“I was nervous, but our stories need to be told.”

A beautiful recording of WAVES Founding Executive Director Lily Chen’s presentation, where she shared preliminary findings from our study, “Identifying AAPI Health Priorities in North Carolina,” at the Duke University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Symposium.

Too often, AAPI communities are overlooked in the wider field of health research, leaving critical questions about mental health, healthcare access, and care needs unanswered. We believe that statistics, much like stories, can grant a powerful voice to these neglected communities. Guided by the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us,” WAVES works to generate data that reflects the experiences, challenges, and strengths of AAPI experience. As Lily put into her own words, “I was nervous, but our stories need to be told.”

Our deepest thanks to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) Foundation of North Carolina for recognizing the importance of this work and investing in AAPI research. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone at the Karen Community Farm and to our incredible team, whose participation and dedication made this project possible!

You can watch the recording by clicking on the play button below.