Shining a Light on AAPI Youth Mental Health

Dear Friends,

This month, the community came together to raise awareness and discuss solutions for AAPI youth mental health. More than 200 leaders, practitioners, and young people came together in San Francisco for TAAF’s first-ever AAPI Youth Mental Health Summit. It was a day of truth-telling, brave conversations, innovative solutions, and shared commitment to supporting the well-being of our youth.

We’re now building on the findings from our Beyond the Surface report and starting important conversations—learning together how we can best support our young people. I was so encouraged and inspired to hear from people who are working with AAPI youth every day, employing innovative strategies to reach them where they are, and to let them know they are valued and they belong. I am confident that together, we can build safety and healing for our young people, and the generations to come.

Another way we believe we can build belonging is through sharing stories with guests at the dinner table. This month saw the release of our Asian+American Cookbook, which celebrates belonging as we honor our heritage, stories, and flavors through food. You can read more about it in this issue, and we invite you to download a copy of the book to enjoy as you celebrate your own family’s traditions.

In solidarity,

Norman Chen

CEO, The Asian American Foundation

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RESEARCH

Inside Our AAPI Youth Mental Health Summit

Over 200 guests and panelists joined TAAF in San Francisco on November 7 for our AAPI Youth Mental Health Summit: Sparking Solutions Together, cohosted by the Commonwealth Club. The purpose was to begin honest and open discussions about the mental health challenges facing AAPI youth, and figure out how we can recognize and address their needs in supportive and culturally competent ways.

Last year, TAAF released Beyond the Surface, a comprehensive national study on the mental health of AAPI youth. The report pointed to the seriousness of this issue for our community and a need for open dialogue and strategies to support our younger generations. That’s why we organized this event: to bring together experts working with youth in different capacities, from school settings to nonprofit, grassroots organizations in order to share what has worked and build connections. Panelists talked about culturally specific issues such as expectations of traditional gender roles, as well as healing from intergenerational and community trauma. They shared strategies that have been successful, including culturally relevant support, stipends for therapy sessions, and opportunities for young people to creatively express how they’re feeling. From expanding access to mental health services in schools to building community and belonging through dragon boat racing, there are many ways to support our young people where they are.

We hope this event serves as a catalyst for change, and that attendees came away from this day with new awareness, meaningful connections, and opportunities to collaborate. We encourage you to download our community resources and try some of the activities from our event breakthrough lab. TAAF remains committed to supporting our youth through our work to expand the teaching of AAPI history in schools, promote career readiness of college students through TALA, and anti-bullying efforts led by our grantees. We are grateful to our wonderful cohosts at the Commonwealth Club World Affairs, and partners Pinterest and Power Home Remodeling for their support of this inspiring and purposeful event. 

Watch the Summit here.

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STORYTELLING

TAAF's Asian+American Cookbook Honors Identity through Food

For AAPI communities in America, being able to show our full, authentic selves—no matter how complex or layered—is so important to our sense of belonging. This Thanksgiving, many of us will find ourselves gathered around the table, sharing meals and stories that have been passed down across generations and geographies. Through food, we stay true to our roots while also defining what it means to be both Asian and American. We’re excited to announce the release of TAAF’s Asian+American Cookbook, which features more than 27 mouthwatering recipes from AAPI chefs, artists, and cultural figures. Their recipes represent family stories, special memories, and new twists on traditional meals. Food traditions intertwine beautifully in dishes like Frankie Gaw’s Popo’s Roast Chicken, Sungchul Kim’s Beef Wellington with Kimchi Duxelles, Rajma Chawal's Kidney Bean Curry with Rice, and Jasmine Pak’s Pumpkin Spice Boba Milk Tea. Drawing on the cookbook as inspiration, we hosted an Asian+American Thanksgiving Dinner at Phoenix Palace in New York with a custom menu inspired by the Cantonese American heritage of Chef Zhan on November 17. By building community through a shared meal, we can share and learn from each other's unique stories and backgrounds.

You can download the cookbook for free at share.taaf.org/cookbook. And we invite you to share the stories and traditions represented on your Thanksgiving table by tagging @taaforg on our socials and using the hashtag #AsianPlusAmerican.

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CONVENINGS

TAAF in Community

• Thank you to the community for supporting TAAF’s work by partnering with us on our innovative research and national campaigns. We were honored to receive Shorty Impact Awards for our 2025 STAATUS Index report, Beyond the Surface report, AAPI History Hub, and our Asian+American campaign. We’re also proud to share that we won Small Nonprofit of the Year! In addition, we were thrilled to receive Anthem Awards for STAATUS, Beyond the Surface, and Asian+American, as well as for Fighting to Belong! (Vol. 2). Thank you for entrusting us to share your stories and experiences in the work we do!
• To continue bringing attention to AAPI mental health, TAAF was proud to support Creating Space for “Tending to the Child Within,” an intergenerational mental health gathering held at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco on November 8. The event explored how childhood experiences shape who we are today. In a discussion moderated by Dr. Jenny Wang, panelists Dion Lim, David Lu, Priscilla Tsai, and Ethan Su shared stories of coping and courage that invited all of us to reconsider how we define success and purpose.
• Lena Pham, TAAF’s Database and Research Specialist, presented our report Reframing Representation: The Case for More Asian and Asian American Narratives in Hollywood, at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival on November 16.

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ON THE BLOG

Padma Lakshmi's New Cookbook Explores How American Cuisine is Rooted in Immigrant Communities

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This month on The Takeaway, we’re featuring an interview with author and Emmy-nominated TV host Padma Lakshmi about her new cookbook, Padma’s All American. We also have a special impact story about the Asian American community in Eugene, Oregon, who came together to confront targeted burglaries. And finally, we chatted with Vietnamese American chef, author, and MasterChef Season 3 winner Christine Ha, who is also one of the contributors to our Asian+American Cookbook.

You can catch up on all our personal stories of navigating and celebrating our identities as part of our Asian+American campaign. Check back often as we’ll be adding more!

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MAKE AN IMPACT THIS GIVING TUESDAY ON DECEMBER 2

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Did you know that despite making up 7% of the U.S. population, AAPI communities receive only  0.3% of philanthropic giving from foundations and less than 1% of corporate giving? 

That’s why TAAF created the AAPI Nonprofit Database — to connect you to grassroots organizations and causes that you’re most passionate about, ensuring that your support directly benefits those in the community. 

And if you can’t choose, you can support TAAF, where 100% of all funds go towards strengthening our groundbreaking research, programs, and cross-sector partnerships to address our community's most persistent challenges.

Donate today to mark your support for Safety, Prosperity and Belonging for the AAPI community. Don’t forget to leverage your corporate matching program to double your impact.

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