Voices

Sharing stories and experiences that highlight diverse narratives across community groups.

Community Voices

From DIGITIZE (by Precious) – Although I’ve not experienced what it is like to be a breadwinner yet, I still carry the expectations of a breadwinner: the responsibility to take care of my family. And it’s not just implied–it’s spoken. As I grow older, I frequently hear things such as “Oh Precious kung meron kang pera, magbigay ka dito ah,” (Precious when you start earning, don’t forget to give us some money). Even things like “Precious, ikaw ang mag bahala sakin kung matanda na ako,” which translates to “Precious when I get old you better take care of me.”
From DIGITIZE (by Aferata) – People compliment my hair texture or tell me I’m “pretty for a Black girl,” as if being Black automatically means being less attractive. It’s a strange position to be in, being praised for features that others in my community are made to feel ashamed of. As a mentor of mine put it, “’Good hair’ and ‘pretty eyes’ were anything but what I am.”
Collage by Tsion with photos from assorted Pexels and Unsplash photographers.
From DIGITIZE (by Tsion) – Immigrant. It’s a word that has followed my family and I through airports, job applications, hospital waiting rooms. It has clung to documents, our accents, our silences.
Smyah's mother pushes Smyah (left) and Smyah's brother on a swing set. Family photo courtesy of Smyah.
From DIGITIZE (by Smyah) – I’ve always carried a sense of pride in my identity, or at least part of my identity. There was a time when I ran away from my heritage, from the parts of me that I didn’t understand or couldn’t accept. I denied the features that were passed down through generations: my angular eyebrows, the shape of my eyes, and the tip of my nose, all of which hold a genetic story I was uncomfortable claiming.
Shin Yu Pai
From KUOW (by Shin Yu Pai) – The Japanese “mizuko kuyo”, or the Water Child ceremony, is one of many rituals around the world that helps parents grieve the loss of a pregnancy.
Josephine Pakootas
From Underscore (by Luna Reyna) – In Spokane, Josephine Pakootas uses tattooing to provide a safe space for amplifying Native voices and telling their stories.
Emily Hawks
From International Examiner (by Emily Hawks) – As Bryan Woo prepares to represent the Mariners at the 2025 All-Star Game, Bryan Woo remarks on his experience as an Asian American athlete.
Hamlin Robinson School
From South Seattle Emerald (by Yuko Kodama) – For students struggling with dyslexia and learning differences, South Seattle’s Hamlin Robinson School offers a learning environment designed around neurodiversity and the BIPOC experience.
From Tulalip News (by Wade Sheldon) – On June 21st, members of the Tulalip Tribes gathered to honor yubəč, the seasonal return of salmon to Tulalip Bay.
Mark White
From South Seattle Emerald (by Mark White and Elise DeGooyer) – A 3-part series relating the many stories of the Nguyen family following their escape from Vietnam and establishment of a tailoring business in Pioneer Square.

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