UCA WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative

UCA WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative Wellness. Advocacy. Voices. Education. Support. An Asian American youth mental health collaborative.

UCA WAVES is a youth mental health collaborative that seeks to provide support particularly among Asian American families. Asian American youth often suffer “silently” with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Stigma against mental illness, social isolation, cultural expectations, identity issues, low mental health literacy, and lack of available fluent or culturally sensitive mental h

ealth professionals – these are only some of the barriers that stand in the way of getting help. In response, we as a collaborative community are here to stand together and work towards Wellness, Advocacy, Voices, Education, and Support (WAVES).

Our monthly newsletter hit inboxes yesterday. It seems spring just keeps getting more exciting!📨🎉From convention news to...
05/01/2026

Our monthly newsletter hit inboxes yesterday. It seems spring just keeps getting more exciting!📨🎉

From convention news to upcoming events you don't want to miss, The Breaker keeps you in the loop on all things WAVES. If you're not on our list, fear not: our website has links to all past editions😉 Better yet, sign up today! We are truly grateful for your support💜

📬 Join the List: https://tinyurl.com/4rn7uw4e
⏰ Past Editions: https://ucawaves.org/blog-feed/

Join us for a special   with UCA WAVES!😊🏡In celebration of   Heritage Month and   Awareness Month, we’re bringing our   ...
04/30/2026

Join us for a special with UCA WAVES!😊🏡

In celebration of Heritage Month and Awareness Month, we’re bringing our together to celebrate culture, promote through engaging activities, and connect with one another. Better yet? Refreshments will be provided! Here's everything you need to know⬇️

🗓 When: Thursday, May 28 | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
🗺️ Where: Room 3701, 800 Park Offices Dr, RTP, NC

Enjoy delicious treats, meaningful conversation, and a welcoming for all. We hope to see you there!

Last week marked  . So for this edition of  , we thought what better thing to explore than the benefits of connecting wi...
04/30/2026

Last week marked . So for this edition of , we thought what better thing to explore than the benefits of connecting with nature!

Spending time outside—or even bringing small, earthy practices into your routine—can reduce , improve mood, and help your body reset. Research shows that time outdoors can lower (your body’s stress hormone), boost immune function, and increase feelings of calm and connection. The best part? It doesn’t require a big trip or major lifestyle change. is more accessible than it might seem.

If you’re feeling a little untethered lately, here are a few ways to get grounded—literally and figuratively!

🌿 Get Outside (Even Briefly) 🌿

A short walk, sitting in the sun, or stepping onto grass barefoot can have a powerful impact. Even 10–15 minutes can help regulate your and improve your mood.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/g8pC9Cs

🌱 Hands in the Dirt 🌱

, planting, or even repotting a houseplant can be surprisingly therapeutic. Engaging directly with soil has been linked to reduced and increased feelings of wellbeing.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/ee_S2Zf

🪨 Grounding (Earthing) 🪨

Physically connecting with the —walking barefoot, sitting on the ground, or touching natural surfaces—may help reduce inflammation, improve , and promote calm.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/eaWe_hQ

🌸 Bring Nature Indoors 🌸

If getting outside isn’t always possible, bringing elements of nature into your space can still help. Plants, natural light, , or even nature sounds can create a environment.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/eu_vdNzu

☀️ Soak Up Natural Light ☀️

Exposure to natural light helps regulate your (your internal clock), which can improve sleep, boost mood, and increase energy levels. Morning sunlight in particular signals to your brain that it’s time to wake up and be alert, while also supporting more sleep at night.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/fyjc3Xz

Simple Ways to Reconnect with Nature This Week...

✅ Step outside for 5–10 minutes without your phone
✅ Notice one natural detail each day (a tree, the sky, a breeze)
✅ Water or care for a plant
✅ Open a window and let fresh air in
✅ Sit on the ground and take a few slow breaths

You don’t have to go far to feel . Sometimes, it’s just about paying attention to what’s already around you. What’s your favorite way to connect with nature? Feel free to in the comments below!⬇️😊

The Silent War documentary is hitting the big screen in Monteabaro Hall at Howard County Community College tonight and t...
04/27/2026

The Silent War documentary is hitting the big screen in Monteabaro Hall at Howard County Community College tonight and tomorrow! Here's the schedule breakdown:

🗓️ Monday, April 27th 🗓️
5:00 PM - Light Reception
6:00 PM - Film Screening (Q&A after)

🗓️ Tuesday, April 28th 🗓️
1:00 PM - Film Screening
2:15 PM - Light refreshments & Q&A

If you're located near Howard County Maryland, we hope you consider stopping by! Want to learn more about the film? Visit silentwarmovie.com.

