Uplift All Voices

Stories Empowered
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  • EDUCATION

Uplift All Voices is a platform aiming to highlight the stories of activists, artists, and authors that contribute to authentic representations of BIPOC in the media. The goal of each interview is to gain a better understanding of certain cultural topics in diverse storytelling and learn about their efforts to empower underrepresented communities. To learn more about our work, follow us on Instagram @storiesempowered.

  1. 03/15/2023

    S1 E3: Haruka Noda: Fighting Asian Hate through Public Art and Creating Murals with Message

    Back in 2021, the Stories Empowered team interviewed Haruka Noda, a senior from Portola High who led an initiative to create a mural advocating against Asian hate crimes and eventually founded Murals with Message: an organization that makes murals relating to social justice. Throughout this episode, we talked with Haruka about how her upbringing shaped her perspectives on activism, the overall process of completing her first mural and her inspiration to turn that one project into the fully-fledged Murals with Message. We ended off by discussing the intersection between art and activism as well as Haruka's future plans for Murals with Message.

    14 min

  2. 03/15/2023

    S1 E2: Andy Nguyen: Climbing the Business World and Asian Representation within the Restaurant Industry

    Back in 2021, the Stories Empowered team interviewed Andy Nguyen, a local Asian restaurateur known for co-founding various businesses including Afters Ice Cream, Dough & Arrow, Portside Fish Co, and Banh Xeo Boys. Throughout this episode, Andy talked about his non-traditional path into the business world, the lessons he learned from each of his businesses and how he eventually entered into the restaurant industry. We then touched upon his experiences building up businesses during both the recession and the COVID-19 pandemic before finally delving into his love for Orange County and the rich cultures that exist here as well as the ways in which he incorporates his Asian heritage into his work.

    23 min

  3. 03/15/2023

    S1 E1: "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" Roundtable Discussion

    Back in 2021, the Stories Empowered team came together to discuss "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings:" the first Marvel blockbuster to feature an Asian superhero as the lead. Beyond just analyzing the plot, we also reflected on whether the film played into traditional Asian stereotypes, how casting choices can reflect diversity efforts, and if, overall, the film did a good job with uplifting Asian stories.

    23 min
  4. “Dear White People” Ep. 1/2 Roundtable Discussion (Solidarity Initiative x Stories Empowered)

    09/27/2021

    “Dear White People” Ep. 1/2 Roundtable Discussion (Solidarity Initiative x Stories Empowered)

    For the 11th episode of Uplift All Voices, Stories Empowered collaborated with the Solidarity Initiative to host a roundtable discussion about the Netflix series Dear White People, a satirical comedy-drama that features the stories of four POC students at Winchester University and draws attention to racial discrimination as well as other social biases. Focusing on Episodes 1 and 2, the Stories Empowered and Solidarity Initiative teams discussed and analyzed topics ranging from reverse racism to biracial relationships. Be sure to follow the Solidarity Initiative on Instagram @solidarity.in and catch the next part of the Dear White People discussion on their platform (coming soon)!

    26 min
  5. Anthony Gharib: Exploring Sports Journalism, Diversity in the Newsroom, and the Importance of Youth Involvement

    01/31/2021

    Anthony Gharib: Exploring Sports Journalism, Diversity in the Newsroom, and the Importance of Youth Involvement

    For our tenth episode, the Stories Empowered team interviewed Anthony Gharib, an Armenian American student journalist at USC who specializes in sports writing. Throughout this episode, Anthony talked about why he chose to pursue journalism and how sports have influenced his identity. Following that, Anthony elaborated on his experiences as a student journalist and as an intern for the LA Times High School Insider, emphasizing the importance of youth activism and staying informed. Finally, Anthony explained how COVID-19 has affected sports writing and discussed common misconceptions about sports writing, also offering some words of advice to high school journalists.

    24 min
  6. Aylen Park: Embracing a Multicultural Heritage, Sharing Experiences on TikTok, and Breaking Through Outward Appearances

    01/24/2021

    Aylen Park: Embracing a Multicultural Heritage, Sharing Experiences on TikTok, and Breaking Through Outward Appearances

    For our ninth episode, the Stories Empowered team interviewed Aylen Park, a Korean, Latina, and American TikTok creator who uses her platform to spread cultural awareness and share unique stories. In this episode, Aylen explained how she moved to the U.S. at the age of 15 after being born and raised in Argentina, discussing the expectations vs. reality and how life in Argentina differs from life in America. Following that, Aylen talked about her content on TikTok and what message she hopes to send to her audience, telling a few stories about how others have misjudged her based on her appearance. Finally, Aylen touched upon her experience as a multilingual and how she communicates differently with each language.

    33 min
  7. Special Episode: ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Roundtable Discussion

    12/07/2020

    Special Episode: ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Roundtable Discussion

    For our eighth episode, the Stories Empowered team hosted a roundtable discussion about the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA), which is renowned for its Asian representation. Various members of the Stories Empowered team, including Co-Founder Charlotte Cao, writer Diego Moreno, Outreach Team member Ruhi Barot, and Operations Directors Ali Dada and Sanjana Nitturkaur, were invited to answer questions submitted by followers through the Instagram account @storiesempowered, as well as reflect on their own experiences while watching the show. Claire Chien, the Uplift All Voices Director, was responsible for moderating the entire discussion. For the first half of the episode, the Stories Empowered team will be discussing various characters, such as Katara and Azula, and analyzing their character development, while the second half will focus exclusively on the portrayal of Asian cultures within ATLA.

    56 min
  8. Bethany Huang: Running for the IUSD Board of Education as a College Freshman, Having Young and Diverse Voices in the Government, and Separating Church and State

    11/16/2020

    Bethany Huang: Running for the IUSD Board of Education as a College Freshman, Having Young and Diverse Voices in the Government, and Separating Church and State

    For our seventh episode, the Stories Empowered Team interviewed Bethany Huang, a Northwood High alumni and UCI freshman who ran for the IUSD Board of Education in the fall of 2020, striving to provide perspective on how district policies would affect students and parents in Irvine. Throughout this episode, Bethany explained her political background in education and how her experience as an IUSD student has influenced the policies that she supports. Following that, she expressed the importance of training young leaders and including all voices in the government, but she also warned against the dangers of identity politics and how it may lead to misrepresentation. Finally, Bethany reflected on her moral and political values in relation to her faith.

    21 min
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About

Uplift All Voices is a platform aiming to highlight the stories of activists, artists, and authors that contribute to authentic representations of BIPOC in the media. The goal of each interview is to gain a better understanding of certain cultural topics in diverse storytelling and learn about their efforts to empower underrepresented communities. To learn more about our work, follow us on Instagram @storiesempowered.

Information

  • Creator
    Stories Empowered
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2023
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stories Empowered
  • Show Website
    Uplift All Voices