Gen Z as Changemakers: Advancing AANHPI Health Through Youth Voice and Leadership

Gen Z is stepping up as a bold and influential force in shaping the future of health for AANHPI communities. As digital natives and social justice advocates, Gen Z leaders are breaking through stigma, challenging systemic barriers, and reimagining what culturally grounded, community-driven health looks like. This panel will highlight how Gen Z voices are transforming conversations around access to health care, mental health, and more—often serving as the first in their families to navigate and normalize these critical issues. Panelists will share their experiences in building trust across generations, leveraging digital platforms to reach peers, and pushing institutions to be more inclusive, responsive, and representative of AANHPI experiences. Join us to hear from a new generation of changemakers who are not waiting their turn—they’re leading now.

Yaya Yuan, MSW

Director of Programs

Apex for Youth

MODERATOR

Yaya Yuan (she/her) is the Director of Programs at Apex for Youth, a New York City-based non-profit empowering Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds to unlock their potential today and a world of possibility tomorrow.  As Director of Programs, Yuan brings her extensive experience in working with diverse communities of young people both domestically and internationally. She has developed and led programs focused on youth and family development, criminal justice diversion, and violence prevention in NYC, Detroit, Jackson, Mississippi, China, Kenya, India, the Philippines, and Haiti. Prior to her tenure as Director of Programs at Apex, Yuan served as a history teacher and after school director at the Fudan International School in Shanghai, China, U.S. Program Director for LitWorld, and Deputy Director of the Harlem Community Justice Center. She holds a B.A. from Grinnell College and an M.S.W from Columbia University. During her spare time, Yuan enjoys exploring the many neighborhoods and cuisines of New York City with her husband and two children.

Uriah Blackwell

Community Engagement Officer

Central Valley Pacific Islander Alliance (CVPIA)

Born and raised in the Central Valley of California before establishing himself in the Greater Los Angeles area, Uriah Blackwell has dedicated most of his professional career advocating for Pacific Islander communities across the state of California, but most specifically in the Central Valley. After attending UCLA (2016 - 2020), Uriah began his advocacy career with Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) before helping found Central Valley Pacific Islander Alliance (CVPIA) and becoming its Advocacy Coordinator. Uriah hopes to contribute to conversations concerning health disparities and barriers in relation to the Central Valley, to help influence policy and funding in the region.

James “Jameson” Chua

President

Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA)

James “Jameson” Chua, MS, is a third-year medical student at Touro University Nevada, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2027. Born to Chinese-Filipino immigrants and raised in San Diego, CA, he has long been committed to building community and advancing diversity and inclusion. Before medical school, he conducted infectious disease research at The Scripps Research Institute and UC San Diego School of Medicine, contributing to publications on COVID-19 in Science and Nature Communications. As a leader in the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), he has raised thousands of dollars through creative initiatives and united over 40 chapters and 500 members during the inaugural Community Impact Week. Now serving as National President of APAMSA, James is dedicated to empowering the next generation of AANHPI healthcare leaders through advocacy, collaboration, and cultural pride. When not in medical school, he can often be found experimenting with new recipes as an amateur baker or tackling escape rooms with a near-perfect success rate.

Isa Whalen, MS

National Program Director

Asian Pacific American Public Affairs (APAPA)

Isa Kelawili Whalen is a well-researched educational and community advocate skilled at exercising longitudinal and cross-sectional qualitative and quantitative research and collaborative projects that center BIPOC and AANHPI equitable policy and social service creation: including climate justice, public safety, diversity in representation, affordable housing, K-12 and higher education, and culturally conscious and accessible healthcare. She received a Master of Science in Critical Ethnic and Community Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Anthropology, Oceania and Pacific Islander Studies, and Diversity Studies from the University of Washington Seattle. Isa is currently the National Program Director at APAPA, leading their national internship programs, government appointments committee, and advocacy coalitions, and has most recently served as the California State API Legislative Caucus consultant. Her experience as a policy analyst, advocacy coordinator, fellowship mentor and supervisor, coalition chair, academic researcher, and state appointed representative have helped advance community-based partnerships, youth career development, ethnic studies, culturally appropriate social services, comprehensive school safety, mental health and wellbeing, language access, data disaggregation, and climate resilience for diasporic, intersectional, marginalized, multi-generational, and multi-ethnic communities.

Outside of the legislative and academic realm, Isa is an Indigenous Chamoru and Filipina woman born, bred, and raised through the assistance of neighborhood intervention. The collective culture of her upbringing, called inafa'maolek among Chamoru, taught restoration of order through collaboration, cooperation, reciprocity, and social support. Inafa’maolek has driven Isa to become a transformational leader, deeply rooted in community, reimagining empowerment and uplifting collective dreams and desires.