About #MyStory
BFB #MyStory is a storytelling project and youth empowerment program founded by mental health ambassador, Sunya Afrasiabi, and led by Bridges From Borders, Inc. (hereinafter BFB), a non-profit 501(c)3 organization in Western New York. The #MyStory goal is to unite people through stories by developing immigrant narratives through the combination of oral history, narrative therapy, and portrait exhibition, which promotes diversity, inclusion, and equity.
In this project, we recruit young volunteers and provide them with professional skills training. They work with storytellers to help them share their experiences and cultural heritage through a variety of mediums such as photography, writing, and podcasts. Through the #MyStory project, our aim is to foster diversity and inclusion, thereby serving the refugee and immigrant communities, who are traditionally under-resourced in public programming.
Program Components
Training:
Volunteers receive “Mental Health Ambassador” training. This is an educational program on DEI/ mental health topics that culminates in certification. Volunteers then engage in online and in-person workshops, where they learn the principles of journalism and multiculturalism.
Production:
In the production stage, volunteers are paired with an immigrant(s)/refugee(s). In a few sessions, volunteers interview the storytellers to be able to share their experiences/unique cultural heritages and record them as a written narrative.
These volunteers partner with a professional photographer, who work together to depict the stories of the storytellers through photography. Volunteers may also serve as podcast hosts to share the storyteller’s story. By the end of this stage, each storyteller has a written, auditory, and visual component to their story.
Presentation:
In this stage, we hold exhibits, fundraisers, and presentations to share stories. In past years, we have had exhibits at Buffalo State University, Sasse Art Museum, Erie County Family Court Building, and Buffalo&Erie County Library.
Art/Music Recognition
Anya Zions
Anya Zions is a musician from Buffalo, NY. Currently a high school senior, she plays classical and electric guitar, percussion, piano, ukulele, and sings. Her future plans include studying percussion performance in college. For this Bridges from Borders #MyStory podcast, Anya plays an original classical guitar composition inspired by the diversity in cultures and experiences shared within this program.
Keira Feuerstein
Keira Feuerstein is a 17 year old artist from Amherst, NY. She has been drawing for most of her life and has been pursuing digital art and animation as a hobby for about four years. For this cover piece, Keira was inspired by the hands of the #MyStory logo. She wanted to highlight the uniqueness of all members in the community by showcasing different features and accessories they might have. Keira is very grateful for the opportunity to work with Bridges from Borders.
Program Contributors
Student Interviewer/Mentor
Sunya Afrasiabi
Shir Paz
Venera Kalinina
Vithaya Kanhalangsy
Aaleen Zafar
Amy Izquierdo
Emilio Raul Izquierdo
Jesica Zielinski
Megan Tu
Miao Lin
Shiyue Cui
Niran Ramesh
Adelaide Czesak
Grace Wilding
Founder/ Student Team Leader
Sunya Afrasiabi
Photographer
Michael Mandolfo
Story Editor
Kiera Quinlivan
Sunya Afrasiabi
Podcast Art
Keira Feuerstein
Podcast Music
Anya Zions
Podcast Tech
Alex McMahon
Content Planner
Ekundayo Blalock Isaac
Marketing Advisor
Jennifer Weier
Community Engagement
Robin Kashyap
Graphic Designer
Shitong Xie
Phuong Le
Storyteller
Mimi Sysomboune Robinson
Bobby Sysomboune
Abdul Jtaher
Crystal Luong
Dawne Hoeg & Stitch Buffalo Women
Eunice Adou
Fanny Olaya
Jun Zhuang
Manal Elesily
Munawara Sultana
Swaroop Singh
Thanda Win
Abrar Abbas
Casimiro Rodriguez
Josh Chen
Leslie Ying
Nabi
Nadia Shahram
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