WAVES Makes a Splash at APHA Conference!

In early November, members of the UCA WAVES team presented at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Conference, joining thousands of leaders and changemakers dedicated to advancing public health. Our Executive Director, Lily, connected with inspiring experts—including Dr. Shawn Kneipp from UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing—and met with valued partners from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, including Elaine Tsao, Sanjana Bhakta, and Morgan J. Grant.

A highlight of the conference was celebrating one of our own: Ellean Chen, our exceptional 15-year-old researcher, who won the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus’ Best Abstract Student Award. This achievement reflects the power of mentorship, passion, and the bright potential of the next generation of public health leaders. The students, volunteers, and staff who supported Ellean’s presentation embodied the true spirit of community and collaboration.

The conference was an energizing and inspiring opportunity to connect, learn, and share our mission alongside so many dedicated professionals. We look forward to bringing these insights back to our work as we continue championing health equity and empowering future difference makers.

WAVES Represents at TAAF Conference

WAVES was proud to be represented at this year’s AAPI Youth Mental Health Conference held by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), where Reid Bowman, MPH, CHES, joined fellow panelists Quynh Nguyen, Rupesh Shah, Tone Va'i, LCSW, and Sruthi Chandrasekaran for the opening session, “Beyond the Surface: Stories Beneath the Numbers.”

This powerful conversation brought data to life through lived experience, professional insight, and community perspectives. Together, the panel explored key findings from Beyond the Surface and emphasized the human stories behind AANHPI youth mental health statistics. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for culturally grounded support, collective advocacy, and storytelling as a catalyst for change.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with such thoughtful leaders and to continue uplifting the voices and experiences of AANHPI youth and families. Thank you, TAAF!

Marching for Public Health In Washington, D.C.

After attending the APHA conference, WAVES was proud to join advocates from across the country at the Rally for the Public’s Health at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the American Public Health Association (APHA), the event spotlighted urgent issues like mental health, violence prevention, and health equity. Our team is always proud to stand in solidarity for public health, amplifying the message that community wellness and prevention deserve national priority.

Attending Taste of China

We kicked off November attending the 5th Annual Taste of China Festival in Downtown Cary! Hosted by the Chinese American Friendship Association (CAFA) and Town of Cary, the event was filled with authentic food, beautiful performances, and incredible community spirit. From traditional dance and music to over 80 local vendors, the day was a vibrant celebration of culture and friendship. We’re so grateful to have been part of such a meaningful event that celebrates diversity and brings our community together.

An Exclusive Clip from Silent War Drops!

In honor of Silent War hitting the big screen at Duke, we shares a special clip from the film. Korean American journalist Michelle Li’s story illustrates how everyday racism shows up in subtle but deeply cutting ways. Back in January 2022, she mentioned eating dumpling soup on air on New Year’s Day as part of a Korean tradition, only to later receive a scathing voicemail calling her comment inappropriate and “very Asian,” as if that were somehow a bad thing.

These experiences, often dismissed as small, become turning points. The “lunch box moment.” The off-hand comment. The message that who you are is somehow wrong. When identity is pushed into the margins, it doesn’t just create disconnection but fuels isolation, internalized shame, and lasting impacts on mental health. As humans, connection is everything—we need it to survive. So when our very existence is ostracized, it lands hard.

Michelle recognized this and chose to give her story an empowering ending by co-founding The Very Asian Foundation, which aims to illuminate Asian experiences through advocacy, storytelling, and celebration. Taking pain and turning it into something powerful and transformative is exactly what we aim to do with Silent War.

Want to see the clip? Click on the button below.

WAVES Member's Corner: A Personal Testimony from One of Our Volunteers

As a small nonprofit, much of our work is powered by dedicated volunteers who give their time, heart, and lived experience. That’s why the generosity of our community makes such an impact. In honor of Giving Tuesday, we decided to share a recent reflection from one of our volunteers, Angel. Here's an excerpt:

“As a first-generation Chinese immigrant who has built a life in the United States… I came across UCA WAVES. What I found there was a rare sincerity—an organization willing to talk about mental health, confront silence and stigma in the Asian American community, and create a safe space for our people in the face of prejudice, shame, and systemic barriers… This is why I choose to contribute and volunteer.”

