and learn from them. I feel so inspired by the Deputy Secretary’s story and hope I can be a part of an ongoing tradition of AAPI leadership through service. by @achan19ma

42

0

3 years ago

Deeply honored to be officially sworn in to my role as Special Assistant to the Office of the Administrator at FEMA.

If you had told me just a few years ago that I'd be able to successfully transition to a career in public service, I wouldn't have believed you for a second. Now, I'm serving as a Biden-Harris Presidential Appointee. I can't find the words to adequately describe how this feels.

These last few years have been such an unbelievable journey. As difficult as this road has been, I know there is still so much yet to be done.

I don't think I'll ever feel like I've done enough to pay my family back for the sacrifices they made for me, but, hopefully this is one small step in that direction. Mom and Dad, this one's for you! by @achan19ma

44

1

3 years ago