Stories
Alan Chin discusses his project, Chinese American Photo Album, a zine which informs readers about the complex past of Chinese American families, their history, and America's Chinese exclusion policy. While Chin developed his project, Hannah Miao and collaborator Lynn Huynh worked on the Chinatown Photo Album Project, a similar records-based publication, as a part of the What Can We Do? micro grant program, presented by Asian American Arts Alliance (A4).
In Spring of 2024, I had the chance to talk to some of the facilitators and collaborators at Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid in New York City. Their work and their struggle is unrelenting and it was important for me and my team to tell their story so that others could hear about the positive impact their organization makes and maybe even find relevance from it in their own lives.
Ren Haixi is a designer who just graduated from Parsons School of Designer. Her work has been featured in many collaborations - including with the Kardashians, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, and New York Fashion Week. We sat down with Ren and asked to know a little more about her life and ethic.
In 2022, I had the opportunity to connect with many collaborators for a project about contributing to the urban scape of New York. In true, professional broadcast-journalism style, I developed a short documentary piece on the Lower East Side's shopping cart garden, facilitated by Anna Pelavin! Made in conjunction with my multimedia journalism class.
In 2016, I began developing a short documentary on artists and athletes in Cuba during the height of Operation Cuban Thaw. Take a look at the trailer!
As director of a short documentary on The Dojo Café in San Diego, I oversaw the film from conception to final cut, shaping its story through research, interviews, and visual storytelling. The film explores how a social enterprise café fosters community and upward mobility in City Heights, offering a safe, inclusive space for connection and support. Through this project, I aimed to highlight how local initiatives can redefine what community care looks like.
Undisputed is a gym in City Heights that teaches boxing to local youth who need to let off some steam. The program has been incredibly successful in what they say provides an opportunity for fitness and empowers the bully not to be a bully. “I used to do a lot of street fights, because of my anger but coming here, working out, fighting with your friends, hugging out at the end of the fight, it keeps you out of trouble.”
Victor Ochoa is a founding Chicano Park muralist who continues to advocate for immigrant rights and representation through his art. Having been deported to Mexico with his family in 1956 as a result of Operation Wetback, Victor has overcome countless barriers but is now a US citizen who is highly recognized for his contributions to San Diego’s art culture and as an arts educator working with youth in all corners of the city.
In 2016, I had the chance to visit the Elementary Institute of Science (EIS) in San Diego. EIS grew from a small elementary school club in the 1960s to a flourishing school offering students insight into STEM and STEAM subjects!
Students at EIS take after-school classes in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math - equipping them with knowledge and skills to enter STEAM jobs in the future.