Angel's testimony offer a glimpse into the heart behind our mission, and we hope her words move you as much as they moved us. Ready to read the whole thing? We thought so! Check it out by clicking on the button below:

Silent War Screened at Duke University

On Nov 18, Duke University hosted a special screening of Silent War: Asian American Reckonings with Mental Health, co-organized by Asian/Pacific Studies Institute at Duke University and Asian American & Diaspora Studies Program at Duke University.

After the screening, community leaders and mental health advocates joined a meaningful discussion on why Asian Americans experience high levels of distress, yet are among the least likely to seek help due to stigma and cultural barriers. It was a powerful day filled with meaningful conversations, and we can’t wait to continue the momentum. In fact, we just found out that Silent War has been selected to be screened at the Orlando Film Festival! Situated in the heart of the city, the event stretches for 8 days, features more than 350 films, industry panels, and workshops, brings together over 300 indie filmmakers, and boasts an attendance of 12,000 people.

Want to learn more about the film? Click on the button below.

Building Community at AAPI Mental Health Workshop

On Thursday, November 6th, WAVES was proud to join the AAPI Affinity Group, the Mental Health Matters Club, and NAMI at Durham Academy for an insightful and empowering AAPI Mental Health Workshop.

Huge thanks to our speakers Dr. Sujaya, Beth Chou, and our very own Peer Support Specialist, Krystal Zhang, for leading such meaningful conversations around cultural stigma, identity, community support, and the unique mental health challenges faced by AAPI youth. Thank you to everyone who showed up, listened, and engaged. Moments like these matter.

WAVES Awarded Julian Grace Foundation Grant

We’re thrilled to share some incredible news: WAVES has been awarded a Fall 2025 grant from the Julian Grace Foundation! Generosity like this is what allows us to do what we do. We are so deeply grateful to the Julian Grace Foundation for recognizing and believing in our work.

Powerful Op-Ed by WAVES Executive Director Published

"After immigrating to this country 37 years ago, I put my passport in my backpack two days ago at the suggestion of friends, not because of travel, but because of ICE. "

These are words from our Executive Director, Lily Chen, recently published in an op-ed by AsAmNews. Sadly, this captures the experience of many across the United States at the moment. Feeling safe in one's community is a human right, not a privilege, and WAVES will continue to work towards building a world where that's recognized.

If you'd like to check out this powerful piece, visit the link below. Thank you, Lily, for using your voice.

Reflecting on Community at Roots & Resilience

Perhaps no session at our September conference illustrated this better than “Healing In Action” where, in addition to displaying youth research (which you may remember reading about last month), attendees were invited to enjoy hands-on activities such as flower arranging with Kree’s Flowers, tai chi, guided stretching, and even witness a traditional Lion Dance! 

The session also featured exhibitor tables showcasing organizations, resources, and community partners dedicated to promoting mental health and holistic wellbeing. Thanks to Eden & Grace Photography, participants were also able to enjoy a joyful photo booth that encouraged fun, memory-making, and togetherness throughout the day. Connection is an integral part of wellbeing, and one of the most beautiful—and ground—ways to do that is by engaging with tradition. We hope maybe this inspires you to find a little bit of community in your week! 

If you missed the conference, don't fear! You can read and see more by clicking on the button below.

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WAVES 在 APHA 年会上大放异彩

在十一月初，UCA WAVES 团队成员参加了美国公共卫生协会（APHA）年度大会，与数千名致力于推动公共卫生事业的领袖与变革者齐聚一堂。我们的执行董事 Lily 与众多顶尖专家交流，其中包括北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校护理学院的 Shawn Kneipp 博士，并与来自 National Council for Mental Wellbeing 的重要合作伙伴会面，包括 Elaine Tsao、Sanjana Bhakta 和 Morgan J. Grant。



大会的一个特别亮点是庆祝我们团队中的一位年轻之星：15 岁的杰出研究员 Ellean Chen，荣获了AAPI委员会（Asian Pacific Islander Caucus）的“最佳学生摘要奖”。这一成就展现了导师指导的力量、热情的驱动，以及下一代公共卫生领袖的无限潜力。帮助Ellean准备此次汇报的学生、志愿者和工作人员，也充分体现了社区与协作的真正精神。

