04/09/2026
Judging for Growing Up in America (GUA) 2026 has officially wrapped up! 🤩
Over the last few weeks, our 100+ judges have been carefully reviewing over 370 submissions. 🧐 One of our judges this year is Sera Fernando, manager of the Office of LGBTQ Affairs at the County of Santa Clara. In both her storytelling and her work, she is committed to uplifting voices that have too often been overlooked.
💬 When asked why she volunteered to be a judge this year, she said, "As a storyteller, I’m drawn to the way activism and the arts intersect to bring forward powerful, deeply personal narratives. Growing up in Eastside San Jose, I rarely saw myself reflected in media as a q***r, transgender, Filipina woman, let alone in ways that were affirming or celebratory of my full, intersectional identity. Volunteering as a judge for GUA not only gives me the opportunity to learn from these incredible stories, but also continually restores my faith in humanity."
HUGE THANKS to Sera and the many other judges who are volunteering their time to support AACI's Growing Up in America 2026 youth art, essay, and video contest! 👏
❗️Winners should be hearing from AACI soon and final winner announcements will be in May.
