This summer, Glow Cultural Center was proud to host the Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Communities workshop, a five-module, youth-led program designed to support the mental health of AAPI high school and college-aged youth while promoting racial healing. With the curriculum provided by the Coalition of Asian Children and Families (CACF), the series helped participants explore their cultural identities, develop tools for self-healing, and envision ways to advocate for equity within their communities. Guided by youth facilitators Jia and Sophie Z., ten participants engaged in five weekly workshops, including a field trip to Chinatown.

Chinatown: Where History Breathed

Our journey into Chinatown with Wellington Chen, the Executive Director of Chinatown BID, was more than a history lesson—it was an invitation to see ourselves reflected in the streets, buildings, and stories of the neighborhood. Walking past flagpoles and century-old storefronts, students discovered how immigrant resilience shaped a community that has endured waves of challenges. What resonated most was the realization that Chinatown is not a relic of the past, but a living testament of persistence, authenticity, and unity among the Chinese in our city.

• “History of Chinatown and its forgotten achievements in America…showed the sacrifices our ancestors made for us. Also showed how awesome my culture is in terms of achievements.” —— Yihu
• “I learned that many of these organizations and stores were made to serve the Asian American community in Chinatown and stay true to themselves rather than to cater towards tourists. They have this kind of authenticity that is evident.” —— Queenie
• “The tour deepened my understanding of the community’s cultural identity by helping me understand that Chinese tradition is standing because they have been passed down from older generations and younger people continue to practice and advocate.” —— Sophie Z.
• “It also deepens my understanding of how we have so much history and culture that is invisible to others. It shows that we need to expand and share our culture with each other so that we can develop a deeper understanding and reduce racism around the world.” —— Jia
• “I came to understand the resilience of the Chinese people throughout United States history, as well as the idea that Chinese American history is part of a larger Chinese historical narrative. This perspective offers valuable insights for Chinese people living in the West. Learning about historical suffering, triumphs, and shared tastes deepened my understanding of Chinatown’s cultural identity.” —— William
• “The trip helped me understand how much longer our ancestors had been here and the greater impact our culture has had.” —— Tiffany

The Tools We Forged Together

Throughout the workshops, participants engaged in activities designed to strengthen their self-awareness, agency, and capacity to support healing in themselves and others. From articulating their personal journeys in Who’s in the Room? to exploring the cultural significance of food in What Can Food Reveal to Us? Youth discovered how deeply identity, community, and healing are interconnected.

• “It means to fix and grow yourself and others to thrive for a better future. You can heal your community through events and fundraisers, and you can heal yourself through agency.” —— Yihu
• “I felt seen when we did the four corners activity because I felt that we all had more similarities than I thought.”—— Sophie C.
• “There were many moments during the workshop where I felt seen, supported, and empowered…everyone is attentive and supportive with questions and comments.” —— Michelle

Poster-making and creative exercises allowed participants to translate these insights into action.

• “The aspects of the workshop that were most meaningful to me were the poster making as they’ve allowed us to connect with our peers.” —— Harley

Seeds for the Future

The final module, What Future Do We Envision?, invited participants to imagine a thriving, inclusive, and healing community. Through these creative exercises, youth not only reflected on their personal growth but also considered how their actions could impact the broader community.

• “Healing helps us work with the uncomfortable feelings that come with transformation…healing gives us the tools and space we need to support the transformational process we are in.” —— Olsen
• “I’ve always had a good perspective on the community and connectedness but with this program, I feel like I have a deeper connection.” —— Jessie
• “We expanded our perspectives and built better connections.” —— Wendy
• “I’ve enjoyed talking to younger Chinese Americans and learning about their perspectives and issues and how those are similar or different to mine.” —— William

As the workshop came to a close, participants reflected on what “healing” means to them after five weeks of exploration, connection, and growth. Their reflections captured both personal journeys and collective strength:

• “To me, after participating in this program, healing means moving past all of your past trauma and moving on by accepting yourself.” —— Queenie
• “It means to have gone beyond old injustices and always strive to improve and become better. During the tour with Wellington, for example, he explained how the Asian community has mostly remained together to prosper.” —— Harley
• “I think it means a bruise is getting better, or how you can improve yourself after overcoming a problem.” —— Wendy

Many participants also shared ideas to improve future workshops, including more interactive activities and additional field trips.

• “Maybe have more classes, as I feel like I have much more to learn from this workshop.” —— Yihu
• “I wish there would’ve been more workshops in general and more tours of sites like Chinatown.” —— Harley

Through five weeks of engaging workshops, field trips, and collaborative exercises, participants left the program with a deeper understanding of their identities, a stronger sense of community, and meaningful tools to continue their healing journeys.

A heartfelt thank you to CACF for providing the curriculum and training youth facilitators, and to all participants for contributing their energy, stories, and perspectives to make this program a transformative experience.