Student-Led Initiative Emphasizes Increasing BIPOC Representation

TV shows, art and literature are all forms of expression individuals consume on a daily basis. While these forms of work provide solace and comfort, the lack of BIPOC representation has been disadvantaging individuals from not only developing diverse mindsets but also from finding their confidence and identity in media.

Stories Empowered, a student-led initiative, uses the digital age’s full capacity to allow easy and rapid expression of ideas, as they work to increase identity representation in media using various forms.

“Stories Empowered is about making sure that people of color especially aren’t limited to one specific narrative that the media is showing,” junior and co-founder Claudia Lin said. “A lot of the time, people of color are like ‘this is the only story I’ve seen’ or people will think that they have to settle with the stories being told about their culture, but Stories Empowered gives that opportunity for young high school students to tell their own stories that will hopefully resonate with other people.”

With 25 members, the initiative works on three sectors which include Books of Hope, Uplift our Voices and Visual Perspectives. The separated projects touch on various parts of the media through different forms. 

“Without that representation, it’s harder for them to see role models in the media and it’s harder for them to picture themselves in the roles that art preset by media.” junior and co-founder Charlotte Cao said. “What we are trying to do is open up people’s minds and make them realize ‘yeah the society and media have told you you could only be pushed you into this one little outcall of jobs and everything but that’s not true, you have so much opportunity, you can tell your own stories, you could be who you wanna be without society pressuring you.”

The team monthly brainstorms and works on new feature stories, podcasts and other projects while publicizing their work on their Instagram account @storiesempowered. They are also working to publish their website since the start of their team in August.  

“I like to focus on child development and how representation can impact like how a child views themself because I think that is so important to start these conversations early, to make sure that when they grow up they know that their capabilities are more than just what the media represents,” Lin said. “I always say this but even if we don't reach as many people as we want, as long as we impact at least one child with a narrative that they see themselves after we represented them by, that’s all that matters to me.”