#MyAAPIStory: Sharing the diverse stories of the AAPI community

AS AN EDITOR, I used to tell my reporters that every person has a story to tell. I would read the obituaries and learn the interesting lives that people led that went untold until they died. "Let's tell those stories before they die," I'd tell the writers.

We all know the stories we have, our parents and grandparents, the stories of traveling across the Pacific to make a new home in a strange land. 

We know the stories of growing up in the United States and still be considered a foreigner, an outsider, an other.  We try to fit in and get rejected. We suffer the stereotypes forced upon us and we do our best to break the mold. 

Choose your interview partner (if you are

interviewing someone). Use the question generator

 in the app to help guide your story or interview. 

The generator contains questions on a 

variety of topics and also allows you 

to write your own questions. Record the story 

or interview using the app on your phone, 

which serves as a digital facilitator that will 

guide you through the process of preparation, 

recording, and archiving your conversation.

Tag recordings with general keyword “MyAAPIStory”.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is the fastest growing racial group in the U.S., with a breadth of stories and experiences. From native Hawaiians to recent immigrants to third-generation Americans, from artists to entrepreneurs to public service leaders, AAPIs are a fundamental part of the diverse mosaic of America.

In February, the White House launched a call for nominations for White House Champions of Change for AAPI Art and Storytelling. But they know that there are countless other inspiring and powerful stories within the AAPI community. That’s why they’re teaming up with StoryCorps to document and share these stories. We encourage you to share your story and those of others within the AAPI community. Highlight issues you care about, share what your identity means to you, or interview others – friends, family members, community leaders, for instance – that are making a difference for the AAPI community. You can share a story about any topic you wish, and the recording can be as short or as long as you’d like. Themes could include: Being the first in your family to go to college Your immigration story Defying the model minority myth Preserving culture and identity Overcoming odds Be as creative as you’d like! You can use the StoryCorps app to record your story or interview, and then post it on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #MyAAPIStory. Select stories may be highlighted throughout the month of May in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To record an interview using the StoryCorps app, download the app here. Visit https://storycorps.me/ and download the free public beta mobile app from the iTunes store (Apple users) or Google Play store (Android users). Upload your recording to StoryCorps (your recording will be archived by the White House and also will be sent to the Library of Congress by StoryCorps). Share your recording on Twitter and Facebook using this #MyAAPIStory sign and use the hashtag. For more information about recording your interview, visit the StoryCorps.me website. In addition, please ask your friends and family to document their story by: Tweeting: Share your #MyAAPIStory! We're working w/@StoryCorps to document and share #AAPI stories by clicking here. Posting on Facebook, click here. ### For more news about Asian/Americans & Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.