SAYQUAN WOODEN

The Change I Want to Bring to the World

I want to make change by addressing societal issues, self-expression, creativity, and healthy forms of communication. Over the past few years, our society has witnessed the division of people along their experiences, backgrounds, and identities. Without the proper ways of communicating about issues and understanding the repercussions of our actions, we are left in a society heavily dependent upon hostile, violent responses to difficult situations. 

I also hope to provide people with the ability to express the inner and outer values they’ve acquired and to inspire others to understand their identities and creativity. I want to help people view adversity not as a detriment but rather as an opportunity to understand their potential and to build their character through positive values, behaviors, and actions. I also seek to influence people to start their own movements, events, and change.

I am now at a point in my life where I want to become involved creatively in establishing respect, support, and outreach for communities. I also want to gain experience and insight in developing new creative and artistic approaches to strengthen positive change, to uplift one another toward societal progress, and to connect with each other on a personal level. As a writer I want to open my vision to others who feel inspired to showcase their gratitude, resilience, and representation in society.

How I’ve Been Involved in Changemaking So Far

I participated in a summer English institute at Teachers College, Columbia University called Literacy Unbound, between 2018 – 2020. The program remixes historical literature into staged and interactive performances. Throughout my time there, I was able to help people develop their creative skills, explore their ideas, and connect with one another. I have recently completed a humanities fellowship titled CUNY Peer Leaders. From August 2021 to May 2022, I contributed to blogs, meetings, and projects that focused on advocacy, accountability, societal issues, and personal growth.‍

What Drew Me to This Fellowship

The unique description, structure, and message of the Mentora Youth Changemaker Fellowship piqued my interest. I adore the aspiration to learn and to adapt the core beliefs and mentalities of historical changemakers to our lives. I am excited for the opportunity to work with a mentor in producing a changemaking project in one of any number of fields.

I hope to gain insight from a community of people with different perspectives and approaches to master our skills in identifying and creating outer impact and inner mastery. This opportunity will also welcome me to a diverse group of people engaging in healthy dialogue and discussion, and elevate me toward a life-changing process of critical thinking and community work.