EVENT RECAP: LA WORKSHOP
Advancing Community-Based Practices and Trauma-Informed Care for Asian American and Asian Immigrant (AAAI) Youth and Families in Greater Los Angeles Area
September 17, 2026
About
This full-day, in-person workshop explored trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches to supporting AAAI children, youth, and families. Attendees heard from youth/young adults with lived experiences, participated in experiential activities highlighting culturally responsive community-based healing practices, and explored how identity, media, and representation shape mental health and well-being of AAAI youth and communities. The workshop also offered practical strategies, and opportunities for connection and meaningful dialogue among researchers, mental health providers, community members, and media professionals, including digital creators, writers, journalists, and actors, who brought diverse perspectives on identity, storytelling, representation, and well-being.
Event Highlight Video
All photos & videos by Daisy Okazaki
Welcome/Opening
Presented by
Tooru Nemoto, Ph.D. (Public Health Institute - Lotus Project) | Contact: tnemoto@phi.org
Dorothy Chin, Ph.D. (Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA)
Peter Gee, MPP, RN (Little Tokyo Service Center)
Jack Lam, LCSW (Yellow Chair Collective) | Contact: jack@yellowchaircollective.com
Keynote Speaker
Joyce R. Javier MD, MPH, MS, FAAP
(Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine)
Slides
National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCTSN) Presentation
Lauren Dy, MSW
(UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress)
Contact: ldy@mednet.ucla.edu | Slides
Session 1 Panel Discussion: Youth/Young Adult Lived Experiences
Moderator: Lauren Dy, MSW (UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress)
Panelists:
Lisa Ordonez (UCLA student) | Contact: lisaordonez5@g.ucla.edu
Lindsey Young (UCLA student)
Leilani Wong (Huntington Beach High School student)| Contact: leilanilynnwong@gmail.com
Crystal Widado (Claremont McKenna College student) | Contact: crystalwidado@gmail.com
Session 2 Workshops: Culturally Responsive Community-based Programs and Supports for AAAI Children and Families
(Videographed in highlight video)
Facilitators:
Jack Lam, LCSW and Asuka Garcia, LCSW (Yellow Chair Collective) | Contact: asuka@yellowchaircollective.com
Peter Gee, MPP, RN and Vivian Lee, LCSW (Little Tokyo Service Center) | Contact: vlee@ltsc.org
Session 3 Panel Discussion: Media’s Impact on Identity and Mental Health
Moderator: Angela Tang, MSW, LCSW (Lotus Project)
Panelists:
Alex Chester-Iwata (Mixed Asian Media)
Ryan Alexander Holmes (Bloom) | Contact: ryan.alex.holmes@gmail.com
Jennifer Chen, MFA
Cruz Chan, LMFT, RDT, PAT (Lotus Project) | Contact: cruzchan@ramsinc.org
Breakout Session Reportbacks
Moderator:
Dorothy Chin, Ph.D (Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA)
Photo Gallery
