47 Lauryn Chew
I am a Cantonese American high school student who is passionate about advocacy through storytelling. Since those in power have and continue to oppress, exclude, and discriminate against communities of color by denying them equitable access to resources and opportunities, I hoped to foster social change and build community by founding Focus, a school district-wide, virtual program, in April 2023. At Focus, we empower youth to challenge existing power structures by sharing their stories through Photovoice, a method of photographic storytelling. Engaging with students from various backgrounds has helped me understand how multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination shape our experiences, and this year, I represented Girl Scouts at the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to demand that civil society, international actors, and Member States work together to center these stories by critically examining and addressing systems of oppression when making policies and supporting grassroots initiatives.
