In the heart of the University of Southern California, a groundbreaking movement is underway. USC Reach, led by Silicon Valley native and Reach CEO Dylan Huey, has evolved into a force that transcends conventional social media clubs. Through the voices of Asian and Asian American influencers Dylan Huey, Victor Ye, and Natalie Park, USC Reach emerges not just as a club but as a transformative community that champions diversity and amplifies underrepresented narratives.
Dylan Huey: Pioneering Influence and Inclusivity
Huey’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of social media. A mixed-race student with Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Spanish, and Caucasian heritage, Huey says Reach not just as a platform for personal expression but as a movement to empower creators. From addressing issues of mental health and bullying, Huey’s content transitioned into lifestyle and entertainment, symbolizing the broader shift within USC Reach itself. Over his seven years in the social media space, Huey’s content evolved from addressing mental health-related issues to embracing lifestyle and entertainment. Today, he serves as a spokesperson for the creator economy, emphasizing the importance of building a supportive community. Huey’s journey led to the founding of Reach, a national organization that started as a club at USC.
“Reach’s mission is to nurture aspiring influencers and provide them with the tools to navigate the creator economy successfully,” he says.
His leadership has transformed Reach into the first and largest collegiate student influencer organization, boasting 2,000 creators nationwide with a collective following of 300 million. Huey emphasizes the inclusive nature of Reach, welcoming individuals passionate about social media, irrespective of their follower count.
“I’m a big advocate of working hard. I go by the motto of moving one percent every single day to your goal,” Huey says.
Huey’s vision extends beyond USC, aiming to expand Reach to 150 universities in the U.S., with aspirations of reaching more than 5,000 creators by the year’s end. His success is marked not only by numbers but by the recognition on platforms like Good Morning America, signaling the growing acknowledgment of collegiate influencer organizations.
Victor Ye: Unearthing Histories Through Sound
Ye, a member of USC Reach and a junior studying communication, has harnessed the power of podcasts to create a sonic tapestry of history. “I was worried about our democracy as well as trying to discuss more about what American identity looks like, and that’s when I started to create content related to understanding the history of our past, in order for us to become effective people to make heavy impacts in our communities.”
Ye acknowledges the scarcity of Asian American role models in the media industry but sees it as an opportunity to shape his unique journey. He aims to be a beacon for aspiring creators, providing mentorship and fostering a sense of community within the USC Reach organization.
“Being an Asian American has been empowering for me to create a career myself that represents other Asian Americans within the realms of media, entertainment, fashion, and just anything related to the culture industry,” he says.
His podcast, “Untextbooked,” explores diverse historical topics, including Asian American history and the culinary arts. Through his work, Ye seeks to elevate underrepresented voices and foster a deeper understanding of the nation’s history.
Being a Chinese American, Ye recognizes the importance of elevating underrepresented voices. In a poignant episode during the second season, he explored the Asian American experience with historian Erica Lee, delving into issues of representation in Hollywood and the impact of movements like Stop Asian Hate and the pandemic.
“My goal is to inspire and educate others about finding their own history backgrounds of their interest... so that they actually need to know the history of the place that they came from in order for them to affect change,” he says.
While acknowledging the scarcity of Asian American role models in the media industry, Ye remains optimistic about the future, aspiring to expand “Untextbooked” into multimedia formats beyond podcasting.
Natalie Park: Evolving with Authenticity
Park, a USC Reach e-board member and a Korean American influencer, embodies the evolution of social media over the past three years. From her early days of blogging in 7th grade to navigating the realms of Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Park’s content mirrors her personal growth and changing interests.
“You want your audience to kind of grow with you,” Park says.
Being Korean American, Park sees social media as a platform without bounds, offering opportunities that traditional media might lack for people of color. She acknowledges the success stories of fellow Asian American creators as a source of inspiration, driving her to break barriers in the industry.
Her authenticity shines through her branding strategy, emphasizing the importance of aligning content with personal values. Financial challenges faced by creators find resonance with Park, who appreciates USC Reach as a space for sharing insights and strategies.
For Park, USC Reach is more than a club; it’s an integral part of her college experience. Drawn to USC partly because of Reach, she highlights the incredible friendships and unique experiences, such as attending the “Barbie” movie premiere with fellow Reach members.
“Reach has been such an important part of my college experience... I was drawn to USC partly because of Reach,” Park says.
Park’s journey is a testament to the expansive opportunities that social media provides for people of color. Her goal is to create a name for herself in the social media world, breaking free from traditional molds.
“Being on social media has really expanded my visions of what I could be and the success that I could achieve because there are so many Asian American creators that I have looked up to throughout the years,” Park says.
USC Reach: Beyond a Club, a Community
USC Reach, founded as a social media club, has transcended its initial purpose. Huey, Ye, and Park, each in their unique ways, embody the spirit of Reach as more than just an organization. For Huey, it’s a family that empowers aspiring influencers. For Ye, it’s a community fostering diversity in creativity. For Park, it’s an integral part of her college experience and a space that drew her to USC.
“Reach has been such an important part of my college experience... drawn to USC partly because of Reach,” Park says.
As USC Reach moves forward, it continues to be a transformative force in the lives of creators, a community that shapes narratives, challenges stereotypes, and champions diversity in the dynamic world of digital creation.
According to USC Reach’s mission statement, “What started as a way to build community amongst a growing social media industry in a college setting has quickly grown to be much more. We’re more than just an org. We’re a family!”