这次大会带来了满满的能量与启发，为我们提供了与众多专业人士交流、学习与分享的宝贵机会。我们期待将这些洞见带回日常工作中，继续推动健康公平，赋能未来的改变者。

WAVES 亮相 TAAF 年度大会

在今年由亚洲美国人基金会（TAAF）举办的 AAPI 青年心理健康大会上，WAVES 很荣幸获邀参与其中。本次大会的开幕主题为“Beyond the Surface: Stories Beneath the Numbers（超越表面：数字背后的故事）”，WAVES的项目经理 Reid Bowman（MPH, CHES）与同台讲者 Quynh Nguyen、Rupesh Shah、Tone Va'i（LCSW）以及 Sruthi Chandrasekaran 一同参加了这一重要对话。

这场深具力量的讨论通过亲身经历、专业洞见和社区视角让数据“活”了起来。小组成员共同探讨了《Beyond the Surface》报告的关键发现，并强调了 AANHPI 青年心理健康统计背后真实的人物故事。讨论突出了拥有深厚文化根基的心理健康支持、集体倡导，以及用故事推动变革的紧迫性。



我们非常幸运能与这些思想领袖们同台，并继续为 AANHPI 青年与家庭的经历发声。感谢 TAAF！

华盛顿特区公共卫生游行

在参加 APHA 年会之后，WAVES 很荣幸与来自全美的倡导者们一起，在华盛顿特区国家广场参与了“为公众健康集会”活动。该活动由美国公共卫生协会（APHA）主办，聚焦心理健康、暴力预防和健康公平等紧迫议题。我们的团队一如既往，自豪地站在公共卫生事业的最前线，传递社区健康与预防应成为国家优先事项的这一重要信息。

参加“中国之味”活动

我们以参加Cary市中心举办的第五届年度“中国之味”文化节，拉开了十一月的序幕！该活动由北卡华联（CAFA）和Cary市共同主办，现场充满了地道美食、精彩表演和浓厚的社区精神。从传统舞蹈与音乐到 80 多家本地商家，这一天成为了一个充满活力的文化与友谊盛会。我们非常感恩能够参与这样一个有意义的活动，通过庆祝多元文化，让社区更加紧密团结。

《沉默的战争》独家片段上线！



为庆祝《无声的战争》在杜克大学大银幕亮相，我们分享了影片中的一个特别片段。韩裔美国记者 Michelle Li 的故事揭示了日常生活中那些微妙却深刻伤人的种族主义。2022 年 1 月，她在新年当天的直播中提到按照韩国传统吃饺子汤，结果后来收到一通尖刻的语音留言，指责她的评论不合适并“太亚洲了”，仿佛这是件负面的事。

这些常被忽视的小经历，往往会成为人生的转折点。比如说像“午餐便当时刻”，随口的一句评论，还有那种让你感觉“自己不被接纳”的信息等。当身份被推向边缘，被排斥的不只是文化，更是一种深层的连接感。这会带来孤立、内化的羞耻，以及持续影响心理健康的伤痕。人与人之间的连接，对于我们人类来说至关重要，是我们得以生存的基石。当我们的存在被否定时，那种冲击极其深刻。

Michelle 认识到了这一点，并选择让她的故事有一个更有力量的结局——她共同创立了 “Very Asian Foundation（非常亚洲基金会）”，致力于通过倡议、故事分享与庆祝活动，照亮亚洲人的经历。将痛苦转化为力量与改变，这正是我们希望通过《沉默的战争》所达到的。

想观看这段片段吗？请点击下方按钮。

WAVES 会员角落：来自我们一位志愿者的个人见证

作为一家小型非营利组织，我们的许多工作都由敬业的志愿者推动，他们投入时间、热忱，以及自身的生命经验。这正是为什么我们社区的慷慨会带来如此深远的影响。为了纪念“捐赠星期二”（Giving Tuesday），我们决定分享一位志愿者 Angel 最近的心得体会。以下是节选内容：



