Today we’d like to introduce you to Hollyn Alpert.
Hi Hollyn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a 15 year old who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I’m a trilingual bibliophile, passionate community-builder, high school student and multidisciplinary storyteller with a love for creative writing, playing piano and guitar, songwriting, acting, drawing and painting. My writing and artwork have won multiple Scholastic Gold Keys, the Society of Young Inklings Book Contest, and the Skipping Stones Magazine Youth Honor Award. My work has also been published in Stone Soup Magazine and Little Thoughts Press. I work part-time at my local indie bookstore, and I am an intern with the Youth Media Representation Program at the UCLA Center for Scholars and Storytellers, where I conduct research related to different aspects of youth representation in film, TV and other media. I started the Stories Without Borders service organization in 2023 and created the Stories Without Borders podcast in 2025, both with the mission of using the power of stories and service to promote connection, empathy and understanding around the world.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A major obstacle we faced was the outbreak of the Los Angeles Fires right before our second annual Stories Without Borders service trip to the Yes We Can World Foundation schools in Tijuana. Many of the SWB Student Ambassadors and their families were directly impacted and displaced either temporarily or permanently by the devastation the fires caused. Despite this challenge, our group was determined not to cancel the trip, so a smaller group of SWB Ambassadors traveled to Tijuana to bring supplies and spend the day working with the Yes We Can students. Having just gone through sudden and unexpected displacement, the Ambassadors were able to form deep connections with the refugee and migrant children over this shared experience, which made the service trip even more meaningful.
Additionally, a few months after the fires, Stories Without Borders Student Ambassadors had the honor to partner with Yes We Can World Foundation once more in support of the Altadena Library reopening. It was truly heartwarming to see the resilience and strength of the Altadena community as they began rebuilding after the Eaton Fire.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have always had a deep compassion for and curiosity about others’ stories. When I was in 4th grade, I was deeply moved by a classmate’s story about her experience with racial discrimination. This is what led me to found a Social Impact Book Club in 5th grade. In this bookclub, I led my classmates from a variety of backgrounds in reading books about important social issues.
This book club was the foundation for my student-led organization, Stories Without Borders (SWB), which I started in 2023. SWB has a mission of using the power of stories and service to build connection, empathy and understanding around the world. When generating ideas for service projects, Stories Without Borders often take inspiration from books or stories that deal with important issues that need to be addressed. SWB engages in service projects such as supporting fire-relief efforts in Altadena, working with migrant and refugee children in Tijuana to cultivate a love for learning, and providing an environmental curriculum to foster youth in Taipei. Additionally, my newly launched Stories Without Borders podcast features interviews with authors, artists, and advocates who embody the SWB mission.
Through my Stories Without Borders service projects, podcast and educational resources, I’m determined to always use my platform to bring together people of different backgrounds, building connection, empathy, and understanding in the process.
What makes you happy?
Sharing stories makes me happy because stories bring together people with different backgrounds and experiences and create opportunities for important conversations and growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.storieswithoutborders.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories_withoutborders/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Stories_WithoutBorders
Image Credits
1. Ardi Design – Podcast Logo
2. Mia Riverton Alpert – Poetry Workshop
3. Hua Hsing Children’s Home Staff – Piano
4. Mia Riverton Alpert – Slime-making
5.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Luskin Conference Center UCLA – Photo w/ Greg Berlanti
