Join us for Community In Action—a dynamic gathering of youth, parents, and community leaders exploring mental health through storytelling, research, and collective action. Held at UCA’s 2026 Chinese American Convention, this Mental Health Summit features engaging youth and parent tracks, with speakers including Alan Z on AAPI identity and mental health, and Dr. Yi Jia (“Doctor Panda”) on family well-being and resilience. Discover youth-led poster presentations and lightning talks, take part in hands-on QPR suicide prevention training, and explore a vibrant community showcase and book fair. We’ll even be hosting a talent show and special cultural events! Get ready to make memories and connections that last a lifetime, because this once-in-a-decade event is one you don’t want to miss.

Monday, June 29th

Tuesday, June 30th

Submit Your Work!

Ready to network and share your passion with the world? Good news: We’re accepting abstracts for poster submissions for our Young Scholars & Advocates Session!

We invite projects that explore, understand, and promote well-being among AAPI youth, families, and communities, particularly in the context of increasingly complex sociocultural and political environments. Submissions may address mental health directly or more broadly examine identity, community engagement, advocacy, and resilience. Merit Awards will be available for youth presenters (ages 15-24 years).

Click on the button below to submit. Questions? Email info@ucawaves.org. We look forward to your submissions and to advancing conversations that uplift AAPI communities through WAVES in action!

Alan Z is an independent rapper, singer, and performer whose multicultural background and genre-blending style have helped him build a diverse and global audience. After spending his early years in Asia and Europe before moving to the United States, Alan developed a passion for music through rap cyphers, jazz choir, and creating mixtapes as a teenager.

While attending Emory University, Alan won the school’s first rap battle tournament and grew his online following through hip-hop, R&B, and K-pop remixes shared on YouTube. His work has attracted attention from major labels and producers, including Full Force, and his music and performances have been featured across live events, viral media, and network television. Through his platform, Alan advocates for Asian American representation and empowers underrepresented communities through music and storytelling.

Dr. Yi Jia is a board-certified internal medicine physician and hospitalist at Huntsville Hospital in Alabama, where he has provided inpatient care for more than 16 years. In addition to his clinical work, he is the founder and host of the popular Chinese-language health education YouTube channel, Doctor Panda at USA (熊猫医谈), which promotes accessible, evidence-based medical information for Chinese-speaking audiences around the world.

Dr. Jia earned his medical degree from Zhejiang University School of Medicine and later completed a Master of Science in Computer Science at the University of Alabama. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey. Combining expertise in medicine, technology, and public education, Dr. Jia is passionate about helping individuals achieve healthier, more fulfilling lives through practical health knowledge and personal growth.

Peggy Wong is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner dedicated to advancing equity, inclusion, and representation within AAPI communities. Her work focuses on immigrant and minority mental health, family relationship dynamics, and the cultural influences that shape the presentation and treatment of psychiatric conditions.

Peggy earned her B.A. from University of California, Berkeley and her MSN from Yale School of Nursing. In collaboration with Dr. Eunice Yuen and the CHATogether initiative, she explored how theater-based storytelling impacts Gen Z mental health and family relationships. Peggy is passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering culturally responsive spaces where diverse communities can thrive.

Dr. Mary Shen is a psychiatry resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an APA Leadership Fellow whose work focuses on cultural psychiatry, treatment-resistant depression, and mental health equity for underserved and immigrant communities. She has authored more than 35 peer-reviewed publications spanning psychiatry, surgery, and clinical research.

Dr. Shen graduated with highest honors from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill before earning a master’s degree from Columbia University and completing medical school at UNC. She previously trained in general surgery at the University of Michigan, where she also served as an NIH T32 research fellow. Her leadership and advocacy work have centered on mentorship, representation, and expanding access to equitable mental health care. 

Yin Yin, PhD is a senior statistician and clinical development strategist with over 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and drug development. She has held senior roles at companies including Biogen and GlaxoSmithKline, specializing in clinical trial design, Bayesian decision analysis, and regulatory strategy across multiple therapeutic areas.

Dr. Yin is known for developing structured decision frameworks that help scientific teams reduce uncertainty and make clearer strategic choices. She holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and joined the UCA WAVES Board in 2026.

Trung Nguyen is an expert learning design and development, with a specialty in equity and leadership curriculum. He has developed tools and implemented programs to support the prestigious Culture of Health Leaders fellowship, where he provided guidance to leaders throughout their three-year program. He has a background in social emotional learning, trauma-informed interventions, and leadership development. His experience in community schools and immigrant advocacy programs has equipped him with the skills to facilitate systemic change and build capacity within organizations.

Chunying Zhao is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) dedicated to providing mental health support, education, and community advocacy. She specializes in LGBTQ mental health, trauma resilience, and mental health education.

Chunying serves coordinates Mental Health First Aid training at UCA WAVE , and co- directs culturally congruent training for WAVES peer support specialists, volunteers, and community members. Chunying has a strong background in education, previously serving as a teacher, curriculum writer, and mentor in Baltimore County Public schools. She is passionate about making mental health resources accessible. 

Victor (Vic) Armstrong, MSW is a nationally recognized mental health and health equity leader with more than 30 years of experience in human services and behavioral health. He currently serves as Vice President at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), where he advances suicide prevention, stigma reduction, and equitable access to mental health care for underserved and marginalized communities.

