A Month Made for UCA WAVES: A Cause that Calls on You | | |
Marking both AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, it feels like May was made for UCA WAVES. While we’re committed to our mission 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, this season creates an opportunity for the general public to reflect more on what so much of our work revolves around: the mental health crisis in the Asian American community.
Did you know AAPI individuals are nearly three times less likely to seek mental health care than their white counterparts? Or that suicide is the leading cause of death for AAPI young adults ages 15–24? The statistics are startling, and looking at the myriad of factors at play—intracultural stigma, language barriers, racism, care gaps—can be equally overwhelming. But it’s also why we do what we do.
Since 2016, UCA WAVES has worked tirelessly to close critical gaps in mental health support through a number of programs. Whether it’s providing Mental Health First Aid training and QPR suicide prevention training, conducting original community-based research, creating connections through community health workers, peer support and book clubs, empowering the next generation, or supporting storytelling initiatives like Silent War, everything we do is to advance our vision of a supportive and engaging community that fosters healthy and holistic development of our youth.
This month, we encourage you to consider making a donation. Every contribution—whether it’s $1 or $1,000—helps us continue our work in the community.
From everyone at UCA WAVES, thank you for inspiring and helping sustain the movement with us. Together, we can create waves. Together, we will save lives.
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UCA WAVES Open House: Celebrating a New Office and 10 Years of Community Impact | |
As part of celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, UCA WAVES was proud to host our Open House at our new office at 800 Park Offices Drive! This gathering was not only a celebration of our new space, but also a meaningful milestone as we recognized 10 years of WAVES’ work in mental health awareness, community support, cultural connection, and advocacy.
The Open House brought together community members, partners, local leaders, advisors, and supporters to learn more about WAVES’ mission, programs, and vision for the future. Guests had the opportunity to connect with our team, view presentation slides highlighting our work, and celebrate the growth of WAVES over the past decade.
We are honored to welcome several special guests, including TJ Cawley, Mayor of Morrisville; Sheila Reich from the Blue Cross NC Foundation; Ruby Brown-Herring of RBH Wellness Solutions and WAVES Advisor; Cheryl Stallings, Wake County Commissioner; Michelle Barrette, Program Manager for Seniors and Aging with the Town of Cary; Christine Kushner, Wake County Commission candidate; Donald Hughes from the Town of Apex; Maria Cervania, NC General Assembly Representative and WAVES Board Member; and Mona Singh, Wake County Commissioner candidate.
We are especially grateful for the continued support of the Blue Cross NC Foundation, whose funding helped support the completed two-year Identifying AAPI Health Priorities initiative, the three-year Youth Mental Health Grant, and multiple small grants supporting wellness programs, internships, and nonprofit management. These efforts reflect WAVES’ ongoing commitment to listening to our communities, identifying health priorities, and building culturally responsive resources that support AAPI youth and families.
This Open House was a reminder of how far WAVES has come and how much more we can accomplish together. As we look ahead, we remain committed to raising awareness, strengthening community partnerships, promoting culturally sensitive mental health care, and creating spaces where AAPI communities feel seen, heard, and supported.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating this special milestone and the next chapter of UCA WAVES.
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WAVES Research Highlighted at Duke CTSI Symposium
We were honored to present preliminary survey results on AAPI health priorities in North Carolina at Duke CTSI's "Trustworthy Translation: Stories of Today, Visions of Tomorrow" Symposium.
This groundbreaking study is helping address a critical gap in disaggregated AAPI health data, providing community-level insights that are often missing from traditional research. Preliminary findings reveal that mental health was identified as the top health priority among several surveyed communities, including Chinese, Karen refugees, and other AAPI populations. Participants also emphasized the need for increased community education and awareness training as a key intervention strategy.
This work is part of a multi-pronged research initiative supported by the Blue Cross NC Foundation and made possible through the trust and partnership of community members across North Carolina. We extend our gratitude to the Karen Community Farm at Oaky Grove, led by Htoo Saw Yaw and its advisory committee, along with our 12 community partners who supported outreach and data collection efforts.
We also thank our research team and collaborators, including Dr. Paohwa Lin of Duke University, Dr. Grace Wu and Dr. Wenxin Bian of UNC Chapel Hill, and the many WAVES team members and youth leaders who contributed to survey administration, outreach, and community engagement.
By elevating community voices and advocating for more detailed health data collection, this research is helping build a stronger foundation for addressing health disparities and improving mental health outcomes within AAPI communities across North Carolina. Want to know more about research at UCA WAVES? Click on the button below!
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WAVES Represents at Common Roots Festival
We had such a wonderful time at the 5th Annual Common Roots Festival hosted by North Carolina Asian Americans Together at Durham Central Park!
In addition to connecting with the community, it was especially heartwarming to watch our own families come together. Lei and Krystal arrived early to secure our spot, Anne carefully prepared the tea and snacks, and continuously served everyone for more than four hours on site, while Lily and Pan made a special trip to deliver tables and tents. That energy is clearly rubbing off on the next generation of WAVES, because we had some incredible young volunteers who made paper butterflies, explained calligraphy, participated in Taiji, helped serve tea, and shared about our organization. The future is very bright!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by and made the day so special. Interested in volunteering with us? Click on the button below!
