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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。
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WAVES Featured on AFSP's Podcast! | |
Our new podcast episode with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is out now! In this roundtable discussion, host Victor Armstrong spoke with members of our team about elevating voices for long-lasting change and bridging the generational mental health gap in AAPI families.
When parents and children are raised in different cultures, their understanding of mental health can differ greatly, making communication difficult and stigma harder to break. Our executive director, Lily Chen, shared how community struggles inspired her to found WAVES. Dr. Jennifer Tu, child and adolescent psychiatry fellow at UCLA and WAVES board secretary, reflected on how the loss of a friend to suicide shaped her advocacy. Naialie Lor, a pre-nursing student at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and administrative assistant at WAVES, brought the perspective of a second-generation AAPI youth navigating cultural expectations.
WAVES is beyond grateful to have the space to hold such a meaningful discussion. A big thanks to AFSP for all the amazing work you do. We’re continuously touched by your commitment to ending stigma and creating lasting change in respect to mental health. Click on the button below to listen now.
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UCA WAVES Celebrating Lunar New Years in the Community!
WAVES will be out and about in the community this Lunar New Year season, and we want you there for every minute of it! Below, you can check out the various events WAVES will be present at, as well as information about time, location and how to attend. We hope to see you there!
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See Silent War with Special Guest, Alan Z!
We have an event you absolutely do NOT want to miss. Every screening of Silent War feels special, but this time, we have a special guest, too: Alan Z!
A second-generation Chinese American rapper, singer, and actor seen on Netflix, HBO Max, and The CW, Alan Z brings creativity, vulnerability, and real talk to this event. In addition to his over 100,000 social media followers, Alan Z has collaborated with hip-hop legends, Asian American icons, and K-Pop idols and produced an album (“Face Value”) centered on AAPI identity, making him a powerful voice for this generation.
Additionally, Alan Z has openly shared his own journey with anxiety and depression and is a passionate advocate for expanding mental health outreach for AAPI youth. Attendees of this event will have the opportunity to see an award-winning documentary that’s breaking ground in the Asian American community as well as sit in on a post-screening youth & parent Q&A on AAPI Mental Health featuring Alan Z and Lily Chen, film producer and Executive Director of UCA WAVES. Here’s everything you need to know:
- WHEN: February 7th | 9:30–11:30 AM
- WHERE: Room 1247 | Triangle Chinese School | 400 E Moore St, Apex, NC 27502
This event is designed for youth, parents, and families looking for connection, understanding, and meaningful dialogue around mental health and identity. Want to learn more about the film or see upcoming screenings? Click on the button below. Come for the storytelling, stay for the conversation that could change YOUR life.
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WAVES Connects with Buddhist Monks on Walk for Peace
Last month, WAVES had the honor of connecting with the Buddhist monks participating in the Walk for Peace, a long-distance walking pilgrimage led by monks to promote peace, compassion, and unity as they travel across communities on the way to their final destination in Washington, DC. The monks walk slowly and mindfully, engaging with people they meet and offering symbolic blessings like simple bracelets to remind others of peace and presence.
Their presence brought warmth to our team — even in the cold — and reminded us of the power of kindness. The oldest monk among them is 70 years old, a beautiful testament to a lifetime of compassion. We were honored to share homemade cookies baked by our team member, Laura, as well as red envelopes filled with chocolate gold coins to symbolize good luck and blessings for the Lunar New Year. We wish them all the best on their journey, and hope they feel our solidarity with their mission.
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Communication Workshop at Seymour Center
In early January, Community health workers from WAVES participated in an intergenerational communication workshop for local Chinese seniors in the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill. It was buzzed with conversation and laughter. Designed and facilitated by Gerry, a senior at UNC, the workshop focused on strengthening connections between grandparents and grandchildren. Through the lens of “communication,” participants explored how language and cultural gaps can create distance — and how small shifts can help bridge them.
Gerry shared practical, relatable strategies such as asking open-ended questions, showing curiosity about younger generations’ interests, and replacing “lectures” with dialogue. Many participants spoke openly about feeling misunderstood by their families, opening the door for WAVES community workers to introduce the Strong Minds one-on-one mental health program, which was met with strong interest.
We’re grateful for the chance to talk about mental health with seniors and make connections across generations and look forward to partnering with more senior centers to serve diverse communities.
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Mark Your Calendar for MHFA Training!
What better way to start your year than by investing in yourself and your community? Good news: our 2026 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training sessions have already kicked off! This culturally tailored program gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.
