On January 31, UCA WAVES had the privilege of hosting an incredible Jiaozi ( Dumpling ) Luncheon & Fundraiser, bringing our community together in the spirit of Lunar New Year! What a fantastic way to celebrate—sharing delicious Chinese food, making dumplings, enjoying beautiful performances, and most importantly, donating to support a family in need. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, including Rep. Maria Cervania (WAVES board member), Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley ,James Miller and Jennifer Meade from NC State Government Division of Mental Health, Cary Senior Center Manager Michelle Barrett and Gail Pruett from NAMI NC, Reid Bowman from NAMI Wake, Kathy Donnald, MS from Clinical Scholar Alumni network, Tanyetta Sutton from Wake County School District, Jennifer Sanford-Johnson from Karen Farm, Ruby Brown-Herring Thava Mahadevan & Derrick Hoover and many more friends. Your presence and support made this event truly special! With over 40+ guests, we celebrated through paper cutting art, stunning performances like the Chinese Tai Chi Sword Dance, and the shared joy of giving. Through the incredible generosity of our friends, we raised $6,070 ($5,500 check + $570 cash) for the Karen refugee family. When the check was presented to the father’s sister-in-law, she was overcome with emotion, deeply touched by the kindness of our community. She later passed it on to the family, ensuring they receive the help they need during this difficult time. At UCA Waves, we believe in spreading love, strengthening our community, and making a meaningful impact. This fundraiser continues our UCA Charitable Family Dumpling Banquet tradition, bringing people together not only to celebrate culture but to uplift our neighbors in need and promote mental health awareness. The fundraising drive will continue until February 27—if your heart desires, please consider continuing to support this family. Let’s keep love at the center of everything we do! View full story and donate here: Photo credit: Jianping Yang #UCAWaves #LunarNewYear #DumplingLuncheon #CommunityBuilding #Fundraiser #KarenRefugeeSupport #MentalHealthAwareness #SpreadLove #StrongerTogether #BetterCommunity

🚨 Join Us for AMHFA In-Person Training! 🚨 Want to make a difference in your community? Become a certified Mental Health First Aider and learn how to identify the common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. This training will equip you with the skills to support others and help guide them toward the resources they need. 🗓 Date: Friday, January 24, 2025 ⏰ Time: 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM 📍 Location: NCCU Nursing Building, Lecture Hall 1101, Durham, NC 📚 Note: A 2-hour pre-course self-paced learning is required before the in-person training. By attending, you'll: ✅ Learn how to recognize signs of mental health issues ✅ Gain practical skills to support someone in crisis ✅ Receive certification, valid for 3 years Don’t miss this opportunity to become a certified Mental Health First Aider and help create a supportive community for all! #MentalHealthFirstAid #AMHFA #MentalHealthAwareness #CommunitySupport #DurhamNC

🎉 Lunar New Year Potluck Celebration for Cary Chinese Senior Club 🎉 The Cary Chinese Senior Club is hosting a special Lunar New Year Gala for seniors! 🧧✨ This potluck celebration will bring our members together to share delicious food and celebrate the traditions of the Lunar New Year. 🗓 Date: Wednesday, January 22 🕘 Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 📍 Location: Cary Senior Center This event is a wonderful opportunity for our senior community to come together and enjoy the festivities of the new year. 🎉 UCA WAVES will be joining the celebration to share an exciting upcoming educational opportunity for seniors and Wake County residents. Stay tuned! #LunarNewYear #CarySeniorCenter #SeniorCelebration #LunarNewYear2025 #CaryChineseSeniorClub #StayTuned

🚨 Wake County Residents – Have Your Say! 🚨 We need your help to shape the future of Wake County’s community health priorities. As part of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) process, @livewellwake is asking YOU to vote for the top 3 focus areas that should drive the county’s efforts moving forward. Here’s how you can get involved: ✅ Explore the community survey results and Wake County data: ✅ Vote for the top 3 focus areas: 🗓 Voting ends on January 31, 2025! It’s quick, confidential, and will only take about 5-10 minutes. The results will help determine where resources and efforts should be focused. Your voice matters! 🗣 Let’s work together to prioritize the health needs that matter most to our community. #WakeCounty #CommunityHealth #LiveWellWake #HealthPriorities #HaveYourSay #WakeCountyVotes #PublicHealth

2024 Review: A Year with Collective Impacts! 📣 📣 📣 Join us as we dive into the highlights and celebrate the moments that shaped our year. Let’s ride the waves together! 💦👏 😊