Posted on November 28, 2022
Major: Studio Art
Project: I hope to develop a project to celebrate, protect, and project the voices, identities, and stories of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC people through the arts and literature. I would also love to explore this with a focus on Arab/Arab American identities.
Inspiration: I have always navigated the world through stories. Whether through books, movies, cartoons, or graphic novels I have been able to make the experience of my world richer by indulging in the creativity and stories of people from all stretches of life even if I was just at home. Art is powerful and it has moved me to care for so much of our world and I hope that I can contribute to that so that our world can be more compassionate, fun, and equitable.
Future Plans: I hope that whatever work I choose to do helps strengthen communities, fights against erasure, and moves LGBTQ+ and BIPOC resistance and pride forward.
Posted on November 28, 2022
Major: Psychology & Gender and Sexuality Studies
Project: I am currently working with a few different organizations in Colorado to create safe spaces for LGBT and BIPOC youth and allies to learn and gain access to resources. I’ve also started my own art business where I donate proceeds to local organizations that amplify QTBIPOC voices and share resources like transition funds and clothing swaps that are helpful for those in need. Here is my website for my art business that supports local orgs! artloveshard.square.site
Inspiration: I grew up with my grandparents who immigrated to the US during the Vietnam War. Because of this, I didn’t have access to the education and support that I needed as a queer transgender man and it made growing up really hard for me. Through an online community of Trans and queer individuals, I was able to get the support I needed to be able to be the most authentic version of myself and knew I wanted to do the same for others.
Future Plans: I hope to create safe places for youth to gain the knowledge and support they need to be the best versions of themselves. Finding ways to make healthcare (both mental and physical) more accessible, connecting with the community, and sharing resources that are helpful, but hidden, are my big goals
Posted on November 6, 2020
Major: Biochemistry
Minors: Biology, Human Health Systems and Sciences, and Medical Physics
Project: The health disparity crisis is in full effect as more individuals migrate to Colorado. It is extremely difficult for them to find access to healthcare, most times they do not have equitable access lin comparison to their neighbors. Through my work with the free clinic in Aurora, CO known as the D.A.W.N. Clinic, I have worked to assess the disparities in health care and have attempted to reduce the disparities. Through being a care coordinator at the clinic, I have assisted over 300 patients within the past 4 years gain access to free healthcare and register for other benefits including housing, transportation, food, and mental health benefits. I also do work with Red Equity to plan events to distribute period products at no cost! We distribute period packages all across the United States to help provide equal access to these products and gear towards eradicating the Pink Tax.
Inspiration: I come from a family of immigrants and I admire the sacrifices they make to build a life in the U.S. so their children can attend better schools and have larger accessibility to resources and opportunities, in comparison to what they might have had in their country of origin. The difficulties of securing jobs and houses, facing cultural and language barriers, and accessing services are not easy tasks to face, it is inspiring to me that my family and others have overcome those (and more) challenges.
Future Plans: I plan on attending Physician Assistant school to tackle this issue further. I am excited to change how people are affected by healthcare systems and help create an environment that provides equal healthcare for all.
Posted on September 6, 2019
Project: Providing access to mental health services for undocumented Latinx college students.
Inspiration: I have personally seen and experienced the lack of access Latinx communities have towards mental health services. But once I got to college I realized that undocumented Latinx college students face different struggles that affect their mental health differently. This becomes a large issue when they don’t have the resources to take care of their mental health. I was inspired to create my Puksta project because I saw that my community was lacking an important resource.
Future Plans: I hope to create and provide mental health services that are more culturally aware for undocumented students on campus and therefore, improve the healths of undocumented Latinx students.
Posted on October 15, 2018
Major: Economics and Political Science
Project: My Puksta Project has evolved from the more general desire to address mental health within African Communities to utilizing youth community engagement to bring awareness to mental health. Furthermore, I intend to use an artistic lens to discuss the topic of mental health by using it as a tool and mechanism for the youth within these African communities to better understand their needs and hopefully find a more meaningful way of meeting them. I hope to achieve this by first designing workshops that allow the members of these communities (with a particular focus on youth) to learn more about mental health as well as how to use art as an expressive outlet. My passion for art has intertwined with my passion for mental health and I hope to unite the two as one to offer my community and other African communities a new perspective on mental health and the power of art as an act of self-care and even self-discovery.
Inspiration: After having lost a friend and member of my community to suicide, I realized that the entire situation seemed almost foreign to a number of my friends and family. I want to create awareness within the African community of the reality and the seriousness of mental health as well as the services available that aid in preventing suicide.
Future Plans for Project: I would like to see more African communities open to conversations about mental health and utilizing the services provided that address it.
Project: I am conducting research on the various mental health policies that effect incarcerated people and ways to reform policy. Prison environments promote unhealthy behavior and recidivism rates that affect all communities. I hope to promote mental health awareness and provide incarcerated people with more opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
Inspiration: I want to debunk the many myths people have about mental illness and address the reasons why it is a serious topic that society needs to inform people about.
Future Plans for Project: Provide an outlet for people with mental illnesses to have a voice and advocate for themselves without fear of receiving judgment from others, but to also make mental health a more talked about topic by those who don’t experience the struggles that those with mental health issues face everyday.
