Hi, my name is Nasaiah Algarin, a Puerto Rican and Cape Verdean, second-generation American sophomore studying CLEG: Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics and Government and Education Studies at American University.
My Journey and Project Inspiration
I’ve spent my time at American navigating complex cultural intersections, feeling the pressure of assumptions & stereotypes and watching otuhers face the same, realizing how easy it is to assume things about someone without knowing the heart of their story.
My heritage is important to me—it’s a mix of resilience, pride, and rich traditions that shape how I see the world. When I arrived on campus, I realized how often people make quick judgments, and it struck me that if we’re really going to embrace diversity at AU, we need to go deeper than surface-level understanding. That’s why I started AU Unfiltered: Share Your Story. This project is about showing the authentic, multifaceted lives of students while challenging the stereotypes that tend to stick. My goal is to use personal stories to break down barriers, build empathy, and foster an inclusive space where people feel seen.
The Heart of This Project
Putting this project together has been a meaningful experience. Sitting down with people, I’ve been privileged to hear stories about their struggles, identities, and personal victories that they might otherwise keep hidden. Through photography and narrative, I’m able to capture the sides of people that you don’t see in everyday interactions.
Vision for Inclusivity
I want AU Unfiltered to reach everyone on campus—not just students but faculty, prospective students, and the wider community—because our stories deserve to be told and understood. I envision this project living as both a digital photojournal and in the future, a physical exhibition, adding QR codes that link to video interviews or extended stories. By creating an interactive element, I hope to expand each story and give people the chance to really connect with it, almost like sitting across from that person and hearing them directly.
Why “AU Unfiltered”?
I chose the name “AU Unfiltered” because it represents a space where everyone can speak freely and truthfully, without fear of judgment. It’s about peeling back layers and showing the full picture—the beauty, the pain, and the resilience that often go unnoticed. More than just a project, I want this to be a resource for AU. I envision faculty using it in classrooms, not just to teach diversity but to discuss cultural competency, empathy, and the importance of inclusion in real-world terms. I hope it becomes a resource that people refer to, learn from, and carry with them. Supported Through Partnership
This work has been made possible through my role as a Student Partner with AU’s Center for Teaching, Research & Learning—a program that supports projects like this by providing both the resources and the freedom of expression necessary to explore impactful storytelling. In this role, I’ve been able to access guidance and creative latitude that allows me to focus on stories often overlooked or misrepresented. It’s a role I believe deserves continued support, as it empowers students to pursue projects that showcase diverse perspectives and experiences on campus, fostering a richer, more inclusive community.
Looking Forward
This partnership not only provides a platform for amplifying marginalized voices but also reinforces AU’s commitment to innovative, student-driven initiatives that can make a lasting impact. Through my work with AU Unfiltered, I hope to demonstrate just how essential this program is, not only for my project but for any student hoping to bring forth meaningful change through dialogue and understanding.
For me, AU Unfiltered isn’t just a showcase of who we are; it’s a call for people to see each other fully, to go beyond the surface, and to recognize the depth in every story on campus.