Being a Bush Fellow has allowed me to take action to confirm the needs that exist in Rochester. The first six months of the fellowship journey has been a phase of exploration and absorption. During this phase, I experienced a variety of emotions. I am constantly delighted and also overwhelmed by wonderful information and discoveries that come my way. First, I formed a small research team with the title, Project Art & Narrative (PAN). The mission of this team is to determine the attributes within creative activities that leads to the healing, wellness, and resiliency. As a writer, I have witnessed how reflective thinking in itself promotes creativity and openness in us; as a result, we realize something about ourselves in a way that we couldn’t have articulated before the reflection. Since July, 2016, I have been leading narrative and art sessions for the patients in one of the psychiatric units at Mayo Clinic. The feedback from the patients about these sessions has been remarkably positive to the point it shocked the nursing staff. The unit has requested me to articulate the model that I use during these sessions. I am coming to understand that the mindset of the facilitator plays a key role in provoking participants’ creativity. Healing occurs by being inspired by one’s own voice, a voice that the patients find to be true. Being in touch with what is deeply true to the patients calms them. How do I turn this into a model? I haven’t quite found the language to articulate the mindset or the model. But as I continue to work on delivering the sessions, I trust that I will express my understanding clearly. The concept of Race was not originally in my fellowship plan, but working with a writing mentor, David Mura was. In working with David and witnessing his writing workshops for Asian Americans, I have developed a series of writing workshops for Asian American community members in Rochester. This opportunity provides a safe space for Asian American writers to think about and express their experiences pertaining to race, Asian American identity, culture, and history, generate writing topics, and write their stories. Learning about the common experience and invisible system that exists for Asian Americans, I held several group discussions with Asian American community members. They expressed how they did not feel as though their Asian identity could be of interest to others, thus they conform to the mainstream narrative and life style of the predominately white community. I remind Asian American community members that sharing stories is about taking leadership. Solidifying and articulating their experience as Asian Americans will impact not only the writers themselves but also the Rochester community. Narrative is an engaging way to capture and share the complexity of being Asian American. Many people do not see themselves as writers, yet they all have their own stories and experiences. Through these workshops, my hope is that the Asian American community members will find their voices. As I continue to offer writing workshops, like my narrative session at Psychiatric unit, I hope to articulate the attributes that impact and empower community members. In addition to conducting these narrative sessions, I also work on my own reflection through writing as well as dancing. As a writer, I continue to work on my next novel. As a dancer, my training has provided me with an underlying strength and grounding. As the fellowship activities intensified, I questioned if I should continue my dancing. Yet I fight to continue dancing; moving my body to music gives me much insights about life. I remind myself again and again that serving others and changing the culture of my community requires me to work on myself first. If I believe in the power of art and narrative, researching about this topic will not be enough for me to own the knowledge. My personal involvement in creativity requires commitment to joy and self-discovery. Creativity challenges us. The answer from creative activities is not always clear. I am demanded to let go of my intentions. Instead, I am required to focus on what is in front of me. Learning about the connection between physical movements and healing, I see dancing as the metaphor for concepts such as “softening our edges,” “letting go of expectations to progress,” “allowing and trusting the process,” and “working through mystery.” I am practicing these concepts every day. My dance training strengthens my ability to identify what works in narrative sessions. Overall, I have learned that a shift in culture is carried forward by a series of small activities that impacts the awareness and consciousness of individuals.