My website is live! This project features all my creative works/ the beautiful sounds and sights of life that inspire me. It was a fun challenge to have myself code my website(at times I wanted to cry), but I don’t think I could’ve personalized it to be a better reflection of my creativity elsewise. Excited to continually update it as my creativity grows and explores new avenues. Link in Bio!
From 1.30.26, Los Angeles
Posted as I am in D.C. to cover the SCOTUS rally as the justices hear oral arguments on Trump v. Barbara and birthright citizenship is challenged… the fight continues
What a privilege it is to experience a marathon through the city I’ve come to love.
Was 25 seconds off of my goal, so I guess this won’t be my last…but certainly a memorable first!
This Lunar New Year, I had the honor of directing a section of the 2026 Golden Dragon Parade in LA Chinatown. If you have ever attended the parade, you would find that it is true a celebration of what it means to be Chinese American: celebrating our cultural background, but also our national identity — an acknowledgement of the battles we faced to be able to call ourselves American.
Right now, we, along with other migrant communities, are in the midst of another one of those battles. Thus, I thought it was imperative to protest ICE during my segment of the parade not only as a means to advocate for ourselves, but to show unity with the communities that are most affected. This initiative is symbolic of the will of Chinatown to offer support to our neighbors.
We are no strangers to the struggle to belong. As I was marching in the parade, poster in hand, I locked eyes with audience members and — in short passing — I felt a recognition of that shared struggle. In those moments I realized the expanse of the community I am fighting for, unbound by the borders of Chinatown.
Thank you Chinese American Citizens Alliance for your support in this initiative.
Amongst the braided money trees and hearty succulents at the Echo Park farmer’s market, stands a small case of jewelry– the kind crafted from quality silver and exquisite gems. Most pieces in that case were made by Francisco, a jeweler, silversmith, and true tinkerer. Every Friday, Francisco and his daughter, Dianna, set up to sell their jewelry and plants to the patrons of the farmer’s market, myself included.
Francisco and I were quick to become friends after exchanging bits and pieces about our cultural backgrounds. We have a shared appreciation for learning about traditions from places others call home. After a couple trips to the farmer’s market and purchases of earrings featuring moonstones that glistened in the light and garnets of deep red, I asked Francisco to show me how he makes his jewelry. He was quick to accept my request and welcome me to his studio.
At his studio, I learned that Francisco is a man of many trades – from wood work to leather to silver. He showed me wooden planters modeled after paleta carts and garden stakes with carved green parrots indicative of his hometown of Guadalajara, all meant to accompany his daughter’s plants. While he began to show me how he crafts his jewelry, he shared with me stories of how his urge to create has been prolific since a young age.
“They used to call me crazy hands,” said Francisco, referring to his constant crafting, recycling old items into new. He then pointed my attention to an art print by Salvador Dali that hung on the walls of his studio saying, “They called Dali crazy for all the art he created. I am similar to him.” As I watched Francisco make two silver rings in a process that involved melting and soldering, hammering and polishing, not once did his hands seem “crazy” to me. I witnessed an extreme care for his craft. He approached each piece with a gentle calmness.
“Crazy” often refers to the obsession an artist has with their own art. But watching his art up close, Francisco’s obsession turned into a beautiful focus and a deep reverence for the craft of jewelry making. I think these photos convey the essence of care he puts into his handy-work — crazy, yet beautiful.
