About Us
We are a passionate group of high school students who have come together with a powerful mission: to bridge Deaf culture and Asian culture through the universal language of music. Inspired by our diverse backgrounds and a shared commitment to inclusion, we aim to create performances that blend Asian musical traditions with sign language and visual storytelling. We hope to foster understanding, celebrate cultural diversity, and break down communication barriers. This is not just about music—it’s about connection, empathy, and creating a space where both Deaf and Asian identities can be seen, heard, and honored in harmony.
Our Story
Our organization began with a shared love for Thai pop music—a vibrant, emotional genre often overlooked outside its cultural roots. As we explored this passion, we realized how limited access was for many, especially within the Deaf community. Inspired by the powerful work of ASL interpreters bringing hip-hop to life through expressive sign language, we saw an opportunity to do the same for Thai pop and other Asian music styles. We wanted to make this music visually accessible and culturally inclusive. From that spark, our mission was born: to connect Deaf and Asian cultures through the rhythm and expression of music.
Meet The Team
Jennifer Li
Cofounder, Video Editor
A high school senior from Lynchburg, Virginia. One of her passions is K-pop, which has sparked a deeper curiosity about Korean culture and how music can connect people across borders. In 2024 May, she began studying American Sign Language (ASL) and quickly realized it is as complex as any spoken language, with its own vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
Learning ASL has been both demanding and rewarding: memorizing signs, coordinating facial expression and body movement, and assembling sentences that are immediately clear to others. At times, achieving that clarity is difficult, but the challenge motivates her to keep improving. Jennifer is excited to keep building her ASL skills and to use music and language—spoken and signed—as inclusive ways to bring people together.
Youjia
Cofounder, Content Creator
Youjia is a high school student in China who loves Asian pop music, especially Thai songs that blend bright rhythms with heartfelt lyrics. After an unforgettable concert experience in Thailand, she realized how music can cross languages and bring people together. The summer of 2025, she began learning sign language, inspired by her love of visual art and expression. In her free time, she combines these passions—translating Thai pop songs into ASL, sketching scenes from the music, and finding new ways to make sound visible.
Joan Liu
Lead Content Creator, Web Developer
Joan Liu is a high school junior from Sterling, VA. She loves music and believes it is a universal language that connects people from all walks of life. While volunteering at a community center in Guangzhou, China, she met Deaf children who “sang” with their hands in Chinese Sign Language—an experience that inspired her journey. Joan began learning American Sign Language in January 2025 and is developing a series of song covers that celebrate girls’ empowerment, aiming to reach wider audiences and promote inclusive music-making.
Jason Wang
Cofounder, Music Consultant
Jason Wang is a high school singer, dancer, and music from Alabama who believes music has the power to unite people. With a love for hip-hop and K-pop dance, he uses rhythm and movement to build community wherever he goes. Jason organizes dance routines and teaches students how to produce their own music, helping others express themselves and connect through shared energy and creativity. For him, music isn’t just about performing—it’s about bringing people together and creating spaces where everyone feels included.
Cecilia
Content Creator
Cecilia Shao, a freshman at Saint James School, has always loved music. She serves as 1st chair Violin in the school ensemble. As one of the principle members, she contributes to performances and helps shape the group’s musical expression. Cecilia is also very active, playing on both the school's volleyball and softball teams. She is passionate about communications, writing for the school newspaper and hosting her own podcast club. Her podcast features student voices as they express their own unique identity in creative discussions. She came to All Hands as she recognized the incredible communicative power of music across all cultures, even Deaf and hearing. Cecilia enjoys expressing herself through both music and storytelling and hopes to continue developing her artistry and leadership in the years ahead as she finds new ways to bridge communities together.