The Loop HK 30 Under 30 2017

Co-founder, Streetside Conversations; research assistant, HKU

Hongkonger Cyanea Poon co-founded Streetside Conversations, an online publication that looks for creative reflections from different people across cultures and generations — “who have a passion for practicing justice daily”.

“We especially want to honor voices and stories of ordinary people living out justice in their daily lives, and expand our audience’s imagination regarding what it means to live a justice-oriented life,” Poon explains. The platform features writing from authors in more than 15 countries, and a team that works across five time zones.

“Justice work” is not only about participating in a demonstration or signing a petition.”

Besides Streetsides Conversations, Poon is also a research assistant at HKU, overseeing a project that explores psychosocial changes of high-risk adolescents in a therapeutic community in Hong Kong.

“I hope that the city will be able to acknowledge that ‘justice work’ is not only about participating in a demonstration or signing a petition, but it can be practiced in small and creative ways daily,” she adds.

“We hope that we, along with our audience, can explore practical little ways where we can give dignity and integrity to the underprivileged and marginalized, especially within each of our own contexts and communities.”

Her first job? “Media technician.”

Final words? “I believe every single life holds a unique story — so I’m always down to listen to your story over a snack of your choice.”