It’s been a year since I started zine-making intentionally and it’s been such a fun year exercising my creativity in this new way!

I started sharing my zines at the genARTS table at First Fridays in downtown San Jose and people would stop by and be interested in *my* zines. I was blown away and humbled that strangers liked my little paper stories. 

Historically, zines started as a way for marginalized voices to get their message across and I take that very personally. 

My zines, like all my writing, are about my experiences as a woman of color, what it’s like to grow up, and how important it is to speak up for justice. 

In addition to my own zines, I also pass out free zines I found online with information on the genocide in Palestine. 

Also, over the last year,  I developed a zine workshop where I could share the history of zines and how art can be shared for social justice and mental health. My first zine workshop was at a conference for college students. And then I took it to First Fridays. 

Thanks to my community shouting me out, I also got the opportunity to do the workshop online as part of a virtual healing conference. And then at a different time, I got to support local San Jose residents in creating zines to tell their stories and advocate at City Council. 

It’s been a fun and fulfilling ride so far, and I plan to make more zines this year. 

P.S. I am also still writing plays and poetry!

(This post is a transcription of a short video on my Instagram)