Voices Unlocked

During our Kick-Off meeting, something happened that made me look at the world a little differently. It wasn’t planned; it was one of those moments that catches you off guard, wakes up a curiosity inside of you, and leaves you thinking. I had an incredible conversation with Sunisa, who is Laotian (Laos—small but rich in culture, right there in Southeast Asia). That conversation sparked something in me, and before I knew it, I was at home watching a two-hour documentary about Cambodia—the Killing Fields, the Khmer Rouge, and the rich music culture that was almost wiped out during that brutal period.

Now, I know Sunisa is from Laos, not Cambodia—She literally had to remind me of that today when we met. But the fact that I went home and wanted to learn about a country’s history says something about the power of our shared stories. It says something about the curiosity that can be cultivated when we step outside of what we know. After learning about Cambodia’s tragedy—the millions lost, the culture almost erased—I began to wonder: What would it be like if CUNY became a place where cultural empathy, storytelling, and shared experiences were at the core of our community? What if every one of us had the space to share where we came from and why it matters?

Here are some changes I would love to see to make CUNY a more equitable, exciting, and supportive place for all of us.

1. Cultural Hubs and Storytelling Spaces

After meeting Sunisa, it hit me just how important it is to have real spaces where students can share their stories. CUNY could really benefit from cultural hubs on campus—places dedicated to open dialogue, cultural showcases, and storytelling sessions. Spaces where people can be themselves, share their backgrounds, and learn from one another.

Imagine if we had a “Cultural Voices Week,” where students take the lead—hosting discussions, film screenings (like the Cambodian documentary I watched), or even performing music, dance, and art that speaks to their heritage. We had a Hip-Hop symposium today, and honestly, it was amazing—it celebrated culture and allowed us to dig deeper into its meaning and how it is a form of resistance and vocalizing, I love Hip-Hop (who doesn’t). We could do the same for every community represented on our campus. By putting storytelling front and center, we can build a community that understands each other better—a community that’s not just coexisting but truly connecting.

2. Empowering Peer Leaders as Cultural Advocates

Peer Leaders like Sunisa have a lot of untapped potential to help us come together culturally. They’re already doing amazing work, but we could take it further—make them cultural advocates. What if Peer Leaders hosted workshops about the significance of art as resistance, or the overlooked histories of marginalized people around the world?

That conversation with Sunisa made me want to know more, and I’m sure I’m not alone. Imagine workshops that break down colonial history and how it is still impacting many lives, or explain why certain cultural art forms are powerful acts of defiance. If we empower anyone, from any background, to facilitate these types of workshops, we would be encouraging students to learn from each other—bridging gaps in our understanding that no textbook can fill.

3. More Courses on Underrepresented Histories

That documentary reminded me just how many stories are left out of our education. How many histories do we never hear about simply because they weren’t considered important enough to make it into a classroom? CUNY could fix that by offering courses that explore underrepresented histories and cultures—especially the histories that reflect who we are as a student body.

Imagine a class that dives into Cambodian or any music, the struggles of Indigenous people in Latin America, or resistance movements in Africa. These courses wouldn’t just enrich our education—they would help us understand our classmates, neighbors, and friends better. CUNY could also provide community-based scholarships to make these courses accessible to everyone. Even making them count towards general education credits could encourage more students to step outside their comfort zones and learn something new, something real, something powerful.

The Power of Stories and Shared Experiences

My experience with Sunisa showed me that CUNY could be more than just a place where we attend classes. It will not be only known as a commuter campus, but a real community—one where we celebrate each other’s stories, support each other, and grow together.

Picture this: students gathered in cultural hubs, sharing their stories, shining light on the histories we didn’t learn about in high school. A Cultural Week that genuinely celebrates who we are. Classes that teach us about a history we had never heard of but that helps us understand the lived experiences of our peers.

If we embrace storytelling, cultural advocacy, and a more inclusive curriculum, we can make CUNY a place where every student feels seen, heard, and valued. It’s about building a campus that represents all of us—not just as students, but as individuals with rich, complex stories worth telling.

It all starts with one conversation. For me, it was meeting Sunisa. And I believe that if CUNY creates more opportunities for these kinds of connections, we can transform our community—for the better, for all of us.

I will include the links to the documentaries and link to a collection of Elvis of Cambodia, Sinn Sisamouth below.