October 2023, Rosie Russell
For those of you who’ve been interviewed for a story, have you ever been asked, “what brings you joy?” For many, the answer is no. More often, someone is being asked to recount a recent trauma or unveil some new drama. A reopening of wounds to raise awareness, or simply to boost readership.
This rings true for many Southeast Asian elders who came to the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area as refugees. Their stories of war and terror have been recounted and retold across the nation in an attempt to spread the word about their hardship. In an effort to shift the narrative, the Southeast Asian Diaspora (SEAD) Project is taking a different approach.
During the pandemic, many members of the Southeast Asian community were isolated from communication and resources. Guidance documents and new information about how to stay safe were not being shared in languages they understood. Mental health was not being made a priority. The SEAD Project actively worked with their community to translate guidance, to hold creative gatherings, and to generate new materials that would reflect their unique culture and values.
In 2023, SEAD solidified funding to co-create an anthology of stories about members of their community. Elders were matched with their trusted “littles” and asked questions like, “what makes you happy?” or “how do you flirt?” These questions elicited laughter, joy, and new perspectives across generations.
On one occasion, an elder had finished telling their story when a bystander exclaimed, “I had no idea they fled the war on kayaks!” Jessica Eckerstorfer, a co-director of the SEAD Project, immediately clarified that the story was about a moment of pride when they had been able to kill six rats before they fled on a ruea hang yao, not a kayak. They had secured some delicious meals for their family’s journey and this made them proud.
The SEAD Project is one of many organizations taking ownership over their stories and the ways in which they are shared. They are rebuilding trust from within, and giving their community stake and power over their narratives.
How can we, as communicators, be intentional about telling stories differently? About highlighting the things that make our readers smile? Is it for the clicks, or the wonder? Is it for the money, or the impact?
For your next story, try attending an event that celebrates the resilience and strength of a culture that you’ve been writing about. Maybe it is one that is being attacked or slandered. Give us love and compassion for that community. Help us understand what makes it special.
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