On Saturday afternoon, August 23, more than 50 community members came together at Glow Cultural Center in Flushing for the 2nd Annual Summer Community Day, themed ‘Say No to Violence: Creating Safe Schools & Prosperous Communities.’ The event was co-organized by Glow Cultural Center and Documented. Attendees included students, parents, educators, youth leaders, and public officials, all coming together to address bullying and bias in schools. The day’s agenda—featuring performances, a self-defense workshop, interactive storytelling, and expert discussions—was designed to confront urgent community concerns, strengthen local connections, and celebrate collective resilience.

Community Data: Confronting the Reality of Bullying

Chinese families across New York City had reported a rise in bullying and violent incidents targeting their children in schools, leaving many feeling unprepared to respond. The event’s core goal was to bridge that gap—providing attendees with both actionable knowledge (such as how to report incidents) and practical tools (like self-defense skills) to address harm. Early in the program, participants joined a live Slido poll to share their firsthand experiences, shedding light on the issue’s scope within the community:

• Nearly 77% reported that they or someone they know has experienced bullying.
• A combined 93% (56% “very few” + 37% “almost none”) believed most bullying cases in their school or community go unreported—highlighting a critical gap in trust and accountability systems.
• When asked to identify the top factor contributing to youth bullying, 85% cited bias/prejudice, followed by social media (59%) and peer pressure (41%).

These results didn’t just quantify the problem—they validated the shared concerns of attendees, laying the groundwork for urgent, solution-focused dialogue.

Building Safety: Practical Skills and Expert Insight

The event opened with a self-defense demonstration led by the Dragon Combat Club—a longstanding partner of Glow Cultural Center that regularly offers free community self-defense classes. Instructor Henry Zhang focused on accessible, real-world techniques: how to de-escalate tense situations with body language, create space in unsafe interactions, and protect vulnerable areas. The session was tailored to all ages and abilities, ensuring attendees left with skills they could immediately apply.

Next, representatives from OPHC—including Executive Director Vijah Ramjattan and Program Manager Cheryl Zhang—delivered a data-driven presentation on hate crimes and bias incidents impacting Asian youth. They broke down trends in school-based harassment, explained step-by-step how to report incidents to OPHC, and stressed the need for schools to prioritize anti-bias training and accountability.

Youth Voices and Artistic Connection

Art and performance were central to amplifying the day’s message of inclusion. Middle school students from Sol Sharp Music School performed two award-winning original songs by composer Fang Liu: Belong and Shape of Eyes. Written in response to rising anti-Asian hate, the songs focused on themes of cultural belonging, self-acceptance, and respect for diversity—resonating deeply with attendees, many of whom had experienced similar feelings of exclusion.

The program also featured an emotionally resonant Playback Theatre performance by Mandarin Playback. In this unscripted format, actors listened to audience members’ real stories of bullying (from being teased for cultural traditions to facing racial slurs) and reenacted them on the spot. Attendees later described the experience as “healing” and “validating,” noting that it made them feel seen in a way traditional discussions rarely do.

Leadership and Expert Dialogue

Public officials in attendance included NYC Council Member Sandra Ung and New York State Senator John Liu, both of whom spoke to the importance of safer schools for immigrant youth.

A highlight of the day was a panel discussion moderated by Documented journalist April Xu, featuring experts whose backgrounds spanned law, education, mental health, and youth advocacy:

Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Markert emphasized the importance of reporting bullying incidents to law enforcement, noting that New York City’s response rate is among the highest in the nation. “Leaving a paper trail is critical,” he said, adding that the DA’s office provides translation services to ensure resources are accessible across languages and cultures. From the perspective of a student advocate, Amanda Ng called on schools to investigate the root causes of bullying and to provide staff with cross-cultural training to bridge cultural and social gaps for more effective communication. Panelists collectively agreed that tackling bullying requires a united front: “Bullying is never just about children; it reflects the culture of the community,” one noted. “We need schools, families, and agencies working in lockstep.”

Celebrating Youth Through Storytelling

The event concluded with the announcement of winners for Documented’s first bilingual essay contest, themed “A Tradition I Hope Never Disappears.” Three outstanding Chinese American high school students were recognized for their writing—pieces that explored cultural traditions and their role in shaping immigrant identities.

Gratitude and Looking Forward

None of this work would have been possible without the collaboration of our partners and every attendee who brought their stories, questions, and commitment to act. We are especially grateful for the critical support of a diverse network of community partners and city agencies, including the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), Committee of 100, Dragon Combat Club, Garden of Hope, Higher with Our Parent Engagement (HOPE), Mandarin Playback, New York City Residents Alliance, NYC Commission on Human Rights, NYC Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC), NYPD Community Affairs Bureau, Queens County District Attorney’s Office, and Sol Sharp Music Education.

As the new school year begins, we hope the connections and skills from Community Day will extend beyond this event. Together, we’re not just saying “no” to violence—we’re building a future where every youth feels safe, seen, and empowered to thrive.

Slido Word Cloud: Participants’ one-word feelings

Photo Credit: Documented

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