Filling Gaps In Data. Uplifting Underserved Voices.

We are thrilled to share that our first publication on AAPI refugees, with a focus on Karen refugee parents, is now published! To our knowledge, this is also the first study focused specifically on this underserved population.

For us, this isn’t simply about having “another publication.” It is about using data, community voices, and evidence-based approaches to better serve communities who experience some of the greatest vulnerabilities and barriers to care. According to a North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services report, 5,030 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in Wake County live in poverty. We hope the stories and experiences shared in this article help us better understand the challenges facing AAPI refugee families and, more importantly, inspire meaningful action to support their mental health and well-being.

Among the many WAVES villagers who helped to make this a possibility, we extend our deepest gratitude to the mentors, researchers, community partners, young scholars, co-authors, and families who contributed their time, expertise, trust, and care.

We are especially grateful to Dr. Cheryl Woods Giscombe,for her patient, wise, and compassionate mentorship; dissertation committee members Jessica Williams, Ya-Ke (Grace) Wu, Dr. Jada L. Brooks, and Dr. Paohwa Lin, who also served as co-PI for the “Identifying AAPI Health Priorities in North Carolina” project funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation; program officer Shelia Reich; and Yolanda VanRiel of North Carolina Central University for their support throughout this work.

We are also grateful for the work of our incredible WAVES team, including young scholars and co-authors Dr. Lily Chen, Warren Lu, Hannah Feng, Naialie Lor, Tianlin Jiang, and Ling Jin. And, most importantly, we thank the Karen Community Farm parents and youth for their trust, courage, continued engagement, and commitment to serving their community. Their voices and partnership are at the heart of this work.

Check out the publication by clicking on the button below. Interested in reading the whole article? Contact UCA WAVES Executive Founder, Lily Chen, at lily.chen@ucawaves.org to receive the PDF.