Screenshot from the preview of "Root," courtesy of MaryAnn Talavera
Launched in December 2020, the inaugural HEAR US Awards (Helping Elevate and Recapitalize Underrepresented Stories), were designed to celebrate and advance student projects that center BIPOC voices and stories, and to fund students actively working to combat systemic marginalization in the creation and leadership of artistic and scholarly works.
The year's 13 HEAR US awardees were selected through a rigorous, multi-step process by a panel of professional artists and scholars, including several Tisch faculty members. ITP student Maryann Talavera was selected for her thesis project, ROOT.