Looking to register or just want to learn more? Click on the button below.
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Connecting with NC State Chinese Student Association
We were grateful for the opportunity to connect with the NC State Chinese Students Association earlier this month. Three of our community health workers shared about WAVES programs like Strong Minds and gained valuable insights from students. WAVES is excited to collaborate on future student-centered activities!
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Reflecting on MLK Day
In honor of MLK Day, we wanted to reflect back on an event held to mark the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, One Shared Dream, which we attended back in 2023. There, we stood alongside fellow passionate advocates in our nation’s capital to honor Dr. King’s legacy. Dr. King’s actions showed us that silence in the face of injustice is not an option, and he and his fellow Civil Rights activists fought for a future marked by peace, equality and compassion. Together, across communities and cultures, we carry that dream forward, today and every day.
We encourage you to take the time to learn more about Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. To do so, visit the link below!
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Standing in Apex Hall to Say “We Belong”
The recent town hall in Apex was a powerful reminder that fear does not have the final word, and WAVES was honored to be in attendance.
At this event, we heard moving stories from speakers who have been directly impacted by ICE and the deep fear, sadness, and uncertainty experienced by families. Susan Chung, therapist, community advocate and WAVES advisor, shared the story of a 17-year-old former client whose mother was deported while they lived in New York. She reminded us that while we cannot control the system, we can care for ourselves and each other. She also led the audience in grounding and self-care strategies to help us navigate these overwhelming times.
Gerald Givens drew a powerful connection to history, reminding us that in 1924 Chinese Americans were legally excluded from this country, and that the same patterns of fear and division still echo today. As a symbol of solidarity, he shared yellow whistles we sponsored, representing our collective stand against hate and injustice.
As one of the organizers, Rep. Cervania spoke with compassion and strength, urging us to harness our own agency, stay engaged, and remember self-care as an act of resistance. This gathering brought together a myriad of communities standing side by side to say “We belong.”
To everyone who spoke, attended, and supported, thank you for showing that even in the hardest moments, community is our greatest source of strength. If you find yourself looking for help or guidance in response to the recent events happening in our country, check out this resource by Immigrants Rising by clicking on the button below.
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Silent War’s Impact Continues to Spread
January was another big month for Silent War: Asian American Reckonings with Mental Health, and we're honored to share that the piece won the Documentary Feature Social Awareness Award at the Orlando Film Festival! Additionally, the film was also selected to be included in the 2026 Virtual DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon! But it doesn’t stop there: For those in or near Lancaster, PA, you’ll be happy to hear that a screening is being held at the Ware Center for the Arts on Wednesday, February 18th.
For more details about upcoming screenings, check out the Silent War page on our website by clicking on the button below!
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A Message from Our Executive Director Regarding Recent Events
Last month, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the termination of all federal grants related to substance abuse and mental health support. While these grants were ultimately restored, this brief but serious threat to mental health funding was a reminder of something we know all too well: mental health care isn’t optional — it’s essential. Below, we want to share a message from our Executive Director originally posted to LinkedIn:
“Greetings from Taipei! My first 24 hours have been spent NOT focusing on visiting my youngest daughter, teaching English here, and my extended family, including my 95-year-old aunt…
Instead, I found myself conducting multiple emergency meetings, calls, and emails in two coffee shops (nice latte) and now in a Taipei library in response to a sudden notice of termination of the Mental Health Awareness Training Grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
While I am happy to find out the decision was reversed, and hopefully it is THE decision, I want to share what #MHFA training meant to our community since 2022 by our AMAZING #WAVES team. While providing MHFA to 1172 participants nationwide in both English and Chinese languages, we use this training grant to conduct our own research evaluating the effectiveness of the Chinese language. Data does not lie.”
For the individuals, families, and communities served by organizations like WAVES, funding decisions directly impact access to care, crisis response, prevention, and healing. Even short-term disruptions can create real harm. While we’re grateful that this funding was restored, moments like this highlight why continued advocacy matters. Here are some ways individuals can take action to protect essential funding for mental health support:
- Stay informed through trusted sources and advocacy organizations, like NAMI or American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Contact your elected officials — calls and emails matter more than you think
- Support and amplify local mental health organizations
- Vote with mental health in mind
For even more tips on how to protect mental health support in your community, we hope you’ll take a moment to check out the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s page on how to be an advocate. by clicking on the button below.
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View more of our events and programs,
please visit UCA WAVES Calendar↓
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