Asa grew up in Vermont and is an alum of Williams College in Massachusetts. Immediately after graduation, he went to work for the Howard Dean campaign. His experience trying to build lasting grassroots participation in get-out-the-vote efforts led to his abiding interest in integrating community organizing with civic participation. According to Asa, "Through serving as a trustee of the Johnson Family Foundation, I realized that what I found most inspiring was direct action at the grassroots level. So that's what I choose to support."