Sophia was a shy five-year-old, sitting alone on the bench. When I approached her, she perked up, posed for me and laughed at herself, enjoying the attention of the camera and moving to the rhythm of my shutter speed. Once she came out of her shell, her soft friendliness put me at ease. With her inquiring eyes, she silently asked for my sunglasses as a prop. Through our mini-photo shoot, I felt like I was getting to know her as well as her hobbies and interests.
I met Sophia during my …

For as long as I can remember, I was an Asian stereotype. Though I wasn’t the ultimate poster child (I didn’t take advanced math nor science), my social life definitely fit the bill. I came from a conservative Christian Korean home and my closest friends growing up were all Asian.

Nomi Network, which started in 2007, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “bridging the private, public and nonprofit sectors through enterprise and education to end human trafficking.”

For Kerry Kwan, jewelry-making is a creative outlet. While studying electrical and biomedical engineering at McMaster University in Ontario, she found solace in crafting necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.