Navajo Veteran Builds Fashion House Reflecting Cultural Resilience

Ryan Horio, a UCLA student deeply affected by the rise in anti-Asian discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, transformed his frustration about his family's hidden history of Japanese American incarceration into a resolve to share and preserve these stories. His academic journey evolved to include Asian American studies and community engagement, supported by awards recognizing his research aimed at combating hate and fostering social change. This personal and educational path highlights the power of lived experience in advocating against injustice and educating future generations. Meanwhile, in Taos, artist and veteran Biss-Grayson channeled his military service and PTSD struggles into creating culturally significant fashion that raises awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, blending activism with Native identity. Both stories underscore the importance of bearing witness and using personal narratives to foster connection, healing, and advocacy within their communities.