Written by CAPA-JRC reporters Kenneth Shue, Sophie Huang and Angie Shen
From June 28th to 29th of 2024, student leaders from CAPA-MC’s THRIVE, SEEDS, and Growing & Giving clubs attended the 2024 Chinese Americans Convention hosted by the United Chinese Americans (UCA) at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC.
This year’s conference, themed “Embracing the New Civil Rights Movement,” attracted nearly 700 participants from across the United States. The event showcased the strength and voice of the Chinese American community and united their hopes and confidence for the future.
We shared our clubs’ goals and achievements with other Chinese American students passionate about civic engagement within the community.
Through this convention, we were not only able to recognize the hard work our Asian American peers put into their projects, but we also gained the opportunity to connect with them. Our stand neighbor, iHub at Dice, hailing from New Jersey, emphasized the importance of youth storytelling and social justice. They expressed interest in our Growing and Giving Club’s Zero Hero plastic film recycling initiative, as well as the endeavors of our Special Education Equal Development Society (SEEDS). This experience opened doors to potential interstate collaboration opportunities, for which we are profoundly grateful.
The THRIVE Healthy Living Club co-hosted a “show and tell” event to demonstrate activities that promote overall well-being by fostering resilience and healthy living practices. This event emphasized the importance of youth mental health and leadership. We also learned about other impactful mental health projects, such as the BOBA (Building Our Bonds Authentically) Project, an online program aimed at understanding the experiences of Asian American teens (12-18 years). These initiatives highlighted the importance of working together to create brighter tomorrows for our families and thriving AAPI communities.
Additionally, we gained insights into research and data gaps from The Mental Health Summit, which focused on improving mental health services for the Chinese American community. The National Youth Conference further explored ways to maintain and renew culture, heritage, and identity in America, discussing experiences in a multigenerational and multiracial democratic nation.
For us, the UCA convention was truly inspiring. A plethora of creative ideas and steps towards change, all visualized and encapsulated within a single hotel. The many innovative perspectives highlighted the importance of this gathering, and we are hopeful to see even greater and larger convocations in future years.
This article was provided by Chinese American Parents Association Junior Reporter Club (CAPA JRC) with members who interviewed, audio recorded, wrote, translated, and video recorded. CAPA JRC has 25 Montgomery County middle to high school students. They have created a bilingual platform delivering news and serving the community.
Instagram: @capa_jrc
Blog:https://capajrc.org
Comments