Our Library of Lived Experiences

Recap: Embroidery for Change Workshop
Katie Quan Katie Quan

Recap: Embroidery for Change Workshop

Embroidery for Change brought educators together for a hands-on workshop exploring embroidery as art and resistance. With history, discussion, and practical tools for the classroom, teachers left inspired to bring these lessons to their students—thanks to community support, thoughtful pacing, and a powerful spirit of care and collaboration.

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Great Expectations
perspective Katie Quan perspective Katie Quan

Great Expectations

Dawn shares the “birth of an overachiever” through her multimedia project, accompanied with interviews, collages, reflections, and illustrations. She challenges expectations of success and how to leave the social safety net.

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metamorphosis
perspective Katie Quan perspective Katie Quan

metamorphosis

Growing up in Chinatown, Dawn assumed being Asian was the norm, yet she often felt disconnected from the cultural expectations tied to her ethnicity. Now, she’s learning to embrace her identity and prioritize balance.

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Where Roads of Identities Clash
Katie Quan Katie Quan

Where Roads of Identities Clash

As a high schooler, it’s common to feel like a fish out of water. For Connie, this often feels like a fight between her Vietnamese and American identities. In this narrative, she begins to deconstruct what it means to live the many identities that make who she is and how to reclaim cultural pride.

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My Journey to Ethnic Studies
Katie Quan Katie Quan

My Journey to Ethnic Studies

Katie explores her journey as a student to REALSOUL founder, challenging the pedagogy and educational values that made up her childhoood.

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Ethnic Studies and Identity Crisis
perspective Katie Quan perspective Katie Quan

Ethnic Studies and Identity Crisis

Jewel reflects on her own experiences in education, the need for ethnic studies, and how interpersonal and institutional interactions have influenced her academic life. This blog was written as part of the Youth in Power Internship program.

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