Last week, we moved into our very first office at 800 Park Offices Drive in RTP, NC!🏢This space allows us a central, pro...
04/22/2026

Last week, we moved into our very first office at 800 Park Offices Drive in RTP, NC!🏢

This space allows us a central, professional space to convene, collaborate, and continue our mission of promoting wellbeing, providing invaluable education, conducting groundbreaking research, and elevating voices in the AAPI community. To say we’re excited is an understatement.

You can catch us in room 3701. We already know this new place is going to serve as a huge asset in connecting with the community. Here’s to another chapter of making WAVES!!☺️💙

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒‼️CALLING ALL PARENTS‼️ 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒We’ve got another exciting session to share! Join Dr. Yi Jia, “Doctor Panda”(美国熊猫医...
04/21/2026

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒‼️CALLING ALL PARENTS‼️ 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

We’ve got another exciting session to share! Join Dr. Yi Jia, “Doctor Panda”(美国熊猫医生) for a parent-focused session at the Mental Health Summit on family well-being, balance, and resilience. This session will be held in Chinese. As a physician who has cared for over 35,000 patients and a dedicated community advocate, he brings practical, culturally grounded insights to help families navigate everyday challenges with clarity and confidence.

⬇️ Here’s what you need to know ⬇️

⏰ When: June 28th - July 1st
🗺️ Where: Caesars Palace, 3570 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Paradise, NV 89109
🎟️ Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-chinese-american-convention-tickets-1917674729739?aff=oddtdtcreator

Questions? Contact conference@ucawaves.org. Ready to register or looking to learn more? Click on the link below. We hope to see you at United Chinese Americans - UCA’s convention this summer!😁

So grateful for everyone who showed up this past Thursday for the Raj Mehta Day of Good!🩵☀️UNC HSAC and UCA WAVES came t...
04/20/2026

So grateful for everyone who showed up this past Thursday for the Raj Mehta Day of Good!🩵☀️

UNC HSAC and UCA WAVES came together to celebrate and create a space for compassion, connection, and community. So many great memories were made, and kindness was shared through postcards and letters. We also created a gratitude wall filled with meaningful messages. Raj Mehta Day of Good is about being there for one another in big ways and small—let’s keep spreading that message beyond it.

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and we've got an illuminating event to share you wo...
04/17/2026

May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and we've got an illuminating event to share you won't want to miss.

Brought to you by the APIC and in partnership with UCA WAVES, our very own executive director, Lily, will take the virtual stage in this upcoming webinar to talk about the mental health crisis in our community, and the cultural, emotional, and systemic barriers contributing to it. But just as importantly, she'll be exploring how storytelling and education can work together to empower individuals and communities to find healing. Here's everything you need to know:

⏰ When: May 13th | 4:00 PM EST
🗺️ Where: Zoom
📲 Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WeTdTrZlSGSdg8UQ05dP0A #/registration

Best of all? It's absolutely FREE! Sign up, spread the word, and join us for a timely discussion about AAPI youth mental health💙🧠

We're excited to share this upcoming event from Tarang, featuring our very own Outreach & Program Manager, Reid Bowman!🗓...
04/16/2026

We're excited to share this upcoming event from Tarang, featuring our very own Outreach & Program Manager, Reid Bowman!🗓️😊

On Wednesday, April 29th, they'll be hosting a discussion around what the research says about AAPI youth mental health, why cultural pressures make it harder for them to speak up, and how parents can be the listening presence that makes all the difference. Centering the perspectives of lived experience, they'll dive into Surgo Health’s report, "The Culture of Silence and Power of Listening: AANHPI Youth Mental Health Insights."

This event is tailored to the AAPI Community in North Carolina, but is open to anyone who may be interested in joining! Ready to register? Click on the link below! Thank you, Tarang, for the amazing work you're doing🧡

📲 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/QQn24v9qQU-JmVc-MUWjbQ #/registration

🍿 🎥 COME SEE ALAN Z 🎥 🍿If you weren’t yet convinced to join us in Las Vegas this summer, you might be now!  We’re elated...
04/15/2026

🍿 🎥 COME SEE ALAN Z 🎥 🍿

If you weren’t yet convinced to join us in Las Vegas this summer, you might be now!

