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This newsletter is bilingual. Please scroll down for the Chinese version.
本通讯为双语版本。请向下滚动查看中文版。
| | A Year of Impact: Reflecting on 2025 | | |
In honor of Lunar New Year, it felt fitting to reflect back on all the amazing things that transpired this past year. It's hard to believe—in the best possible way—that this is only a fraction of it!
We also wanted to take this as an opportunity to thank all of our amazing funders and supporters, including NC Department of Health and Human Services, Blue Cross NC, Triangle Community Foundation, SAMHSA, Julian Grace Foundation, and the UCA Community Foundation. Our work is made possible by you. Together, we're destigmatizing mental illness and empowering marginalized communities. Here's to another year of making an ocean of impact!
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Lunar New Year: Celebrating Culture, Connection and Community | |
UCA WAVES was honored to take part in a vibrant season of Lunar New Year celebrations across the Triangle, showing up in spaces where culture and community naturally create openings for conversations around mental health. We began at the Chinese American Friendship Association (CAFA) NC Lunar New Year Gala Dinner, tabling and connecting with community members during a meaningful evening of shared meals and cultural celebration. We were grateful to invite partners—including two Karen refugee families and several advisors—to join us in gratitude for the collective work being done. The celebration continued at the CAFA Lunar New Year Spectacular, where music, dance, and storytelling beautifully honored Chinese heritage. One especially powerful moment was seeing mental health represented on stage alongside leaders from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, reinforcing that prevention and presence truly matter. It was a delight to see both Director Crosbie and Secretary Sangvai as well!
We were also deeply honored to join the Town of Apex Government as they issued a formal Lunar New Year Proclamation, recognizing the cultural significance of the holiday and the communities who celebrate it. WAVES Founder & Executive Director, Lily Chen, spoke about the relationship of cultural identity and mental health, citing a report that found 1 in 5 AAPI high school students in North Carolina attempted suicide.
Seeing so many AAPI youth in the room was a powerful reminder that strengthening cultural identity is deeply connected to wellbeing. The momentum continued at the 2026 Lunar New Year Gala at Prestonwood Country Club, where our team gathered alongside partners to celebrate heritage, family, and healing through connection. We also joined the UNC MAP Lunar New Year & Valentine’s Day Party, where nearly 70 students came together for games, KTV, tarot, and community-building activities—proof that joyful spaces can also be protective spaces.
From proclamations to performances, gala dinners to student-led celebrations, this Lunar New Year season reminded us that there is profound healing in celebrating culture together. When communities gather, stories are shared, and young people feel seen and valued, we strengthen not only identity, but mental health and resilience for the year ahead. Here’s to the Year of the Fire Horse!
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Silent War in the News!
Silent War continues to earn recognition! The film was recently featured by LNP highlighting an upcoming screening at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, director Changfu Chang’s longstanding commitment to storytelling, and the staggering statistics underscoring the mental health crisis in the AAPI community.
The university also published a thoughtful piece amplifying the film’s mission to address stigma surrounding mental health in Asian American communities. Adding to this momentum, Silent War was awarded Best Feature Documentary at the London Vision Film Festival.
We remain humbled by the attention the film has received since its release. Every feature, screening, and award brings us one step closer to dismantling silence, elevating AAPI voices, and advancing conversations around mental health where they are needed most. To read the articles, visit the film’s official website by clicking on the button below.
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Empowering Future Nurses Through MHFA Training
On Wednesday, February 4, UCA WAVES members Angel and Reid attended an in-person Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training held at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). The training was conducted with a class of nursing students enrolled in a mental health in nursing course. Participants engaged in interactive discussions and skill-building activities focused on recognizing signs of mental health challenges, responding to crises, and connecting individuals to appropriate supports. To fuel the day of learning, our executive director, Lily, stopped by to drop-off Chick-fil-A lunch!
The session provided valuable, practical tools for future healthcare professionals and strengthened connections between UCA WAVES and NCCU’s nursing program.
Want to learn more about our MHFA training? Click on the button below. Thank you NCCU for having us!
