Diasporas: Transnational Migrations, Spaces, and Identities

Nicole Crawford (they/she)

Nicole Crawford (they/she) is a second-year undergraduate student double majoring in political science and sociology with a minor in African and Middle Eastern Studies. At school, Nicole is a writer and outreach director for Nommo Magazine and hosts political education classes in partnership with the Afrikan Student Union. Outside of school, they are an organizer and volunteer with the nonprofit Neighbour Program—a Pan-Afrikan Socialist organization that is modeled after the Black Panther Ten-Point Platform, which aims to provide free survival and liberation resources to the greater PanAfrikan community in the Sacramento area. Nicole has been writing poetry for about nine years. According to Nicole, “Poetry is my favorite form of artistic expression and the way in which I look to speak life into my community and heal myself as I navigate my place in this world as an Afrikan.” You can connect with Nicole over email (nicolexcrawford@g.ucla.edu) or follow their poetry page on Instagram (@rawestforms).

Chelsea Dai (she/her)

Chelsea Dai is a first-year Theater major with a focus in Playwriting and pursuing a minor in Comparative Literature. Born and raised in southeast China, she currently resides in LA and Queens, New York. She is a young filmmaker, theater artist, and writer. Chelsea's past works range from plays to poems, from dramedy television to screenplays, exploring themes of Asian American diaspora and experience, social realism, dark comedy, and satire. You can connect with Chelsea through email (chelseaxdai@gmail.com) or by following her Instagram (chelxi_dai).

Tiana Gregoryona (she/they)

Tiana Gregoryona is a first generation college student and undergraduate transfer at UCLA. She is also a current scholar in the Lemelson Anthropological Honors Program for undergraduate research. Tiana's research will explore family narratives and experiences of community among Armenian Diasporans in Los Angeles, focusing on identity construction. She hopes to understand how belonging is articulated by descendants of genocide survivors, and her piece reflects the significance of such a tragic history on present day Armenians. Set in 2020 during the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, "the malignance of Knowing," is a reflection on identity and belonging in Diaspora. You can connect with Tiana over email (tianagregoryona@gmail.com) and follow her on Instagram (@t_gregoryona).  
 

Ryan Ryuichi Hanami (he/they)

Ryan Hanami is a multidisciplinary artist from Los Angeles, focusing in painting and sculpture. Inspired by his Japanese and Mexican heritage, Ryan's work delves into themes of identity, culture, and community. As a non-traditional student and art handler, he has overcome adversity, fueling and informing his passion for creating art that addresses social issues and fosters understanding. Ryan has collaborated with numerous artists and co-founded the innovative pop-up gallery, DEMOblank, which partnered with LA Crop Swap to promote sustainable and equitable food communities. You can connect with Ryan and watch for updates via his website (ryanhanami.com) or on Instagram (@ryanhanami) or Twitter (@ryanhanami). 
 

Tatiana Hernandez (she/her)

Tatiana Hernandez is a first-year graduate student working towards a master's in library and information science. Her scholarly work is focused on liberatory memory work, specifically reframing how marginalized communities are represented in the archives. Her work explores dysphoric feeling of being pulled between the past and the present. She tries not to let her work define her, but is aware that her work is deeply influenced by what her people have survived, coped with, and opted out of.

Agnes Lin (she/her)

Agnes Lin is a fourth-year art and art history major at UCLA. She is a current recipient of the Art Department’s Senior Studio space and a nominee for the 2023–24 Department of Art merit scholarship. A Chinese Jew from San Diego, Agnes is interested in the development of living traditions in diaspora identities. In her work she observes how traditions she has inherited change, evolve and adapt to foreign cultural contexts and colonized indigenous landscapes.

Jasmine Martinez (she/her)

Jasmine Martinez is a first-year undergraduate at UCLA, studying as an art major. She is originally from Azusa, California, and has been making art all her life.

Sheldon Avraam Skoboloff (he/him)

Sheldon Skoboloff is a Junior at UCLA pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Theater and Professional Writing. A Latino Jew from Las Vegas, Nevada, he’s deeply interested in the ways that different diasporas and cultures intersect, and explores these topics through poetry, music, and storytelling and sound design. In 2020 he became an Alumni Scholar and in 2022 a Hey Alma College Writing Fellow. You can connect with Sheldon and watch for updates on upcoming works by following his instagram (@shelsko) or his twitter (@essko18). If you would like to contact Sheldon, please do so via email (skoboshe@g.ucla.edu).

Helia Woo (she/her)

Helia Woo is a fourth-year cognitive science major still trying to tell her parents she isn't interested in STEM.