The last few years have magnified the challenges and divisions facing our community. But Orange County is stronger when we’re united—united in our diversity and in our passion to improve lives for everyone who lives here.
Cultures United is a virtual conversation series that encourages dialogue, collaboration, philanthropy, and unity. Informed and motivated by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement, each discussion aims to highlight and celebrate our differences, share our strengths, and unite to do more for our community.
Upcoming Conversation
Youth Mental Health and Wellness
Thursday, September 28, 2023
8:00am to 9:00am
A Free Virtual Event
Join Orange County United Way as we explore how local college campuses are providing mental health support to our multicultural youth.
There is growing concern about the mental health of youth in America. Rates of suicidal ideation, self-harm and depression among children and teens have grown significantly over the last two decades, and the pandemic only made it worse. In addition, in May of 2023, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a warning citing the potential risks of social media, saying, “There are ample indicators that social media can have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
In response, our upcoming Cultures United Conversation will dive into this topic, with particular attention to how multicultural student populations on college campuses are being impacted. Our esteemed panel will also discuss the resources available to students in need of mental health services.
Featured Speakers
Marcelle Hayashida, Ph.D.
Associate Vice Chancellor of Wellness,
Health & Counseling Services,
UC Irvine
Dalila Perea, MS
Professor of Graduate
Clinical Psychology,
Vanguard University
Alysha Kim, MSW, ASW
Therapist, Health and Wellness Center,
Irvine Valley College
Dr. Sridhar (Sri) Sundaram
Moderator
Dean, College of Business and Economics,
CSU Fullerton,
United Way Board Member
Thank You to Our Sponsor
- Discover similarities within our community
- Find pride in the different cultures that make up Orange County
- Learn about the challenges facing our most vulnerable communities
- Be inspired to take action
Check Out Past Conversations
March 22, 2023
A New Day for Women in Iran
Our recent Cultures United Conversation, “A New Day for Women in Iran,” was an encouraging, informative and eye-opening discussion. It offered us the perfect opportunity to discuss the protests that are taking place throughout Iran, which are leading to real change for women. Here are a few of the things we learned from our conversation:
- We learned why Mahsa’s death was the last straw and the unexpected catalyst for change in Iran
- We learned just how massive the cultural uprising was, both in Iran and around the world
- We learned that gender apartheid is now being recognized as an issue by the UN and what this indicates about the future of gender equality around the world
Help spread the word about this impactful series by sharing the event recording with your networks!
Cultures United Chairs
Ben Alvarado
Executive Vice President and Director of Core Banking, California Bank & Trust
Board of Directors, Orange County United Way
Martha Daniel
CEO and President, Information Management Resources, Inc.,
Board of Directors, Orange County United Way
Tam Nguyen
President, Advance Beauty College
Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Orange County United Way
Susan B. Parks
President and CEO, Orange County United Way
Contact
If you have any questions, please email CulturesUnited@UnitedWayOC.org.