changing our narrative — one story at a time.
More Than Asian is a conversation starter focused on Asian American identities and experiences, drawing connections within communities and individual spaces. We visually stimulate and empower our audience through positive, open and diverse storytelling.
we need unity now
In unity there is strength, a message that crosses over to each generation. Author Henry Chang has experienced the birth of Asian American unity and reflects on what he sees is improving, as well as what struggles lie ahead. Drawing from his upbringing of studying in college while coming home to the streets of Chinatown, Henry dispels the myths about Chinatown residents and Chinese gang culture in his books, seeking to reach a wider audience to contribute his voice to increasing more empathy for the Asian American community. After nearly seven decades of seeing countless changes in our country, Henry continues to use his platform in pursuit of a greater unity for the future of Asian America.
fill your own cup
Is it possible to make others happy while prioritizing your own joy? The Filipino culture deeply values having a positive outlook and making things work. For many Asian families, financial stability and family are paramount. Janae grew up in a religious Filipino household and wanted to live up to her parents' expectations of having a successful career in service of others. As she grew uninspired by jobs that were mom-approved and financially stable, she decided to carve her own path as a sustainable fashion stylist. Janae's natural artistic inclinations have allowed her spirit to flourish and bring positivity to her clients. Now that she tends to her own dreams, she's nurtured a foundation of personal empowerment that threads through her life decisions moving forward.
sound on, speak up
Can Asian American artists serve a bigger role? Growing up, Rob Chen unpacked his Chinese American identity while being the oldest brother of three. However, perceptions about his ethnicity and masculinity from his parents, alongside a life changing Asian American Experience class, led Rob to consider what his life would be like as an actor, and how he could use his platform to strengthen the voices of others in his community. After performing a spoken word poem at an #AsiansforBlackLives march in NYC, Rob continues to focus on unifying people through art, as well as dreams of designing a better future for the next generation of community-driven Americans.
how it began
Let’s talk about representation and being heard as individuals! As Asian Americans who grew up in the Bay Area, we saw a gap in the way our stories were packaged and shared with the rest of the world. In a society where Crazy Rich Asians, a wonderful film that we love, was deemed a pivotal moment that introduced Asian storytelling to the rest of the world, we couldn’t help but feel like there’s still much more to be done and many more stories to tell. We have to keep the momentum going. To be Asian is so many things and it can look so many different ways. Our community shouldn’t be painted with one broad stroke. Since society moves slowly to address gaps in representation, we decided to create a project to tell the stories we’ve been missing. We want to foster deeper connections with the people around us. We’re committed to changing our narrative - one story at a time. Our visual storytelling platform aims to highlight the different perspectives, cultures and individual experiences that go beyond a label of our identities. We invite you to join the conversation.
LAWRENCE RICARDO AND ALEX HALLMARK
CO-FOUNDERS
creative storytelling
Through an editorial, creative lens and perspective, our goal with this storytelling project is to give a voice to members of our community who haven’t had the opportunity before. By interviewing and photographing individuals who aspire to inspire, we create a platform to discuss issues and topics relevant to the Asian American experience. Who we are today is shaped by our experiences, cultures and backgrounds. We balance a curated set of environmental portraits with an editorial narrative, which is then published on our online photoblog.
join us in changing our narrative.
This has undeniably been a difficult, eye-opening last year for our world. Between those who have fallen ill to COVID-19 and the unprecedented and continued backlash of the pandemic to the Asian American community, as well as the significant social uprising of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the murder of George Floyd, it is now more important than ever to bring forward positive, personal and authentic stories from Asian Americans to help change the narrative, one story at a time.
We’re looking for individuals who are passionate about raising awareness in the Asian American community. Whether you identify as Asian American or not, there is a place in this project for you. We encourage you to reach out and learn more about how you can help with More than Asian by telling us a little bit about you in the form below.
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