Event Recap & Reflections: NAAPIMHA at NQAPIA's 2025 Southern Regional Convening

NAAPIMHA Executive Committee Board Members Jhoshua Ang Price (he/siya) & Marielle Reataza (she/siya) represented NAAPIMHA at NQAPIA's Southern Regional Convening in Dallas, Texas on March 26-29th, 2025.

Jhosh and Marielle led a workshop during the convening called Healing Waters: Centering 2SLGBTQ+ AANHPI Wellness through the HeArt Work, where they led a series of guided activities to support mental health and flow, including somatic movement, storytelling, and water art.

As Jhosh reflects: The highlight of the convening for me was the fellowship and camaraderie with like-minded AANHPI leaders from across the country. Hearing their stories and learning about the work they’re doing in their communities was both humbling and energizing. One session that resonated deeply with me was on the AANHPI adoptee experience. Growing up in a mixed-race, bicultural household with a white father, I could relate in part—but I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to grow up in a family that doesn’t know or understand your culture. Not speaking your native language, missing out on cultural traditions, or even something as simple and grounding as eating rice daily can create a sense of loss and disconnect. My key takeaway from the convening is that the challenges AANHPI communities face are layered and complex—racism, assimilation pressure, cultural erasure—and those challenges are only magnified for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Despite this, there was a palpable sense of resilience in every room. Our hosted session went smoothly and was well-received, though I wish we had more time to unpack our artwork and its meaning. Throughout the convening, I connected with attendees both in sessions—through thoughtful dialogue—and during informal moments, like after-hours karaoke, which brought everyone together in joy and community.

Marielle notes that the highlight of the convening for her was meeting everyone and getting to know them, their works and passions, and talents was the best part. She notes that members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities often grow up learning to be resourceful and so savvy, and the breadth of abilities and knowledge that our folks are always ready to serve is always so impressive and inspiring. Almost a month later, I’m still sitting with conversations we had then and what they mean to me today.

I really enjoyed Shirley Shabnam’s session on disabilities advocacy and “crip theory.” As someone who is disabled, identifying as such openly has been difficult for many reasons. Shirley did a great job facilitating a discussion that really pushed us to rethink access and disability. I also appreciated what folks in the audience shared about their own experiences with disabilities, realizing that we’ve shared experiences that I may not have had words for. There’s so much comfort in this because now I know that this experience can be named and that I can choose how I make sense of it.

A key takeaway for Marielle was the sense that,  we are going to need each other more than ever. I hope our hearts remain open and ready.

###

About NAAPIMHA

NAAPIMHA, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, is a national 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and redefine the mental health and wellbeing of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, through mental health trainings, community mental health programs, national policy and advocacy, and rapid community crisis response, while centering those with lived experience. 

Since 2001, NAAPIMHA has worked with AANHPI-serving community based organizations across the country to identify and respond to the mental health needs of AANHPI communities nationwide. Over the past 20 years, provided training and consultation to over 150 AANHPI-serving community-based organizations and 3500 AANHPIs around the country resulting in behavior change and improved skills to promote positive health outcomes for individuals and the communities they serve. 

Learn more at: www.naapimha.org 

###