On September 19, 2024, UCA WAVES held a heartwarming Mid-Autumn Festival celebration luncheon in Cary, North Carolina, where more than 30 WAVES members and supporters gathered together to embrace friendship, make new connections, and enjoy delectable hometown food, including homemade mooncake, which is a Chinese bakery product traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Other traditional Chinese dishes such as roast pork, salted duck, and Lo Mein were served to celebrate this traditional Chinese festival, which symbolizes harmony and unity, with a full moon at night. 

At the event, many WAVES members, including Lily Chen, Pao-hwa Lin, Emma Niu, Fang Qi, Krystal Zhang, Yan Wu, Lily Liu, gathered together with guests and leaders in the community, such as Jianping Yang with North Carolina Chinese Federation (CAFA), Thomas Ray with North Kavick County Poll center, Shuyun Mu with MOVE NC, Jenn Sanford with Karen Community Farm, Htoo Saw Ywa [INTRODUCTION], Moxuan Chu with Apex Learn, and many more. Through sharing a mouthwatering meal, everyone formed a deeper bond by also sharing their understanding of WAVES’ missions and discussing the key issues faced by the community and future collaboration. 

This celebration luncheon, rich in tradition and culture, reminds us of the importance of unity, gratitude, and the simple pleasures of life—such as delicious mooncakes and the beauty of the full moon. Everyone left the event with a feeling of empowerment, carrying this spirit of unity and understanding forward, continuing to support one another serving the community. As WAVES CEO Lily Chen says, “When beautiful minds come together around food, magic happens.”

UCA WAVES举办中秋节聚餐联谊活动

2024年9月19日，UCA WAVES在北卡罗来纳州Cary市举办了一场温馨的中秋节聚餐联谊活动，30多位WAVES的合作伙伴、志愿者、朋友共聚一堂，拥抱老朋友，结识新朋友，一起分享大家带来的美食——自制的月饼，中国传统菜肴叉烧、盐水鸭、炒面等等，共同欢庆这一象征团圆的中国传统节日。

参加了这次活动的，不仅有WAVES成员Lily Chen，林宝华， Emma Niu，方琦，Krystal Zhang，Yan Wu，Lily Liu，还有来自不同领域的嘉宾，包括北卡华人联合会（CAFA）的杨建平，北卡维克郡Poll center的Thomas Ray，MOVE NC的穆淑云，Karen社区农场的Jenn Sanford，Htoo Saw Ywa，登峰学园的朱墨轩等等。大家通过谈话增进了解，探讨未来如何更好地互相支持与合作。

短暂而美好的聚会，不仅温暖了在场的每一个人，更增强了社区成员之间的联结。正如WAVES执行长Lily Chen说的：“当美丽的心灵围绕着食物相聚时，奇迹发生了。”