October 7, 2024
Incredible, to say the least! Last week, AAPI Youth Rising had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) Policy Summit. It was my first time in D.C. and the experience was something I’ll definitely never forget.
During the summit I spoke on the “Youth Changemakers: Advancing Mental Health in Our Communities” panel. I had the privilege of being on stage with the amazing leader—Dr. Jenny Wang and youth advocates Mina Fedor, Jason Wong, and May Soe Min. Everyone at the summit was very kind and extremely passionate about their work. They were all so motivated and it was empowering to be surrounded by individuals who genuinely just want to make change for the better. One of the most meaningful parts of the summit was connecting with the Creating Space Community, which was extremely inspiring, especially for me to see an organization seeking out youth voices. But I’ll admit, I was extremely nervous before the panel. My heart was racing (partially because of the amount of caffeine I had). However, Dr. Wang and Mina were there to help calm me down and remind me that the conversations we were having were bigger than our nerves.
During the panel, I spoke about the mental health challenges faced by AANHPI youth. Cultural norms often silence our struggles, stigmatizing conversations regarding mental health and leaving many youths feeling completely isolated. Bullying and intergenerational trauma make seeking help even harder. I was able to share how these dynamics create a sense of loneliness for youth, making them feel like they’re alone in their hurt, and that they can’t speak out. It was empowering to be able to voice these issues in front of people who genuinely care about driving change.
As I reflect on my time in D.C., I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such important conversations. A huge thank you to WHIAANHPI for making this possible, and special thanks to Jamie Lok and Erika Ninoyu for their unwavering support in bringing this summit together.
The summit reminded me of the power of youth voices and the importance of being present in spaces where change can happen. We should all be more motivated than ever to continue advocating for mental health in our communities.