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Putting the “E” In WAVES
Did you know the “E” in WAVES stands for education? The second to last weekend in February, we really drove that point home with not one, not two, but three different events in one day.
We kicked off our first 2026 QPR suicide prevention training with Master Trainer Walker Tisdale III, with 14 community members becoming certified in life-saving intervention skills—Congratulations! Additionally, our WAVES Village Book Club met and continued fostering reflection and intergenerational dialogue around identity, family, and mental health. And last but certainly not least, we held a Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training session, where we equipped participants to recognize and respond to mental health challenges.
Few things are more powerful than making knowledge accessible. We're proud to do that at WAVES. Thank you to everyone who participated!
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WAVES Corner: WAVES Members Take the Theatre Stage
We love celebrating our team beyond the work they do at WAVES! Recently, Reid, our Grants & Programs Manager, and Percy, one of our newest volunteers supporting our English media team, took the stage in The Secret Garden with Center Theater Company.
This lush, sweeping musical adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tells the story of young Mary Lennox’s journey toward hope, renewal, and belonging, reminding us that even the most neglected places can bloom again.
Our WAVES team was delighted to attend and demonstrate their support. The event really embodied the link between artistry and wellness. As one of our members put it, “It was such a joy to watch their hard work and talent come to life on stage. What an incredible show!”
We’re so grateful for the passion and creativity our team brings both to WAVES and to the wider community.
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Where Data Meets Impact: Inside Our MHFA Study
We don’t talk about our research nearly enough, even though it’s at the heart of so much of what we do. That's why we're extra excited to share this update from our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Research Team!
Dr. Cixin Wang, Xiaohong Gao, Jie Chen, Emmanuel Amoako and Lily Chen are in the final stage of data analysis for a 3-year randomized controlled pilot study evaluating the MHFA Chinese curriculum compared with the English curriculum. We are currently finalizing how best to report outcomes across four time points (pre-training, post-training, 3 months, and 6 months), including whether to model growth curves over time in addition to traditional statistical comparisons. In other words: we are making sure the science is as strong and meaningful as possible!
We just recently submitted for publication after 3 years of hard work, but this study has already changed what we do. When we saw a dip in MHFA knowledge between immediate post-training and 6-month follow-up, we used that evidence to launch MHFA peer support groups to help sustain learning and real-world application. That’s research doing what it’s meant to do: shaping better care.
Want to learn more about our research? Click on the button below!
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Alan Z Joins a Packed House for Silent War at Triangle Chinese School
This past month’s screening of Silent War at the Triangle Chinese School was a huge success. The room was packed with families—parents and youth filling every seat, standing along the walls, and even sitting on tables—showing just how much this conversation is needed in our community.
We were delighted to be joined by Chinese American singer and actor Alan Z, who shared his deeply personal journey growing up under intense pressure and anxiety around identity, and how seeking professional support helped him heal and grow more resilient. He encouraged everyone to self-advocate, walk your own path with conviction, and don’t be overly concerned with the opinions of others. We were also honored to welcome Ya Liu, Representative for NC House District 21, who shared how deeply she was moved by Sandy’s story in the film and emphasized how meaningful and impactful this documentary is for our communities.
This family-centered, community-based event reached far beyond those in the room, with conversations spilling into hallways, among parents, and out into the broader community. Our heartfelt thanks go to all WAVES volunteers and Community Health Workers, especially our youth leaders. Rosina, Leia, and David served as on-stage hosts; Sumule captured the night through photography; and many others helped with setup and welcoming guests. They are the rising wave. Because of them, WAVES can go further and grow stronger!
If you’d like to learn more about Silent War and how to bring it to your community, click on the link below!
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Get Connected Through Our Programs!
If you’re looking for support or a sense of community, WAVES has you covered! Check out these fliers showcasing the various peer support groups running in 2026. Want to learn more? Click on the button below to learn more about what we offer and how you can find belonging.
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View more of our events and programs,
please visit UCA WAVES Calendar↓
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