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WAVES Takes the Stage at National Conference! | |
WAVES had an absolutely amazing time in Boston attending the 15th National Conference of the Chinese School Association of the United States (CSAUS).
We were honored to host a powerful panel titled “Asian Parents, American Children,” featuring our Founder and Executive Director Lily Chen; WAVES Board Member and Chief Medical Officer of Cartwheel, Juliana Chen; WAVES Acting Finance Director and CSAUS Board Member, Feng Xue; and Chinese American high school student Tristan Liu. The discussion highlighted cross-sector collaboration and the value of shared leadership in understanding real school and family needs—especially the voices of young people themselves.
Our Peer Support Specialist and Community Health Worker in training, Lei, also shared about WAVES’ peer support programs, while Haipei from United Chinese Americans – UCA, our National Partner, spoke to the critical role of youth leadership and cultural identity in supporting mental well-being. We also screened the trailer to Silent War, sparking meaningful dialogue around parent–child relationships and mental health.
All in all, it was a powerful conference marking a renewed commitment by Chinese schools nationwide to invest in youth mental health alongside cultural education. As long-standing strategic partners, CSAUS and WAVES demonstrated how schools, families, and community organizations can come together to advance youth development and emotional well-being on a national platform.
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Team Luncheon in North Carolina
Grateful for time spent celebrating the season with our North Carolina Team! This holiday season, we held a holiday luncheon filled with raffles, awards, and meaningful moments of connection over a delicious meal. We’re proud to have five community health workers—four of whom also serve as peer support specialists—bringing us to eight incredible peer support specialists in total. Looking ahead to spring, we’re excited to launch a new peer support group led by two young fathers, with another young father continuing to moderate our book club.
We’re so beyond grateful for the amazing people who make up WAVES. You make what we do possible!
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More Highlights from CSAUA Conference: Dr. Li
Another powerful highlight from the CSAUS 15th National Conference was a thought-provoking session led by Dr. Li, Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, whose research centers on the lived experiences of orphans in China.
Dr. Li’s work challenged us to think deeply about humanity in the classroom, and what it means to bring compassion, dignity, and emotional understanding into educational spaces. His presentation explored how education systems can move beyond academics to intentionally support the whole child. The conversation centered around the theory of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and the four foundational pillars that support healthy development, resilience, and long-term mental well-being.
The session reinforced a powerful message: when education is rooted in empathy, cultural understanding, and positive experiences, schools become not just places of learning, but places of healing and growth. We’re grateful to CSAUS and our partners for creating space for these critical conversations and for continuing to elevate youth mental health on a national stage.
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WAVES Corner: Our Peer Support Specialist Takes Lead Role In New Pilot Program
Tarang, a new community-led pilot program supported by NC Department of Health and Human Services, hosted an introductory webinar in early December that explored their vision for changing the culture surrounding mental health, substance use, and suicide. The event served as a meaningful way to kick off the weekend while offering insight into how Tarang aims to foster more open, supportive, and community-centered conversations around these critical issues. WAVES was proud to support and uplift this initiative as it took its first steps into the community.
We were also proud to share that one of our Peer Support Specialists, Krystal, is the Tarang Community Lead for the Chinese community in North Carolina. She joined the conversation and contributed her perspective and experience to the discussion. We were inspired to witness this new initiative take flight and look forward to seeing the impact Tarang will continue to make.
Want to learn more? Visit their page by clicking on the button below!
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Coming 2026: UCA Convention
We’ve got an exciting event we wish to share with you: The 2026 Chinese American Convention hosted by United Chinese Americans (UCA)! This year’s event is especially significant, marking both UCA’s 10th anniversary and our country’s 250th birthday.
The convention will bring together more than 1,000 community activists, elected officials, youth leaders, and business pioneers in Las Vegas under the theme “Thriving Together: Shaping the Future of Chinese Americans.”
Focused on connection, leadership, and building a stronger future for the community, this once-in-a-decade gathering promises meaningful dialogue and lasting impact. If you’d like to register or learn more, click on the link below.
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WAVES Helps Organize Webinar for Coping After Gun Violence
In response to the shooting at Brown University, the Alliance of North American Chinese Physicians (ANACP) hosted a webinar focused on coping and recovery after gun violence, offered in both English and Chinese. WAVES was honored to help co-organize the English-language event, particularly as our community had been deeply shaken by the tragedy, where one of our team members has family attending the school. In the wake of trauma, which so often induces a sense of helplessness, reclaiming agency is paramount. This belief underscored the importance of our involvement in creating space for education, connection, and collective healing.
Our hearts remain with the Brown University community and all those impacted by this tragedy. We encourage anyone affected to seek connection, support, and care during this time. If you’d like to learn more about coping after a disaster or get connected to relevant resources, click on the button below. WAVES is—and will remain—committed to helping build a safer, healthier, more hopeful tomorrow for all.
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WAVES Mentioned in WUNC Article
We wanted to share this moving article by WUNC that highlights the Minority Assembly of Psychological Support (MAPS), a student-founded group at UNC Chapel Hill that works to fill the mental-health resource gap for Chinese and minority students through community events, peer and therapist-led support, and research. The piece also features an interview with WAVES Founder & Executive Director, Lily Chen.
At the heart of our work is nurturing youth, so to see them stepping up like this is nothing short of inspiring. We hope you consider giving this a read!
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WAVES Promotes Family Wellness Through Webinar
WAVES continued to expand its focus on supporting Asian American seniors and their families through an evening workshop centered on intergenerational communication and family wellness. In early December, our Executive Director, Lily Chen, spoke on Intergenerational Communication for Family Wellness, sharing culturally adaptive strategies to strengthen mental health support across generations. The session highlighted practical ways to apply Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) principles in ways that are culturally responsive for Asian communities, with an emphasis on parent–child education, peer support, and family-based approaches to preventing mental health challenges, including suicide.
We were beyond grateful for the opportunity to uplift Asian American seniors, support their families, and foster meaningful dialogue across generations as part of our ongoing commitment to community wellness!
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WAVES Welcomes Two New Board Members!
We ended the year off on a great note by welcoming two incredible leaders to the WAVES Board of Directors!
Diana Ding, MBA joins WAVES as Board Treasurer, bringing strong financial expertise and a passion for mission-driven work that will help strengthen and sustain our organization as we continue to grow. We’re also excited to welcome Tenly Biggs, MSW, LMSW, as a Board Member. Tenly brings extensive federal leadership experience, including her role as Deputy Director for the Office of Minority Health at SAMHSA, and is a strong champion for AANHPI mental health, suicide prevention, capacity building, and community empowerment.
We’re honored to have Diana and Tenly on board and look forward to the impact their leadership will have on WAVES. If you'd like to learn more about our team or board, check out our website by clicking on the button below.
| | Reflecting on December: Finding Light in the Darker Months | | |
As the days grew shorter and the year came to a close, December invited us to reflect on how seasonal changes impact mental health. Through our Wellness Wednesday and Fast Facts posts, we focused on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), exploring how reduced sunlight, disrupted sleep, and vitamin D deficiency can affect mood and energy. By sharing accessible, evidence-based insights, we aimed to normalize these experiences and remind our community that struggling during winter is a common and valid response, not a personal shortcoming.
We also revisited Modality Monday with a spotlight on Talk Therapy, emphasizing the power of safe, supportive spaces for reflection and healing. Together, these conversations reinforced an important reminder as we closed out the year: even in darker seasons, connection, understanding, and small sources of light can make a meaningful difference.
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