Meet Dr. Teresa Hsu founder and executive director of the local non profit SPEAK. She shares with us more about her non profit and her faves in Northern Westchester!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and I lived in the city and Brooklyn for 7 years before moving to Westchester in 2016.
Name of your business and how long have you been in business?
Our nonprofit is called SPEAK, which stands for: a Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans and Kin. Using the word “SPEAK” was intentional because I wanted to give a voice to a historically marginalized population. We focus on capacity building for Asian American mental health and wellness through workshops, community events, and youth leadership.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you….
In addition to my doctorate in Clinical Psychology, I have a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance! And, I just had my first book published – The Asian American Teen’s Mental Health Workbook: Skills for Children of Immigrants to Navigate Family and Cultural Expectations, Challenge Racism, and Celebrate Who You Are. I’m hoping it’ll be helpful for Asian American youth and especially those who can’t access care otherwise.
Tell us about entrepreneur life and how do you balance it all?
Better some days than others. But really, making sure I prioritize the basics – that I’m eating well, sleeping well, and moving my body (running, biking, yoga, etc.). And of course, appreciating my kids and all the small but meaningful moments.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through owning your non profit?
There are too many to name! My founding board members have been instrumental in getting it all started. The community for supporting the idea and reinforcing the importance of this work. My family for their patience with me – it’s been a journey already, and we are less than 2 years in!
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Meeting and knowing the community, leadership, and key stakeholders has been essential, and I feel like I’m still learning each time I meet a new community leader. I’m grateful for the time people have spent both learning about and informing our work.
Tell us about all of the services your non-profit has to offer
We build capacity for supporting Asian American mental health through community trainings, events, and youth leadership programming. Creating opportunities for destigmatizing mental health for our communities is a thread in all that we do as well.
How do people learn more about your non profit?
Check us out on our website www.connecttospeak.org or on Instagram (@connecttospeak), Facebook, or LinkedIn!
Tell us your faves
Favorite date night spot: Jacob Burns Film Center
Favorite restaurant: Village Social in Mt Kisco
Favorite place to go out with friends: K-town in NYC
Favorite place to go to have fun in our area: Kitchawan Preserve/North-South Trail