by Marianne Meadahl

Hope Wang’s passion is using words to bring people together.

Whether freelance blogging or raising ideas to improve life for inner-city residents, she has been successful at using those words and ideas to impact the community. So much so that the SFU communication graduate was last year nominated as a YWCA young Woman of Distinction.

Wang, who graduates on June 14, was cited by the organization for her desire to tackle youth homelessness and empower new immigrants in Canada.

Last year, she worked with the Vancouver Board of Trade’s inner-city sub-committee to help the efforts of Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association.

The Richmond resident has also been a media education facilitator with Pacific Cinémathèque, working to integrate technology and critical thinking skills into elementary schools in Richmond’s school district.

Earlier this year Wang started Media Minds, a digital literacy program that gives English-as-a-Second-Language students the video editing skills to create mini self-documentaries.

The pilot program, created through the student-driven entrepreneurial program Enactus SFU, involves 23 young newcomers to Canada between Grades 8 -12 at a Richmond high school.

“Our goal is to tap into the creativity of these young students and give them flexibility to express themselves and enhance their story-telling abilities,” says Wang.

Students learn a variety of skills, including storyboarding, lighting, sound and filming, and are encouraged to network with guest speakers and build mentorship opportunities.

“Throughout this experience, I learned that it is important to be an active listener and take steps to deliver beyond what you set out to do,” says Wang.

For example, when she learned that one student hoped to become a pharmacist, she began helping him with his resumé in hopes he’ll land a volunteer position at a local pharmacy.

“As a longtime mentor taught me, it's about changing the world through the eyes of the people you help, so I hold that near and dear to my heart.”

Wang is also a volunteer English/Chinese translator for a local non-profit and hopes to continue providing the service as part of her freelance pursuits, which include a personal blog about interesting stories she calls The Big People Project.