On February 19, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) hosted a community screening of the film Surrender followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker, Jess Dang, and several students involved in the Youth Leaders in Problem Gambling Project. The event created a meaningful space for conversations about mental health, AAPI representation, and the ways gambling-related harm can affect individuals and families.

Surrender follows the story of Naomi, a young Asian woman navigating past family trauma and the emotional tug-of-war that draws her into gambling. The film highlights themes of loss, resilience, and the search for control, and was made even more meaningful by the presence of writer and director Jess Dang, whose work focuses on amplifying Asian voices and bringing underrepresented stories to the forefront. As a Chinese American filmmaker based in Los Angeles, Dang uses her art to explore mental health, identity, and social justice through a lens of authenticity and cultural nuance. She shared that, “as an Asian American woman, it is particularly important for me to change the narrative of how mainstream media portrays gambling and distorts reality”.

During the panel, youth leaders and community members reflected on the importance of culturally grounded storytelling and the power of community-led spaces to explore topics like intergenerational trauma, identity, and the pressures that influence decision making around gambling. Panelists spoke to the value of representation and the need for prevention efforts that meet communities where they are: with empathy, understanding, and cultural humility.

Events like this continue to inform OPGS’s approach to community engagement and provide opportunities to learn directly from those with lived experience. OPGS is grateful to BCNC, Jess Dang, and the Youth Leaders for fostering a thoughtful and engaging event.