Have you ever traded an uncomfortable truth just to keep up with appearances? In my latest Substack, I dive into what "saving face" means for the Asian American community, and what it takes to break the cycle. Read more: unhyphenated.substack.com/p/when-the-w...

Asian cuisine is celebrated in the US, but a class divide dictates which cultures get "prestige." My latest essay explores fine dining's impact on cultural authenticity, and why supporting local mom-and-pop shops matters more than chasing Michelin stars. unhyphenated.substack.com/p/what-we-ch...

For a long time, I saw AAPI history as a side story. But the disconnect between our "lived realities" and the American Dream usually comes down to one thing: how we see our history. My latest essay on reclaiming the narrative: unhyphenated.substack.com/p/when-histo...

I spent years making my Chinese heritage "palatable" for others. From Saran-wrapped remotes to "smelly" lunches, I was my own harshest editor. But I'm officially retiring the cultural tax. Inclusion is about being understood, not digestible. New essay: unhyphenated.substack.com/p/not-everyt...

For years, I kept chasing “enough” without ever defining it—through side gigs, overwork, and sacrificing time with family. A difficult conversation forced me to reassess. New essay on hustle culture, scarcity, and rethinking what matters: unhyphenated.substack.com/p/when-enoug...

What does money mean to you? I inherited a scarcity mindset without understanding why. It took a serious relationship to start reshaping it. New essay on money, culture, and finding independence: unhyphenated.substack.com/p/how-i-lear...

I always thought being born here was enough. As the Supreme Court debates birthright citizenship, that certainty is starting to unravel. I wrote about what it means to belong when even that isn’t guaranteed: open.substack.com/pub/unhyphen...

What does “Asian American identity” actually mean — and who defines it? I started my Substack to tell stories across our communities. But finding common ground isn’t easy when our experiences are so different. Read more: unhyphenated.substack.com/p/when-we-ta...

If you still have your mom around, take a moment to thank her. In my latest Substack, I reflect on my mother’s quiet sacrifices, the expectations she carried, and my journey to become a better son by making space for the parts of herself she rarely shares. unhyphenated.substack.com/p/we-dont-ap...

DNA testing has helped overturn 560 convictions since 2000. People with innocence claims should be allowed to have the DNA evidence in their cases tested before it’s too late. Read more: https://bit.ly/4lCJ6WP

After 15+ years in journalism and nonprofit comms, you’d think communicating at work would come naturally to me. It doesn’t. Growing up in a Cantonese-speaking household shaped how I think about tone and delivery — and led to years of code-switching. Read more open.substack.com/pub/unhyphen...

In my latest Substack essay, I reflect on growing up with immigrant parents who valued acts of service over words of affirmation — and what I’m trying to unlearn as I raise my daughter. Parents, I’d especially love your thoughts! open.substack.com/pub/unhyphen...

Few American writers have proved so alluring to the censors as Toni Morrison. What made her one of our greatest — and most dangerous — novelists was her belief that stories could contain what our minds couldn’t confront, writes the critic Parul Sehgal. nyti.ms/4kW9bQ7

What will it take for Asian Americans to speak up without fear of sabotaging our careers? In my latest Substack essay, I reflect on silence, complicity, and why taking a stand on human rights matters — even when it’s uncomfortable. unhyphenated.substack.com/p/between-si...

Chinese culture is trending on TikTok. Chinese Americans are still treated like outsiders. I launched Unhyphenated to challenge that. First essay is live — read it, subscribe, join the conversation. unhyphenated.substack.com/p/america-lo...

In New York, the governor has proposed enshrining qualified immunity into state law. Doing so would impede accountability and shield misconduct. Join us in taking action against this proposal.

Seventy years after he was wrongly executed, Tommy Lee Walker has finally been declared innocent.

While many of us are thinking about New Year’s resolutions, here’s one resolution that contributes to real, lasting change year-round: supporting the Innocence Project as a monthly donor: innocenceproject.org/news/five-re...

What happens when a wrongly convicted person is finally freed? In our latest brand anthem “What I Didn’t Know,” three clients reveal the challenges of re-entering a completely changed world — and the strength needed for the everyday moments many of us overlook. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt_p...

This year, our policy team did tremendous work to reveal, address, and prevent wrongful convictions — including passing Indiana’s first-ever eyewitness identification reform and fighting back against efforts in NY and Texas to roll back discovery laws. innocenceproject.org/news/the-bre...

Anna Vasquez was wrongfully convicted and served 13 years for a crime that never occurred before she was exonerated, thanks to the Innocence Project of Texas. For many like her, the @innocencenetwork.bsky.social conference brings community. Support it via this GoFundMe. https://bit.ly/4rIpAuF

This week, we launched a collaboration with the Tennessee Innocence Project and Nashville-based coffee company Bongo Java Roasting Co.! Every purchase helps our fight against wrongful convictions. Learn more by clicking the link below: innocenceproject.org/grounds-for-...

No matter the politics of the moment, we doubled down on fairness, accuracy, and accountability in the administration of the criminal legal system. Today is no different, writes @innocenceproject.bsky.social executive director @christinaswarns.bsky.social. innocenceproject.org/were-keeping...

Our client, Scott Minton, was officially exonerated this week after enduring three decades of wrongful imprisonment in Tennessee. Congrats to our incredible legal team and the Tennessee Innocence Project for their tireless work to secure his freedom!

In our series,"Homecoming: Rebuilding a Life After Wrongful Conviction," five recently exonerated people share what life was like before their wrongful conviction and what it means now to return to a world that has dramatically changed since their wrongful incarceration.

It’s been an amazing year for the Innocence Project. And we are so grateful for everyone who partnered with us! Please take a moment and check out what we accomplished in 2024. report2024.innocenceproject.org