Social Media Team
Social Media Team Member
Maia Zhu
My name is Maia Zhu and I am a junior at Irvine High School. Growing up I consumed a lot of media but never saw myself represented on the screen, which would, unfortunately, lead to a love-hate relationship with my culture. With these outreach projects, I hope they can encapsulate the genuine diversity and strength of our underrepresented cultures, giving us a level of recognition and representation often disregarded. In my free time, I can be found eating udon noodles, playing lacrosse as well as with my cat, Simba!
Social Media Team Member
Leila Ali
Hey there! I’m Leila Ali, and I’m a junior at Anderson High in Austin, Texas. Despite growing up in more diverse Irvine, media never seemed to reflect my experiences as a biracial Bengali woman. The older I got, the more I had to seek out representation on my own. this was a frustrating process, and Stories Empowered is important to me because I want to ensure that young girls see themselves reflected in every way, wherever they are. With school, I love learning more about history, taking theatre classes, and writing on tons of subjects just for fun! Hiking and going for drives with friends fills the rest of my time.
Social Media Team Member Arjun Dahiya
Hello!! My name is Arjun Dahiya and I'm also a junior at Portola High. One of the main reasons I joined this club was because ever since I was a kid, I loved listening to urban stories. My uncle used to sit down and talk to me about life in his hometown, like stuff that wouldn't be put on the news, such as secret skateboard parks, pools, etc. To sum it up, I like stories, so this club literally embodies something that I adore. Outside of Stories Empowered, I like to be outdoors a lot either surfing with my friends at the beach or traveling to scenic locations. I do play video games with the boys and have a hobby of cooking and playing board games. Cya around.