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WAVES Publishes Captivating Op-Ed on Mental Health Crisis in AAPI Youth
Behind every statistic is a story. A family carrying silent pain. A young person struggling alone. A community taught not to talk about mental health.
In honor of AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, our Executive Director, Lily, and longtime UCA WAVES member, Justin Chen, wrote about the urgent mental health crisis impacting AAPI communities. But equally important, they illustrated the power of culturally rooted, community-led solutions.
At UCA WAVES, we’ve seen what happens when trust is built: our recent suicide prevention training filled in less than 24 hours. It’s clear that our community is ready for these conversations, and it’s our mission to help facilitate them.
You can read the article now by clicking on the button below. Thank you to everyone helping us create change and save lives.
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Walking for Awareness: Showing Up for NAMIWalks NC
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, WAVES attended NAMIWalks North Carolina, one of the largest grassroots mental health events in the state, to stand in solidarity with individuals, families, and communities impacted by mental health challenges.
Our team members joined NAMIWalks for a one-mile walk. Although it was a simple act, it brought hundreds of people together with a shared purpose: to help destigmatize mental health and show support for those impacted by mental illness. Seeing so many people come together was a powerful reminder that raising awareness and creating change takes community.
For WAVES, participating in this event was a meaningful opportunity to continue our commitment to breaking stigma around mental health, especially within AAPI and immigrant communities. We are grateful to everyone who joined, walked, and helped represent WAVES’ mission to raise awareness, build community support, and promote culturally sensitive mental health care for AAPI communities.
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WAVES Attends Inspiring Summit Held by TAAF
This month, we had the honor of attending the Asian American Foundation (TAAF) Summit, an incredibly hope-filled gathering centered on storytelling, leadership, and—as always—the power of community.
We heard deeply inspiring stories from trailblazers both on and off the stage who reminded us of why representation is more than visibility. It’s about safety, belonging, and creating lasting change. At WAVES, that mission deeply resonates with our work to support survivors and create spaces where healing stories can be told on their own terms.
Heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this incredible event happen. And thank you, TAAF, for continuing to inspire us with your advocacy and action. We are proud to be Asian Americans!
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UCA WAVES Represents At Mother’s Day 5k
This past Mother’s Day—and in honor of AANHPI Heritage Month—UCA WAVES Founding Executive Director, Lily Chen, and Advisor, Juliana Chen, joined more than 600 participants at the annual AAPI 5K Run & Walk in Lexington, MA!
Hosted by the Chinese American Association of Lexington (CAAL) and Hey Runners Club, and sponsored by the United Chinese Americans (UCA) and the UCA Community Foundation, this eco-friendly, USATF-certified race has brought communities together since 2022. From roses for moms to AAPI food tastings and finisher medals, the gathering brought together culture and connection to make for a remarkable day. We want to give a special thank you to Hua Wang, President of CAAL and Board Chair of UCA National, for helping lead such a meaningful event. Here’s to celebrating heritage, wellness, and moms all in one!
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WAVES Corner: Celebrating Ling Jin!
We want to congratulate Ling Jin on obtaining her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ling has been a part of WAVES since 2024, serving as NC program officer. Ling has been an inspiring leader and advocate for mental health awareness within the WAVES community. Through her work helping lead the “Identifying AAPI Health Priorities in North Carolina” community-level survey, she has played an important role in uplifting the voices, experiences, and needs of AAPI communities across the state. Her dedication reflects a deep commitment to culturally responsive care, community-centered research, and mental health advocacy.
We are so proud of Ling and excited to see the meaningful impact she will continue to make in the mental health field. Congratulations, Ling!
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Silent War in Three States!
Throughout May, Silent War: Asian American Reckonings with Mental Health brought communities together across North Carolina, Nebraska, and Virginia for meaningful conversations about mental health in AAPI communities. In North Carolina, more than 80 participants joined a virtual screening hosted in partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, featuring opening remarks from state leaders and a thoughtful panel discussion. In Omaha, Nebraska, a community screening at Film Streams—hosted in collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, AAPI student and employee groups, and local partners—sparked powerful dialogue and reflection among attendees. The month concluded with a public screening in Fairfax County, Virginia, in partnership with the Fairfax County Health Department, where community members gathered to explore culturally informed approaches to mental health support.
Together, these events furthered the film's mission of reducing stigma, increasing awareness, and creating space for honest conversations about mental health across AAPI communities. Want to learn more about Silent War? Click on the button below!
| Get MHFA Trained This June | | Mark Your Calendars for the UCA WAVES Mental Health Summit at UCA’s 2026 Chinese American Convention! | | |
Taking place at the 5th United Chinese Americans (UCA) Convention, our upcoming mental health summit, Community in Action, brings together youth, parents, and community leaders for a powerful gathering centered on mental health, wellness, and connection.
From research and lightning talks to illuminating sessions on AAPI identity and nonprofit management, this event truly has something for everyone—and you don’t want to miss it. Here’s what you need to know:
Looking to learn more? We've got you covered. Click on the button below!
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