From April 28–30, UCA WAVES joined over 20 community-based mental health organizations across the U.S. for NNEDLearn 2025 in Washington, D.C.🌎

Our team—Executive Director Jian Chen, MHFA Coordinator & Trainer Feng Xue, and WAVES Maker & Columbia University Epidemiology researcher Warren Lu—immersed ourselves in three days of learning.

📘Theme: Strengthening the Capacity of Community-Based Organizations to Provide the Best Quality Behavioral Health Care

✨Highlights:
– Strategic planning and capacity building through SWOT analysis
– AI-powered data analysis and storytelling workshops
– Collaborative discussions and nationwide network building

We also had the honor of visiting the Chinatown-based comprehensive health clinic led by Kate Lu, a longtime health equity advocate, had a heartfelt mini-retreat with WAVES volunteers from the Maryland area – and wrapped up the trip with a lunch conversation between our youth and young professionals and Maryland Senator Clarence Lam 💙

📢 “We’re not just looking for a seat at the table. We’re here to co-build that table—with our culture, our voice, and our solutions.”