WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Renee Chou recently got a chance to share the stage with a new co-anchor. She served as the keynote speaker at the Family Connections Conference, sponsored by the Research Triangle Park Chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals.
Chou shared her experiences as a new mom with the crowd and brought her own unique visual aid. Her nine-month-old daughter, Elsa, was invited to the event as well.
“She had quite a bit to add to my speech,” said Chou. “Our first speaking engagement together!”
Chou opened up the day’s formal events with her keynote after the breakfast.
“At the conference, I shared with the audience what it was like to grow up with Taiwanese parents who were strict, traditional, and pushed me to excel,” said Chou. “Growing up, I felt a constant struggle to balance traditional Chinese values with American mainstream values, but had come to appreciate both cultures and make it into my own. I also shared how I wanted to pass as much of that onto my daughter Elsa, so that she can also embrace and appreciate her Taiwanese/Chinese heritage.”
The half-day conference took place on Saturday, February 7, 2015, at the Brooks Avenue Church in Raleigh. The event strove to allow families to network, share ideas and learn about local resources available to parents.
“Parents and families face a litany of challenges in today’s world, but they don’t have to go it alone,” says Chou. “The hope is to set up local parents for success and turn those challenges into opportunities through this event.”
Other speakers included panelists from the Wake County Public School System faculty, local parents, experienced professionals and advocates. Topics covered included everything from choosing the right school to child nutrition issues.
The conference also included fun cultural activities for children, and the North Carolina Professional Association of Nannies provided childcare so parents could attend seminars.
About NAAAP-RTP
NAAAP-RTP is the Research Triangle Park Chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), and is the premier multi-professional pan-Asian American nonprofit association in the United States and Canada. There are now 27 Chapters with a growing national membership of over 3,000 professionals.
Their vision is to promote Asian-American leadership and civic engagement through professional development, networking, multicultural education and community service. As the chapter dedicated to the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, NAAAP-RTP strives to promote business development, equality, diversity and developing leaders within the Asian communities in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, NC.
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Renee Chou for these capcom photos.