NAAAP North Carolina: 2019 was a year of relaunch.
NAAAP North Carolina Chapter (NAAAP NC) is back in full swing and ready to make an impact! This comes after being stagnant for several years. NAAAP NC has changed its name from NAAAP RTP since it now covers the two major cities in North Carolina – Raleigh AND Charlotte. Eighty people attended the official Chapter Launch Party on August 6, 2019 at Cisco Headquarters in Research Triangle Park, Raleigh. The program included a large group icebreaker and a brief presentation led by President Jeanie Chang and her new board of officers who are as follows:
- John Chen, Treasurer (Charlotte)
- Rehgina Kang, Secretary
- Sania Tong-Argao, VP Operations
- Manisha Dass, VP Membership
- Veronica Rutilant, VP Programs
- Mimi Chan, VP Marketing
- Vu Nguyen, VP Corporate Relations (in Charlotte)
- Pralhad Khatri, VP Corporate Relations
- Geeta Tarapore, Corporate Relations
- Deron Tse, Advisory board
- Hector Javier, Advisory board
Monthly personal and professional meetings
In addition, the Launch party was catered by local business Heirloom Brewshop owned by a NAAAP Member. Since its official launch, NAAAP NC has held a global dinner, a chapter meeting on wellness, and a holiday party (December 15). The chapters plans to have meetings covering personal and professional development and global dinners on a monthly basis in 2020. Next up, is the January chapter meeting to kick off the new year titled, “New Year, New Career?”
Carolina Asian American Initiative
NAAAP NC is a key partner in the Carolina Asian American Initiative which is the student-led campaign at UNC Chapel Hill to build an Asian American center on campus! The students from the campaign have turned to president Jeanie Chang for mentorship as well as mental health and wellness. With the chapter’s involvement and support, NAAAP NC is hopeful that there will indeed be an Asian American center at UNC Chapel Hill – the first of its kind in the state of North Carolina! Providing mentorship and wellness via NAAAP NC are key initiatives for programming at the Asian American Center, expected to launch in late 2020.
Self-Care and Wellness
Last but not least, NAAAP NC president Jeanie Chang is launching in 2020 a national wellness program titled, Self-Care and Wellness presented by NAAAP. As a licensed mental health clinician, she is passionate about serving the Asian American community with resources/tools in promoting mental health and wellness, as well as addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in the Asian American community. The Self-Care and Wellness program has already done pilot rollouts in the following chapters: NAAAP Miami, NAAAP DC and NAAAP NC. Come early 2020, NAAAP Orlando joins in!
