Hi, I go by BRZA. The name was given to me by GZA (of the Wu-Tang Clan) in a chance encounter. I’m a creative activist. My mission is to create statements—by any mediums necessary—to cut through the internalized shame of present-day Asian American identity, so we can progress towards something more unapologetic, multifaceted, and grounded in our shared histories of immigration, racism, and resilience. I’m currently writing and recording my first full-length rap project, a soundtrack for the road towards self-acceptance. I also run [slipper assembly](https://www.instagram.com/slipperassembly) with my friends, and [@asianeventsinaustin](https://instagram.com/asianeventsinaustin) by myself. # Community Work **slipper assembly (2024-Present)** *Co-Founder · Chief Strategist & Creative Director* A community for Asian creatives and makers in Austin. We create cozy spaces for kinship and self-expression, through things like: * our "assemblies"—like meetups, but with thoughtful prompts and activities to spark intimate, vulnerable conversations * our "check-ins"—a space for mutual support and accountability where we gather to ask questions, seek advice, or solicit feedback related to our creative practice * our "get-togethers"—cozy gatherings hosted by community members around shared interests or activities (fashion, analog cameras, paint nights, etc.) * [slipper house](https://www.instagram.com/p/C-K56afpUoK/)—our annual showcase of Asian creatives in Austin featuring visual art, music, and spoken word from our community members [@slipperassembly](https://instagram.com/slipperassembly) <br> **asian events in austin (2022-Present)** Every week, I share upcoming Asian community events in Austin. I started the account as a digital bulletin board to connect all the dispersed Asian artists, communities, and organizations around town, so that we can start building a shared Asian American ecosystem. [@asianeventsinaustin](https://instagram.com/asianeventsinaustin) <br> **Design Collective (2015-2017)** *Founder · President* My parents discouraged me from pursuing a formal design education, so I had to make my own path. Along the way, I created what I was unable to find: a community for aspiring designers outside of the design school. I put together a team through an open call on social media, and together we developed an accessible design curriculum that reached hundreds of students through semester-long courses and workshops. We partnered with professional organizations for career development, and our in-house design agency gave students real-world client experience working with local nonprofits. Some of us even made the leap—from our non-design majors into full-time design careers. # Past Lives ## Content **YouTube (2021-2023)** I used pop music as a lens for reflecting on the human condition. Just as the YouTube algorithm started blessing me—after 2 years of weekly uploads—I decided to stop the channel. I didn't like how being a content creator changed the way I saw the world, where every private moment or personal interaction was now potential material for content. <br> **Needle (2017)** After the 2016 election, I started "a newsletter for bursting your bubble" to tackle the problem of echo chambers. Each Tuesday, I curated diverse perspectives on last week's news from a wide range of sources. A few months in, I realized consuming so much news wasn't good for my mental health and stopped the project. *One reader said that Needle sparked an hour-long discussion with their co-worker; for a side project, it doesn't get better than that.* ## Code **Genre Weekly (2019-2020)** Long before Spotify launched the Release Radar feature, me and a friend built it ourselves. Every week, our app would go through the Spotify New Releases page and add each song to our playlist for its genre, giving you one easy place to keep up with the latest in rap, R&B, pop, and more. My favorite part of this project was designing playlist art that could be generated dynamically based on the week's releases. *2.5K playlist followers · #1 post on r/hiphopheads the day I shared it* <br> **HVRGLX (2015)** Experimental app concept that turns your phone into an hourglass: set how long you'd like to focus for, then flip your phone over to hide notifications–you'll hear a distinct sound when time is up. *4K downloads · Featured on BGR, Brit + Co, and more*