#MyAAPIStory: Sharing the Diverse Stories of the AAPI Community

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is the fastest growing racial group in the U.S., with a breadth of stories and experiences. From native Hawaiians to recent immigrants to third-generation Americans, from artists to entrepreneurs to public service leaders, AAPIs are a fundamental part of the diverse mosaic of America.

In February, we launched a call for nominations for White House Champions of Change for AAPI Art and Storytelling. But we know that there are countless other inspiring and powerful stories within the AAPI community. That’s why we’re teaming up with StoryCorps to document and share these stories.

We encourage you to share your story and those of others within the AAPI community. Highlight issues you care about, share what your identity means to you, or interview others – friends, family members, community leaders, for instance – that are making a difference for the AAPI community.

You can share a story about any topic you wish, and the recording can be as short or as long as you’d like. Themes could include:

• Being the first in your family to go to college
• Your immigration story
• Defying the model minority myth
• Preserving culture and identity
• Overcoming odds

Be as creative as you’d like!

You can use the StoryCorps app to record your story or interview, and then post it on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #MyAAPIStory. Select stories may be highlighted throughout the month of May in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

To record an interview using the StoryCorps app:

1. Visit https://storycorps.me/ and download the free public beta mobile app from the iTunes store (Apple users) or Google Play store (Android users).
2. Choose your interview partner (if you are interviewing someone).
3. Use the question generator in the app to help guide your story or interview. The generator contains questions on a variety of topics and also allows you to write your own questions.
4. Record the story or interview using the app on your phone, which serves as a digital facilitator that will guide you through the process of preparation, recording, and archiving your conversation.
5. Tag recordings with general keyword “MyAAPIStory”.
6. Upload your recording to StoryCorps (your recording will be archived by the White House and also will be sent to the Library of Congress by StoryCorps).
7. Share your recording on Twitter and Facebook using this #MyAAPIStory sign and use the hashtag.

For more information about recording your interview, visit the StoryCorps.me website.

We look forward to hearing from you!