To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Director of AANAPISI Dr. Aida Cuenza-Uvas and her admin welcomed all to the Multicultural Center to witness the six finalists of the first annual storytelling contest, as well as ARISE’s new art installation, “I am AANHPI.”

The contest was titled, “My Words, My Power.”

Storytellers prepared 5 minute speeches to anecdotally answer the prompt, “How did your cultural identity develop over time?”

There were many present themes of emigration, imposter syndrome, navigating cultural misogyny, stigmas and traumas, and ultimately how all of our experiences shape who we are as a person.

Here’s one story for you.

Meet Julienne Uy.