Category Archives: op-ed

CDC’s Proposed Revamp of Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule Will Disproportionately Expose Asian American Newborns

One of the first things the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is expected to do in 2026 is revamp the pediatric vaccine schedule. At the top of Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy’s list is the vaccine for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), a disease that Asian Americans have an 8-fold greater risk of dying from comparedContinue reading “CDC’s Proposed Revamp of Hepatitis B Vaccination Schedule Will Disproportionately Expose Asian American Newborns”

Hudson’s Experience at the TAAF AAPI Youth Mental Health Summit

On Saturday, November 8th, I was lucky enough to be invited to the TAAF Mental Health Summit at the Commonwealth club in San Francisco. There, we listened to many community leaders about how they have seen mental health impact their communities and also about studies that they have conducted. The project that was closest to me was the BOBA project.

Break the Silence and Address Mental Health

In the month of November, the Bay Area is hosting 2 major forums focusing on Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth’s mental health: The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)’s “Youth Mental Health Summit” and Creating Spaces’ “Tending to the Child Within”. In the lead up to these important conferences, it’s crucial to understand why these conversations matter because behind every panel discussion and speech are real people struggling in silence.

Reclaiming the Stereotype of Asian Youth in Music

“Taking a deep breath, I draw my bow across the strings, trying to get the notes just right. My fingers stumble through the same passage, over and over again. My arm is growing tired, my mind has worn thin. Meanwhile, my chin rests loosely on my black ebony chinrest, my brows furrowed in frustration. I’m not angry, I’m exhausted. I sigh, take a deep breath, and try again. Why can’t I just play it the way it’s supposed to sound? Practice feels endless, and the music that once inspired me now feels like a chore.”

Reclaiming Representation: Asian American Voices

When you hear the word “Asian,” what careers do you think of? Doctor. Engineer. Coder. But rarely do you hear: Artist. Filmmaker. Writer. Historian. The things that confine our Asian identities have often been shaped by stereotypes like the model minority myth, and these stereotypes encourage a narrow lens which portrays success most often  through STEM-related achievements or careers.

A Call to Action: Arizona Must Teach AANHPI History Now 

In a time when anti-Asian hate continues to remain a harsh reality, we cannot afford to let history go untaught. 

SB 1301 in Arizona is a bipartisan bill that would require the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in K–12 schools. It has already passed the Arizona Senate with support from both parties and is expected to reach Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk very soon. We strongly urge her to sign this into law. 

As a student and youth advocate, I’ve seen firsthand the power of education to create empathy and connection. I’ve also seen what happens when that education is missing. When AANHPI students don’t see themselves in the curriculum, it sends the message that our stories—and our communities—don’t matter. That they aren’t a part of American history. That we aren’t a part of American history.