Roots & Resilience: The Power of Data & Stories to Advance AAPI Youth Mental Health
It’s hard to put into words how powerful this event was. While we spent countless hours over half a year putting this conference together, the end result transcended our wildest dreams. Roughly 300 people came together for Roots & Resilience: The Power of Data & Stories to Advance AAPI Youth Mental Health–youth, parents, clinicians, educators, policymakers, and community leaders all in one space.
Together, we shared research and data that reveal urgent truths, while also honoring the lived experiences and stories that bring those truths to life. What stood out most was the courage of our youth and families. Their voices reminded us why this work matters, that behind every statistic is a human being, with hopes, struggles, and resilience. The “I Wish” wall, the poster session, the wellness and cultural activities, and the youth panel all reflected a community ready to be seen and heard. We also saw the power of collaboration: leaders across sectors joining forces, film and storytelling opening hearts, cultural traditions grounding us in healing, and professionals committing to new ways of showing up for AAPI youth mental health. We left inspired, challenged, and deeply grateful for every speaker, volunteer, partner, and attendee who made it possible.
Special thanks to our amazing sponsors who made this event possible: North Carolina DHHS DMHDDSUD, BlueCross and BlueShield of North Carolina Foundation, The Asian American Foundation, Triangle Community Foundation, Julian Grace Foundation, United Chinese Americans Community Foundation, Chinese American Friendship Association, Blue Sails Counseling and Consulting, HealthLit4Wake and Alliance Health. It truly takes a village!
Earn CME, CE, and Participation Credits!
We are working with Moses/Weitzman Health System and its Weitzman Institute to provide CME or CE credits specific to your health profession (or participation credits for those not covered by the available health profession credits) for the conference.
More information will be provided in the next few weeks. Please contact info@UCAWAVES.org with questions.
Kick the day off with a networking breakfast!
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Empowering CBOs: Advancing AAPI Mental Health Together
9/26 FRI | 2:30 – 5:00 PM (INVITATION ONLY)
This pre-conference roundtable brings together policymakers, community leaders, providers, advocates, and youth to explore community-driven solutions for improving AAPI mental health outcomes.
Conference Keynote: Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
Location: Room 1A&B | Time: 8:30 – 8:55 AM
This keynote address will be delivered by Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Revealing the Realities: TAAF’s Survey on AAPI Youth Mental Health
Location: Room 1A&B | Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
This session will explore findings from The Asian American Foundation’s national youth mental health survey, highlighting trends, key concerns, and implications for service providers, educators, and advocates working with AAPI youth.
Mental Health First Aid Training in Chinese Americans: implications for community engagement and research
Location: Room 1D | Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Presenters will discuss culturally adapted Mental Health First Aid initiatives in Chinese American communities, highlighting strategies for stigma reduction, community engagement, and the potential for research partnerships grounded in lived experience.
Locally Grounded: AAPI Health Research in North Carolina
Location: Room 1A&B | Time: 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Researchers and practitioners will share current community-engaged projects focused on health disparities, refugee experiences, and culturally informed care in North Carolina’s AAPI communities, offering insight into local data and lived experiences.
AAPI Youth Speak: Stories, Strength, and the “I Wish” Wall
Location: Room 1D | Time: 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
AAPI and refugee youth from Karen, Hmong, and other Southeast Asian communities will share personal stories and reflections on mental health, resilience, and what they wish their parents and caregivers better understood.
Social Media & Youth: A Survival Guide for Parents & Clinicians
Location: Room 1A&B | Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Boxed lunches will be provided. During the first 20 minutes, keynote speaker Dr. Howard Liu will discuss how social media can be a powerful tool for advocacy, destigmatization, and storytelling in mental health, especially among AAPI youth and professionals navigating digital platforms.
Healing in Action: Youth Posters and Wellness & Cultural Activities
Location: Room 1A&B (Poster Sessions) Room 1D (Wellness Activities) | Time: 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Youth will present original research and creative projects addressing AAPI mental health, while wellness sessions will offer hands-on experiences like flower arranging, tai chi, a Lion Dance, and guided stretching to promote healing and cultural connection.
