Project Generation Connect

Take the survey here! Project Generation Connect Survey

Project Generation Connect addresses an important issue within Asian-American families—the lack of communication, dialogue and understanding among the multiple generations of Asian Americans.

The goal of Project Generation Connect is to share common barriers and challenges faced by Asian American parents and children in regards to communicating true feelings, problems, affection, and more. The project encourages both parents and children to reach out and seek support and help when needed. Because Asian-American cultural upbringing perpetuates this lack of communication, young Asian Americans often find themselves dealing with depression and isolation, and at times, thoughts of suicide.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, depression is the second leading cause of death for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women between 15 and 24, who consistently have the highest suicide rates among women in this age group.
Asian countries place a great emphasis on the family unit rather than the individual, and mental illness and depression often reflect poorly on the family. The resulting stigma associated with mental illness often prevents these conditions from being addressed within Asian-American communities.

First-generation Asian-Americans are often pressured to remove themselves from their family’s struggles and become the image of American success. Often parents live through the success of their children causing feelings of tension and guilt. Asian Americans also face issues in regards to their race, ethnicity, identity, and sexuality. Being able to express oneself within a family as well as in the world is very important.

The first step of Project Generation Connect is to begin the dialogue.
If you are of Asian descent, no matter what generation you are or whether you are a parent or a young person, get involved in the conversation by taking this survey!

Comments will be collected and may be shared anonymously in the next edition of Asian Avenue magazine. If you would like to share any thoughts on the project, please e-mail Annie Guo at [email protected].

“Growing up my parents spoke Korean to me at home. Now that I am older, it is hard for me to convey my feelings because my Korean is stuck at an elementary level. My parents’ English never advanced to a point where they could understand the complex problems I am going through.”
“I am dealing with issues around my sexual identity and have no one to talk to. My parents do not know the first thing about the LGBT community.”
“I do not want my kids to go through the struggles I did as an immigrant from China. I tell them that school is important but they tell me to stop pressuring them to be successful.”
“I recently turned 22, and my dad told me he loved me for the first time. I didn’t know what to say. It was awkward.”
“My son wants to work at our family laundromat instead of going to college. I cannot press higher education upon him when I do not have a degree.”