WHO WE ARE
Asian Solidarity Collective is a San Diego-based organization focused on empowering formerly incarcerated youth and adults through multimedia training and creative re-entry programs. We work from a foundation of community, solidarity, and lived experience. With intention, we strive to create a future where formerly incarcerated people can re-enter society with dignity, support, and the tools to succeed in a creative and purposeful life.
ASC’s BACKGROUND
Grounded in lived experience, built on trust, and centered on healing, ASC is led by individuals who have been impacted by the system. We foster a space where formerly incarcerated people can reconnect, create, and thrive.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Most re-entry programs focus on labor jobs, but we believe there are other paths. ASC provides participants with the necessary tools to discover their talents and explore opportunities in creative fields including multimedia design, video, music, podcast production, and distribution support. Our work is rooted in relationships, not transactions. We invest in people, not pipelines.
Co-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lon CHHAY'S STORY
The foundation of ASC's re-entry program is built upon the direct experiences of Lon Chhay, whose personal journey through incarceration serves as the core inspiration for all aspects of the ASC's work.
Incarcerated at just 14 years old, Lon spent years cycling through a system that didn’t see his potential—only his past. Traditional re-entry programs offered one-size-fits-all solutions that pushed him toward jobs in construction and other low-wage labor. But none of them recognized what he was capable of beyond that.
Lon believed there was more. He knew firsthand how isolating and dehumanizing re-entry could be—and how creativity, self-expression, and connection to community could change that experience.
Now, as the Executive Director of ASC, Lon continues to carry the title of Co-Executive Director in honor of his former co-leader, Miss Piggy Rock. An artist, educator, and organizer, Miss Piggy's belief in the power of connection between diverse people, cultures, and stories influenced ASC's early development. Her life's purpose is rooted in serving the community to continuously work towards individual growth and collective liberation. Miss Piggy first joined ASC as an organizer and quickly rose to associate director before stepping into the Co-Executive Director role. While she has since stepped back from her role at ASC, Lon still considers her a mentor and someone he turns to for guidance.
Inspired by this partnership and his own journey, Lon is creating what he never had: a re-entry program rooted in dignity, creativity, mentorship, and opportunity. A space for healing. A platform for formerly incarcerated youth and adults to explore their strengths and build sustainable futures. From personally driving participants to job interviews, to bringing in community mentors and successful creatives as instructors, Lon has helped shape ASC’s re-entry program into something truly unique.