Episode 26 - Healing The Next Generation ft. Lisa Cheng

Lisa is community organizer, mental health advocate, and proud daughter of Chinese immigrants. As a cofounder of the Asian Mental Health Collective, she's helped raise over $3 million for mental health in her community. As the CEO of Project EmpowerHER, Lisa uplifts the next generation of Asian women leaders through mentorship and funding. On top of all of that, Lisa is aiming for the crown at the Miss Asian Global Pageant in August.

But behind all of these accolades is someone who had a harsh upbringing with no direction, someone who experienced discrimination based on her looks, and someone who is just trying her best day after day to see a better future.

In commemoration of AAPI and Mental Health Awareness Month, tune in on this newest episode of Back At It as David and Lisa converse about her tramautic past, and instead of using it as a barrier, is turning it as an opportunity for change within herself and future generations of Asian women.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00): Intro

(03:17): Why she's so committed to empowering Asians, especially Asian women

(08:54): The importance of having safe spaces and resources for Asian mental health

(14:05): Her parents finding a better life in America from the cultural revolution in China

(18:12): The cycle of resentment to accepting and understanding your parents

(25:25): Using the experience of harsh Asian parenting into change for future generations through AMHC and Project EmpowerHER

(30:17): Uplifting Asian women by showing how to lead and achieve what they want in life

(35:55): Having a strained relationship with her sister growing up

(37:47): Being the role model she never had for thr next generation through Project EmpowerHER

(41:07): Guiding her mentees without holding their hand

(47:26): The Bamboo Ceiling

(52:34): Using past generations of women, especially her mother, as motivation to help spur change

(57:24): Using pageantry for personal growth and to be an inspiration that narratives change

(1:00:11): Reflecting on how hard her life was, yet using the past as an opportunity

(1:05:38): What she envisions in the next generation, especially for Asian women

(1:09:28): How groups like Asian Mental Health Collective opened the door for Asians to be communicative about their mental health

(1:14:20): How competing in Miss Houston Chinatown led to audience members open up about their mental health for the first time

(1:19:02): Predicting what problems the next generations will face

(1:23:56): Preparing for the coming months

(1:25:57): What would previous versions of Lisa think about what you're currently doing?

(1:27:28): Socials and wrapping up