BRAVE Communities Connection - AAPI Heritage and Mental Health Awareness Month

Join us on Saturday, May 27th, 3:30-5:00pm at Austin Public Library - Central, as we come together to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) and Mental Health Awareness Month. Whether you're looking to connect with community members, learn new coping strategies, or simply have fun, this event has something for everyone.

RSVP HERE

Anticipated agenda:
3:30-3:50PM "Sway with Pray" Bollywood Dance
3:55-4:05PM Screening of Pixar’s “Float”
4:08-4:50PM Community Listening Circles* with mental health therapists *exclusive teens listening circle available with teen therapist

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander culture, voices, and eat some Asian snacks, and prioritize your mental health. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors of all ages.

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About our guest therapists and artist:

Briana Liu is a Licensed Professional Counselor who is passionate about social justice, providing accessible trauma informed care, and offering people a different lens than the dominant culture to make sense of their experiences. "Bri" is currently one of the lead therapists at YWCA Greater Austin and also owns a small private practice. As a daughter of Chinese immigrants, Bri is drawn to working with other children of First Generation immigrants and those who identify as BIPOC. She is passionate about working with those who have been most impacted by oppressive systems in the US, examining how individual and collective well-being impact one another, and exploring what liberation for all can look like, all while acknowledging that ancient wisdom and teachings often have the answers we are seeking. Bri has training in various trauma processing and somatic modalities, including Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Body Mind Psychotherapy, and the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method. She is also a Trauma Informed and Inclusive Registered Yoga Teacher and loves to incorporate play, movement, and the body into her work, when possible.

Prayana aka "Pray" is a fun and passionate person that started her brand "Sway With Pray" in 2021. Her love for life flows through her dance. From a very young age, she was mesmerized by Bollywood and its magnanimity. She was greatly inspired by the breathtaking song and dance sequences in Bollywood movies as they had the ability, to sum up every emotion and mood with ease. The desire to express herself stuck with her and she followed her passion for dancing! This led to her donning many hats, including that of a Teacher. In the past, she has managed a big school and wore the hat of the CEO for 5 years before she ventured out on her own to build a small community of passionate dancers like herself.