We’re elated to share that the UCA WAVES Mental Health Summit will feature second-generation Chinese American rapper, singer, and actor, Alan Z. With over 100,000 followers, collaborations with hip-hop legends, Asian American icons, and K-Pop idols, and an album centered on AAPI identity, Alan is a powerful voice for this generation.

In an illuminating session, he'll speak candidly about AAPI mental health and his experience working in the entertainment industry as an Asian American. Coming off the May 2026 release of I Love Boosters, in which he appears alongside Keke Palmer and Demi Moore, this discussion will be ripe with insight and authenticity. Trust us, you don't want to miss it!

Here’s what you need to know:

⏰ When: June 28th - July 1st
🗺️ Where: Caesars Palace, 3570 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Paradise, NV 89109
🎟️ Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-chinese-american-convention-tickets-1917674729739?aff=oddtdtcreator

The UCA WAVES Mental Health Summit is being held at United Chinese Americans - UCA’s 2026 Chinese American Convention—a once-in-a-decade event that will bring together 1,000 community activists, elected officials, youth leaders, and business pioneers in the country’s biggest celebration city. No matter who you are, this convening has something for everyone. We hope to see you there!

WAVES Corner: Alli Premieres Groundbreaking Trauma Documentary!🎬🧠It was a very special weekend for one of our team membe...
04/14/2026

WAVES Corner: Alli Premieres Groundbreaking Trauma Documentary!🎬🧠

It was a very special weekend for one of our team members! WAVES Creative Director, A.C. Brooke, premiered her Paper Birds on Saturday in observation of Sexual Assault Awareness Month ( ). The screening took place at her alma mater, Millersville University, where she first began working on the under Dr. Changfu Chang, the director of Silent War.

The 30-minute piece explores fragmented and —a common phenomenon for survivors of childhood trauma. Alli notes that her inspiration behind the film came from noticing a gap in representation, stating in the film, “I remember finding a subreddit for adult survivors of CSA and going through the posts being like, ‘I could’ve written this.’ From there I was able to figure out what I was experiencing and piece things together. But what I couldn’t figure out was, ‘Why is no one talking about it?’”

Following the screening, a was held featuring several professionals from relevant organizations coming together to hold an illuminating discussion on and . The panelists explored common misconceptions, challenges survivors often face, and what it means when we say ‘the body keeps the score.’ But most importantly, they offered in the form of new ideas, sharing available resources, and weaving in their own lived experiences to emphasize that healing really IS possible. It was a beautiful event, and we’re lucky that a few additional WAVES members were even able to attend in-person and virtually!

When we think of what WAVES stands for, so much of it is this: breaking silence and finding strength through and . Congratulations, Alli! We are so proud of you🩵

Want to learn more about ? Click on the link below!

📲 https://projectpaperbirds.com

🩵April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month🩵Sexual trauma is extremely prevalent and can have long lasting effects on menta...
04/13/2026

🩵April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month🩵

Sexual trauma is extremely prevalent and can have long lasting effects on mental health, with survivors often struggling with anxiety, depression, dissociation, or PTSD. Unfortunately, this can then be exacerbated by stigma, blame, a lack of support, or retraumatization by the legal system.

But thankfully, there’s a myriad of organizations out there dedicated to supporting survivors, and we wanted to share some of those resources with you. Here's a short list to get you started:

☎️ https://rainn.org/ — 24/7 crisis support and hotline for survivors seeking immediate help

🪷 https://napiesv.org — Culturally specific advocacy and resources for AAPI survivors

🧔🏾‍♂️ https://1in6.org/ — Specialized support for male survivors of sexual violence

🏳️‍🌈 https://luminaalliance.org/lgbtqia-survivors/ — LGBTQ+-affirming services for survivors seeking inclusive care and support

👩🏻 https://www.ywca.org/ — Support services for women, including crisis intervention and community programs

🌘 https://takebackthenight.org/ — Survivor empowerment through community events and awareness initiatives

🧸 https://enoughabuse.org/ — Prevention-focused resources, especially for protecting children from abuse

📚 https://www.d2l.org/ — Education and prevention efforts aimed at ending child sexual abuse

At WAVES, we believe survivors and recognize the layered impact of sexual trauma on individuals and communities. We hope this month—and every month—you take the time to reflect on that, too. And to those navigating the aftermath of an assault, we want you to know that healing IS possible, and we're committed to creating a safer, more compassionate world that better reflects that.

Address

Room 3701, 800 Park Offices Drive
Apex, NC
27709

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