Wayne Jopanda Curates Waves of Resilience at King Library’s AAACNA Center

What does healing and wellness look and feel like for some members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander diaspora communities?

For Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies Wayne Jopanda, wellness means walking his three dogs across campus with his wife, introducing their pets to students and friends. It also means hosting healing circles for Filipino men twice a month on Zoom and sharing mental health resources with SJSU's Akbayan Pilipinix American Organization . And starting March 29, wellness means displaying Waves of Resilience: Art & Scenes of AAPI Healing at the Africana, Asian American, Chicano and Native American (AAACNA) Studies Center on the fifth floor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library.

Jopanda solicited submissions of original artwork to curate the exhibit, which includes pieces by SJSU students and faculty, as well as members of the general public - including a few international submissions. Rumor has it there may even be a piece created by an Indigenous Filipino weaver based in Manila.

"Waves of Resilience showcases a powerful intersection of art, photography, music, poetry and storytelling to explore healing and wellness within the Asian American Pacific Islander diasporic communities," he says. "Through diverse mediums, this collection highlights personal stories and cultural expressions that celebrate self-care, mental health and collective healing. We'll have folks sharing art pieces, paintings, prints, photography, poems and personal stories."

"By bridging community experiences and voices with academic spaces, the Africana, Asian American, Chicano, Native American (AAACNA) Studies Center creates a dynamic learning environment where culture, history and education intersect," says Research Services and Social Sciences Librarian Estella Inda, '08 Sociology, '21 MLIS. "These types of cultural exhibitions foster meaningful connections between classroom learning and lived experiences. By enriching student knowledge, these efforts also strengthen relationships between academic institutions and the broader community, promoting collaboration and mutual understanding."

The timing of this exhibit corresponds with Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month , recognized at San José State in April and nationally in May. Jopanda hopes that the exhibit will offer Spartans, especially those who identify with Asian American and Pacific Islander diasporic communities, the chance to reflect on their own wellness journeys. One of his goals is to destigmatize mental health and create a platform for people of all ages and nationalities to share their experiences.

"It's exciting to see the next generation of students speak about mental health and actively engage with the need for healing and wellness," he says.

Jopanda emphasizes the role that visual art, poetry, performance and interdisciplinary projects can play in bringing communities together.

"Speaking with Estella Inda, AAACNA and Asian American Studies understands that collaborations like this exhibit is a prime example of ethnic studies in action," he says. "These collaborations are a vital space for interdisciplinary and community centered learning on campus."

The Waves of Resilience exhibit is on display in the library through May 25. Jopanda is thrilled to invite the public to an open mic event and celebration in the space on Sunday, April 27.

"This is a labor of love and collaboration," he says. "This exhibit shows how many folks have connected with this theme of healing, wellness and mental health across different mediums, across generations and around the world.

Learn more about the Waves of Resilience exhibit at King Library's AAACNA Center.