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About Austin Brooks

In the inner city areas of Worcester MA, we grew up in poverty. My mom got hit with a car accident that took her out of work, so I had to provide for her and my little sister. Wondering if my sis and I would make it to adulthood was the only reality we had. Heatless winters, multiple break-ins, violence, and a near death experience all happened at our apartment by the time I turned 20.

But somehow I was lucky and fortunate enough to find people who would show me a better side of life. In 2013, I joined the Southeast Asian Coalition’s Youth Effect program, and whenever I was stressing about what I was going through, they gave me opportunities to grow and learn. In 2019, one of my mentors even took me into their home when they’d found out that I ended up in a youth homeless housing program when I was part of a mass lay-off at my sales job and lost my first apartment.

Since then, I’ve traveled through Vietnam, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. I’m currently working in New York City. Over time my experiences have pushed me to want to understand other people’s stories, and they’ve taught me to take ownership and pride in my own. Stories are powerful. They can change someone’s life. And even if it’s just one life, that’s enough for me. I make films because sharing stories that inspire others is how I plan to pay it forward.