​The Story

​We Can Bring Community to Our Parents by Having BYOP Events

​It all started with one stark realization: I have close friends to talk to and count on when things get tough. My parents don’t.

​When my mom and dad immigrated to America, they left behind everything to live in a new country, culture, and language.

​They were so busy surviving they didn’t have the luxury of building deep friendships. As they get older, this becomes harder.

​My friend Patricia and I came up with a wild idea: What if we invited our friends to dinner and asked them to bring their parents so we can all meet?

​Our parents feel lonely, just like us, so we decided to bring them the gift of community.

​We reached out to our friends with Chinese/Cantonese-speaking parents and scheduled the first Bring-Your-Own-Parents (BYOP) Dinner hosted by my parents (pre-COVID).

​The six parents who attended were overjoyed. They met other like-minded individuals who share similar life experiences, struggles, and cultural values.

​Most importantly, they could speak and express themselves comfortably in Chinese. We all felt a sense of immediate kinship, like we were part of one big family.

​My four friends and I witnessed touching moments when our parents reminisced on their childhood and shared their hopes and dreams for us.

​We all stayed in touch through a group chat. My parents have since raved countless times about how wonderful that first dinner was, and how we can’t wait to do it again. Now we are!

​We can help our loved ones make new friends, all the while hanging out with our close friends.

​Will you join us?

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​The Event

​Will you be around with your loved ones next weekend in the Bay Area? Do your parents/grandparents speak Chinese or Cantonese? Come join us!

​We couldn't be more excited to host our second-ever Bring-Your-Own-Parents Dinner and already have 10 families planning to be there.

​🧧 This BYOP will be for Chinese/Cantonese-speaking families.

​🍽 It'll be a potluck! My mom will also be cooking up a storm as always.

​🗓 Saturday, December 10, 2022

​⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM PT

​📍 The Commons SF - 540 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA (MAP LINK)

​❤️ RSVP Link Here: https://go.parentsarehuman.com/byop-dinner