Reckoning On Screen: Silent War Documentary Film Premiere
Location: Room 1A&B | Time: 2:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Join us for the premiere of Silent War: Asian American Reckoning, a documentary examining the mental health crisis within AAPI communities. A panel with the film’s creators and mental health leaders will follow the screening, including a keynote address delivered by Victor Armstrong, MSW.
Break for dinner on your own!
4:45 PM – 6:45 PM
Supporting Student Wellness: Guidance for Chinese-Speaking Families
Location: Room 1A&B | Time: 6:45 PM – 9:00 PM
This evening session—led in Chinese—features a keynote on emotional wellness by school psychologist Gang (Julie) Xie, followed by small-group discussions tailored to the needs of Chinese-speaking families navigating mental health conversations.
We invite abstract submissions from youth, students, educators, researchers, and community leaders for the 2025 AAPI Youth Mental Health Conference. Submissions may include scientific research, personal narratives, case studies, art-based work, or community projects that explore, understand and improve mental well-being for AAPI youth and their families. Merit Award is available for youth presenters.
Submission Deadline: August 31, 2025 | Notification of Acceptance: September 9, 2025
Questions? Contact us at info@ucawaves.org.
Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW
Director, NC DMHDDSUS
Justin Chen, MD, MPH
Vice Chair, Outpatient Psychiatry, Cornel Medicine, WAVES Advisory Board Chair
Howard Y. Liu, MD, MBA
Chair, Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Communication Chair, APA
G. Julie Xie, PhD
Licensed Educational Psychologist
Victor Armstrong, MSW
Senior VP, American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Eh Taw Boe
Karen College Student,
NC State Senior
Ruby Brown-Herring, MSW
National Mental Health Trainer & Expert
Tenly Biggs, MSW, LMSW
National Behavioral Health Expert
David Scott Binanay
Musician & “DooR to DooR” Program Director, UNC
Rep. Maria Cervania
UCA WAVES Board Member
Perry Chen, MS,
Former Social Science Analyst, HSS
Changfu Chang, PhD
Film Director
Sruthi Chandrasekaran
Director of Research, TAAF
Jian (Lily) Chen, RN, PhD(C), CNE
UCA WAVES
Executive Director
Juliana Chen, MD
Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Chief Medical Officer, Cartwheel
Xuesong Han, PhD
Scientific Director
Health Services Research, ACS
John Holton, PhD
Director of Strategic Initiatives, UIC School of Social Work
Ku Htoo, BA
Karen Young Professional
Pao-Hwa Lin, PhD
Professor, Duke School
of Medicine
Crystal Leng
Volunteer Director, WAVES
Lucille Liu
High School Student
Pooja Mehta
AAPI Community Outreach Lead, NC DMHDDSUS
Naialie Lor
Student, UNC Chapel Hill
Mary She, MD, M.Sc
Psychiatry resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Ana (Nikka) Sucaldito, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor,
UNC Greensboro
Taneyetta Sutton, MSW, LCSWA
Sr Administrator SW/Mental Health, WCPSD
Finneas Wong, PhD(c)
Counseling Psychology PhD student, ASU
Ya-Ke (Grace) Wu, RN, PhD
UNC Chapel Hill, AAPI Health Priority Research
Chunying Zhao, MLSW
WAVES Training Co-Director
Cixin Wang, PhD
Associate Professor of School Psychology, University of MD
Liana Adrong, MSW, LCSW-A
Executive Director, MANC; MAO
Charrissa Cheah, PhD
University of Maryland, College Park
Feng Xue
WAVES Finance Team; MHFA Co- Coordinator
Haipei Shue
President, United Chinese Americans
Book Your Room!
We have reserved a few rooms at Holiday Inn Express and Suites Raleigh SW near NC State University for 9/26-28/2025 for our conference. Please find the detailed information below on how to make a reservation.
Address: 3741 Thistledown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
To make phone reservations, call 919-854-0001 ext 1 (reservations) or 1-800-HOLIDAY, and mention group code: UCA or UCA Waves.
To make reservations online, click the button below. Online reservation may not be available on mobile devices. Cancellation Policy: Reservations can be changed or canceled without penalty until 6:00 PM on Thursday, September 25, 2025 (one day before arrival).
UCA WAVES 
