Let’s Talk! 2022 Professionals Conference
For Educators and Clinicians (virtual)
Supporting the Emotional Wellness of Asian and Asian American Students
Anti-Asian Racism and Racial Trauma: Understanding History, Building Collective Resilience
February 8 & 15, 2022; 4pm-7pm EDT
Program Overview
Through keynote presentations and interactive panel discussions, this year’s virtual conference will unpack the concept of anti-Asian racism and racial trauma through a biopsychosocial lens to educate the audience about the effects of trauma on body and mind and how pan-Asian youth and adults cope with racial trauma, drawing from clinical experience and the scientific research literature on this topic. Presenters will share experiences from their expertise as educators, educational leaders, and clinicians in the work of racial trauma. Through experiential and advocacy-focused small groups, attendees will discuss concrete and practical strategies to individually and collectively advocate for Asian and Asian American Students.
Conference Schedule
DAY 1: TUESDAY FEB 8, 2022, 4-7 pm EDT
Keynote: Asian American Racial Trauma: "It Isn't Fair"
Alvin Alvarez, PhD, Dean, College of Health and Social Sciences, San Francisco State University
Panel 1
Biopsychosocial Approaches to Anti-Asian Racism and Racial Trauma
Alvin Alvarez, PhD; Soyeong Kim, PhD; Nora Yasumura, MSW.
Moderator: Uma Millner, PhD
Panel 2
Leaning into Discomfort to Find Our Voices: A High School and College Student Panel
Moderator: Shubh Agrawal, EdM
Day 2: Tuesday Feb 15, 2022, 4-7 pm EDT
Recognizing Our Influences and Implementing Change
Participants will select one of three tracks:
Educators (K-12 and higher education)
Co-led by Tony DelaRosa, M.Ed, M.A.T, and Grace S. Kim, Ph.D.Educational Leaders (e.g., Deans, School Principals, DEI leaders, etc.)
Co-led by Karen Shih, Ph.D., and Joel SohnClinicians (school-based and community)
Co-led by Szu-Hui Lee, Ph.D., and Catherine Vuky, Ph.D.
The day will begin with separate mini-keynotes by track, followed by virtual small-group reflection and brainstorming regarding challenges and practical solutions related to supporting Asian American students. After reflection and brainstorming, breakout groups will come back together by track for a facilitated discussion led by each track’s two co-leaders.
For the final hour, attendees will join together for a larger conference-wide panel discussion involving all six track leaders , including a synthesis of key reflections and ideas across all three tracks. We are honored to have the closing panel discussion and synthesis facilitated by Josephine M. Kim, Ph.D., Founder and Lead Faculty Advisor of the Let’s Talk! Conference.
Day 2 mini-keynotes will be recorded so attendees will have access to all of the talks from this day. The full group synthesis and closing remarks will also be recorded.
DAY 2: TuESDAY FEB 15, 2022, 8-9 pm EDT (Optional event)
CONVERSATIONS TO SUPPORT HEALING & RESILIENCE: AN ADULT AFFINITY GATHERING
Optional event for Asian and Asian American-identified educators and clinicians to connect, share, support, and learn from each other
To learn more about our speakers and facilitators, please visit our Bios/Photos page.
Conference Recordings
Recordings for Day 1 and Day 2, not including small-group reflections, will be made available to all registrants and can be viewed asynchronously.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this conference, participants will be able to:
Describe anti-Asian racism and its long historical context, including through an intergenerational trauma lens
Recognize the very real mental health impacts of anti-Asian racial trauma on AAPI students and educators/adults
Incorporate strategies in your own work setting to promote healing and resilience among AAPI students
Conference Fees
Early Bird Registration: Available before 2/1
Without CE Credits: $70
With CE Credits: $100
Regular Registration: Starting 2/1
Without CE Credits: $90
With CE Credits: $120
10% group discount for 5 or more registrants. If you are interested in the group registration discount, please email CE@williamjames.edu.
Continuing Education Credits
Psychology, social worker and LMHC continuing education credits (6 hours) and participation certificates are available to conference attendees. Please view the registration page for more information.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer physician, nursing, or other types of continuing education credits.
For questions related to CE credits or participation certificates to obtain Professional Development Points (PDPs), please contact William James College at CE@williamjames.edu.
Conference Presenters
To learn more about our presenters, please visit our Bios/Photos page.
Conference Organizers
The annual Let’s Talk! Professionals Conference is co-organized by the MGH Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and this year newly joined by the William James College Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health’s Asian Mental Health Program.
To see bios and photos of our organizers and planning team, please visit our Bios/Photos page.
To learn more about our affiliated organizers and sponsors, please visit our Organizers/Sponsors page.
Contact Us
For questions related to CE credits or participation certificates to obtain Professional Development Points (PDPs), please contact William James College at CE@williamjames.edu.
For questions regarding registration and general conference questions, please contact letstalkprofessionals@gmail.com.
Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to seeing you at the conference!