“作为一名在美国扎根的第一代华人移民……我遇到了 UCA WAVES。在那里，我发现了一种难得的真诚， 一个愿意谈论心理健康、直面亚裔美国人社区中的沉默与污名，并在偏见、羞耻和系统性障碍面前，为我们创造安全空间的组织……这就是我选择贡献并参与志愿服务的原因。”

Angel 的见证让我们得以一窥我们使命背后的真心所在，我们希望她的言语能像打动我们一样，也同样打动你。

准备好阅读全文了吗？我们想你已经准备好了！点击下方按钮即可查看。

《沉默的战争》在杜克大学放映

11月18日，杜克大学举办了《无声的战争：亚裔美国人的心理健康清算》特别放映会，由杜克大学亚太研究所（Asian/Pacific Studies Institute）和亚裔美国人与离散群体研究项目（Asian American & Diaspora Studies Program）共同主办。

在影片放映后，社区领袖与心理健康倡导者们展开了一场深度对话，探讨为何亚裔美国人承受着高水平的心理压力，却因污名化与文化障碍而成为最不愿寻求帮助的群体之一。这是充满力量与意义的一天，我们迫不及待地想继续推动更多这样的交流。

更令人激动的是，我们刚刚得知《沉默的战争》已入选奥兰多电影节！该电影节位于城市中心，活动为期八天，展映超过350部影片，并设有行业座谈与工作坊，吸引300多名独立电影人参与，观众人数更是达到12,000人。

想进一步了解这部影片吗？请点击下方按钮。

在 AAPI 心理健康工作坊中建设社区

11月6日（星期四），WAVES 很荣幸与德仁学院(Durham Academy)的 AAPI 小组、心理健康社团（Mental Health Matters Club）以及 NAMI德仁学院分支 一同举办了一场充满深度与力量的 AAPI 心理健康工作坊。



非常感谢我们的讲者Sujaya博士、Beth Chou，以及我们自己的朋辈支持专家Krystal Zhang，领导大家展开关于文化污名、身份认同、社区支持以及 AAPI 青年所面临的独特心理健康挑战的深度对话。也感谢每一位出席、倾听并参与其中的人。这样的时刻，意义非凡。

WAVES 获得朱利安·格雷斯基金会资助

我们激动地分享一条好消息：WAVES 获得了朱利安·格雷斯基金会 2025 年秋季资助！正是有这样的慷慨支持，我们能够坚持并拓展我们的工作。我们衷心感谢朱利安·格雷斯基金会对我们使命的认可与信任。

WAVES 执行董事发表有力评论文章

“在 37 年前移民到这个国家后，两天前我按照朋友们的建议把护照放进了背包，不是因为要旅行，而是因为担心移民执法局（ICE）。”

这是我们执行董事 Lily Chen 在 AsAmNews 上发表的评论文章中的一句话。遗憾的是，这正反映了当下美国许多人共同的处境。能在自己的社区中感到安全是一项人权，而不是特权。WAVES 将继续努力，推动世界真正认识到这一点。

如果您想阅读这篇有力的文章，请访问下方链接。感谢 Lily 勇敢发声。

在 “Roots & Resilience” 中反思社区力量

也许没有哪个环节比我们九月大会上的“Healing In Action”（疗愈进行时）更能体现这一点了。除了展示青年研究成果（您可能还记得我们上个月的介绍），参与者们还受邀体验一系列互动活动，如 Kree’s Flowers 的插花、太极、引导式伸展，甚至欣赏了一场传统的舞狮表演！



本次活动还设有展览摊位，展示了致力于促进心理健康与整体福祉的组织、资源和社区合作伙伴🌱 多亏了 Eden & Grace Photography，参与者们也能够在欢乐的照片亭中记录美好瞬间，享受乐趣、建立回忆、并在整天中感受彼此的连结。连接是幸福感的重要组成部分，而与传统互动，正是培养这种连接最美、也最扎根的一种方式。希望这也能启发您在本周找到属于自己的一点社区温暖！

如果您错过了大会，也不必担心！点击下方按钮即可阅读并查看更多内容。

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