It’s hard to find joy in the midst of activism and resistance, and yet our movements depend on holding onto joy – together. Resistance is not just about struggle; it is also about healing, connection, and the radical act of embracing joy. Our organization seeks to uplift both resistance and joy, honoring the ways they sustain each other in our collective work. This year’s theme, “In Resistance, We Find Liberation. In Community, We Find Joy,” brings together our shared commitments to activist scholarship, collective healing, and community empowerment. It invites us to explore the ways that joy fuels our resistance, sustains our activism and scholarship, and strengthens our communities. As we engage in a long-term struggle against oppression, we must also create spaces for celebration, renewal, and hope. This theme highlights our presidential mission of embracing the full spectrum of our experiences, recognizing that joy is not merely a byproduct of liberation but an essential part of the process itself.
We invite our community of psychologists, researchers, scholars, practitioners, community workers, healers, elders, and students to share their expertise, scholarship, and journeys in navigating these interwoven forces. We document so much pain, yet joy remains an underexplored and radical force in our work. This convention is an invitation to remember joy, to reclaim it, and to embrace it as an integral part of our resistance. As the saying goes…
If you want to run fast, run alone. If you want to run far, run together.
Dr. Helen H. Hsu is a Past President and fellow of the Asian American Psychological Association and Past President of the American Psychological Association (APA) Div. 45 (Society for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity). Dr. Hsu devoted 20 years as a training director and clinician within community-based clinics serving historically marginalized communities. She is currently the Director of Outreach at Stanford University Counseling and Psychological Services where she implements education and prevention efforts to promote campus-wide mental health. Dr. Hsu is the Clinical Lead at Pandora Bio which develops precision mental health early detection tools for college populations. She is the founder of Hella Mental Health providing consultation to corporate and entertainment entities committed to accurate mental health representation. Dr. Hsu is an advisory board member of the JED foundation, focused on youth suicide prevention. She was a member of the APA Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression as well as a mentor with the APA Minority Fellowship Program Training Advisory Committee. Her Healing Trauma Workbook for Asian Americans was published by New Harbinger in 2024.
Take advantage of this great opportunity to meet with colleagues and presenters, as well as network! Additionally, you can collect your badge in advance, saving time on the morning of the convention.
Most importantly, attendance at this evening event is required for those interested in participating as a mentor or mentee.
August 5, 2025 from 6 p.m To 8 p.m
Badges/Registration: 6:00 to 7:00 pm
Mentor/Mentee Event: 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Please note that we will not be providing lunch at the convention. However, there are several wonderful lunch options nearby! Here are a few we identified:
1. Sam's No. 3 1500 Curtis Street | Denver, CO 80202 | 7. Modern Market Eatery 900 16th Street Mall | Denver, CO 80202 |
2. The Corner Office 1401 Curtis Street | Denver, CO 80202 | 8. Tea Cloud & Poke 1690 Champa Street | Denver, CO 80202 |
3. Menya Noodle Bar 951 16th Street | Denver, CO 80202 | 9. Mint Indian Restaurant and Lounge 1531 Stout Street, Suite 130 | Denver, CO 80202 mintindiandenver.com |
4. S'Ono 900 S. Auraria Parkway | Denver, CO 80202 | 10. Kaffe Landscap Lodo 1401 Lawrence Street | Denver, CO 80202 www.kaffelandskap.com |
5. Casa Tequilas 934 16th Street Mall | Denver, CO 80202 | 11. Bao Brewhouse 1317 14th Street | Denver, CO 80202 baobrewhouse.com/ |
| 6. Little Finch 1490 16th Street Mall | Denver, CO 80202 oliveandfinch.com/location/olive-finch-little-finch/ |
The Curtis Hotel offers complimentary parking to its customers. However, if you are staying at a different hotel, alternative parking garages are available. Below are some options for your consideration with estimated walking time:
| 1. 1401 Lawrence Street Garage 3 minutes | 4. 1448 Champa Street - Lot 4 minutes |
| 2. 1601 Curtis Street (Independence Plaza) 5 minutes | 5. 1420 Stout Street - Embassy Suites 4 minutes |
| 3. 1472 Lawrence Street 3 minutes |
Map of Convention Location
