Culture. Conversation. Community.

Two weeks on, and we’re still not over what an incredible time we had in Las Vegas celebrating the 10th anniversary of UCA and UCA WAVES! There, we were honored to host the Community in Action Mental Health Summit at UCA’s 5th Chinese American Convention. Through a dynamic lineup of engaging and inspiring programs, the gathering brought together powerful voices, sparked meaningful conversation, and highlighted how mental health can be woven into everyday life.

Attendees participated in morning yoga and meditation, reflective sessions on parent-child relationships, discussions on careers in mental health, digital storytelling, youth research and advocacy, QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training, a community showcase, and so much more. One of our favorite moments was watching youth volunteers energize the crowd with a flash mob performance of “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, celebrating AAPI confidence, identity, and culture. Our team also premiered its original Three-and-a-Half Sentence comedy skit, How We Ride WAVES, humorously reflecting on our organization’s decade-long journey of breaking the silence around mental health and walking alongside the community in healing and resilience. We were touched to see the performance met with enthusiastic laughter and applause!

But along with reflecting on the past and present, we also got a glimpse into our future (spoiler alert: it’s looking bright!) Pioneers of the next generation traveled from across the country to share original research and compelling stories through art, film, and personal narratives exploring identity, bullying, family communication, and the experiences of immigrant families. Their presentations demonstrated the creativity, courage, and leadership of young people who are driving meaningful change in their communities.

The summit also provided a valuable opportunity for scholars, mental health professionals, families, youth leaders, and representatives from community organizations to exchange ideas, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships. Conversations centered on mental health promotion, family support, youth empowerment, and cross-sector collaboration, laying the foundation for greater resource sharing and collective action in building healthier, more inclusive, and more resilient AAPI community.

As we enter our next decade of impact, we warmly invite you to continue supporting and participating in this movement. Mark your calendars for September 10–11, 2027, in Raleigh, North Carolina, for the next UCA WAVES Mental Health Summit, as we continue turning compassion into action and building healthier, stronger, and more hopeful communities for all!

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