I left that night feeling like I had messed everything up. It took a couple days for me to realize that it was all part of the process. I alone did not need to come up with or know all the answers. I think I always just assumed and wanted to believe that growth was more like an Instant Pot when it was really more like a slow cooker. Good things take time to make and deepen as they age.

Do you have a story in your head that you want to write but you’re not sure how to structure it? Our volunteer Kristine dives into two different narrative structures that writers, screenwriters, and storytellers can use when crafting their next character-driven story. Read to learn more about the Three Act Structure and Kishōtenketsu!

Since the pandemic has started, we have seen a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes all over the U.S. Those in the Asian American community are grappling with their own people being targeted for these hate crimes. In a powerful essay, our volunteer Long looks into the moments where he was personally targeted, his reactions to the rise in the hate crimes, and his journey of moving forward from the language of violence.

As we continue to celebrate APIDA Heritage Month, we also want to make sure we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month! Our modern society is slowly but surely putting a greater emphasis on nurturing and acknowledging mental health, which is crucial for our APIDA community and its future. Improving your mindset can be one way to improve your mental health. In our volunteer Kristine’s blog, she explores how Studio Ghibli’s “Howl’s Moving Castle” mirrors how the growth and fixed mindsets affect mental health.

As we've explored previously on our blog, APIDA representation in animation is still a work in progress. But beyond onscreen representation, what is the APIDA representation behind-the-screen? In her next blog post, our volunteer Veronica interviewed Gene Kim, a Korean-American writer, animator, storyboard artist, and filmmaker, who directed the animated short film, One Last Monster. In their conversation, Kim shared his filmmaking process, the challenges of strengthening diversity in the animation industry, and the the opportunities creators of color have in independent animation.

In an interview with YA author Katie Zhao, our volunteer Veronica dives into Zhao’s experiences as a Chinese American writer, how her background and upbringing influence her writing, as well as the creative choices behind her novels.

Beautiful, flowy, ornate—lehengas hold a significant presence in the upbringing of many Desi girls. And while this cultural garment is beloved by many, there are numerous antiquated qualities to the traditional lehenga. In her latest installment of her Desi Innovators series, our writer @saumyamonga interviews the founder and CEO of Desi Is Me, @milliebarman. A local Bay Area clothing brand, @desiisme is devoted to providing affordable, comfortable, and elegant designs. These lehengas are not only a much-needed update to tradition, but they also represent and empower the bicultural experience of South Asian American women.