Raised in rural North Carolina as the son of a pastor, Vic developed a lifelong commitment to addressing stigma and systemic barriers in historically marginalized communities. He has held senior leadership roles including North Carolina’s inaugural Chief Health Equity Officer, Director of the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, and Vice President of Behavioral Health at Atrium Health. He is also the host of the Strong Talk Podcast and a national speaker on suicide prevention and health equity.

Lei Jiang is a trained Community Health Worker dedicated to serving Chinese-speaking and bilingual communities in North Carolina. Through bilingual outreach, peer support, and culturally responsive education, she helps bridge language and cultural gaps while empowering individuals and families to access mental health and community health resources. 

Lei is also a Certified Professional Life Coach, a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper, and a Certified Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) for both Adult & Youth. She is an active volunteer with UCA WAVES, where she leads parent support groups and promotes community wellness through connection, education, and compassionate service.

Dr. Lily Chen is the founding Executive Director of UCA WAVES, as well as a community organizer, nursing educator, and researcher focused on advancing mental health equity in AANHPI communities. Since 2016, she has led national grassroots efforts to expand culturally responsive mental health education, peer support, and suicide prevention initiatives.

Dr. Chen directs multiple federally and foundation-funded initiatives, including projects supported by SAMHSA, the state of North Carolina, HHS DMHDDSUS, Blue Cross NC Foundation, Julian Grace Foundation, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. She is the producer of the documentary Silent War: Asian American Reckoning with Mental Health and has presented at national convenings, including the White House AANHPI Mental Health Convening. A faculty member at North Carolina Central University and RWJF Clinical Scholar, she earned her PhD from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and continues to serve on multiple national and local boards advancing culturally responsive mental health care.

Anna Wang is a co-founder and Vice President of Friends of Children with Special Needs, and a lifelong advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. She holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree from Loyola Marymount University.

For more than two decades, Anna has built parent and community networks that connect families to care, resources, and advocacy support. She has led the development of programs that expand opportunities for individuals with special needs, including talent showcases and “Dream Projects” that promote independence and community inclusion. Her work has also supported disability rights legislation and public access initiatives, including major community festivals and advisory leadership roles in local government. Anna’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards honoring her leadership in disability advocacy, public service, and community impact.

Dr. Albert Wang is a physician and community leader dedicated to advancing healthcare access and civic engagement in immigrant and Asian American communities. He earned his M.D. from University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and served as Director and Past Chair of the Board for the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group.

Born in Taiwan and raised in the United States from age 14, Dr. Wang has held extensive leadership roles in public health and community organizations, including the American Cancer Society’s Northern California Chinese Unit and the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA). He co-founded Friends of Children with Special Needs with his wife, Anna Wang, growing it into a comprehensive service organization supporting thousands of families. His decades of service in health equity, disability advocacy, and civic leadership have earned him numerous regional and national awards recognizing his community impact.

Feng Xue serves as the Director of Operations at UCA WAVES, bringing extensive experience in healthcare financial and operational analysis and a passion for data-driven solutions. She taught at MA Sharon Chinese School from 2010 to 2025 and served on both the school board and the board of the Chinese School Association in the United States. Committed to community well-being, Feng is an active mental health advocate and a certified instructor in both Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Dr. Meina Liu is a Professor of Communication at the George Washington University. She has published extensively in the areas of intercultural, organizational, and health communication, as well as negotiation and conflict management using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Her work has appeared in some of the communication field’s top-tier journals, such as Human Communication Research and Communication Research, and received numerous research awards from national and international communication associations. In recent years, she is increasingly interested in communication practices that impede or foster resilience and well-being across cultures, particularly in AANHPI immigrant families, and has led multiple community-based initiatives related to racial equity and mental health through partnerships with local community organizations and funding agencies. She has collaborated with numerous student researchers on projects related to bicultural identities, parent-child communication, eating disorders, storytelling, and community-based mental health interventions.

Bonnie Liao is an educator, community leader, and advocate dedicated to supporting youth, families, and community well-being. She is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at Rutgers University with the goal of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), further expanding her work in family and community support.

With experience spanning education, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement, Bonnie has worked extensively with students and families in both the United States and internationally. She has developed educational programs, promoted cross-cultural learning opportunities, and helped families navigate educational and personal growth journeys.

Bonnie serves on the Board of Directors of United Chinese Americans (UCA) and the Peking University Alumni Association of Greater New York. Through her work, she remains committed to empowering communities, strengthening family connections, and fostering opportunities for lifelong learning and development.

Jing (Gene) Chang 常劲 was born in China. He went to Peking University in 1986.  In 1990, he came to the United States to study. In 1993, he got his BS degree in Physics from University of San Francisco.  In 1996, he got his MBA degree from Columbia Graduate School of Business. Gene is currently a Managing Director/COO of Himalaya Capital, a multi-billion-dollar value investing firm based in Seattle. He is an Honorary Chairman of Chinese CEO Organization. He serves on the board of Seattle Public Library Foundation and Peking University Alumni Association (Global).

Gene Chang is a United Chinese Americans (UCA) board member and currently serves as the Chair of the UCA Board Fundraising Committee.