Our Team
Ángel Labarthe del Solar
Curator
Ángel Labarthe del Solar (he/she) was born in Lima, Perú on August 22, 1994. Ángel is passionate about art and storytelling, with a considerable propensity to merge the two. She upholds storytelling as a powerful medium for social change, especially by amplifying the experience of individuals who have long been silenced. Ángel received his Master’s in Oral History from Columbia University in 2020 and has since focused on taking an intimate approach to visual storytelling, in work that is both conceptual and documentary. Ángel’s work is a testament to queer / trans resilience, trauma, addiction, queer joy, and the power of finding freedom in a home within oneself.
Diego Dela Rosa
Research Assistant
Diego Dela Rosa (he/she/they) is a queer researcher, curator, and writer based in Los Angeles. They recently graduated with an undergraduate degree in Visual and Performing Arts Studies from USC, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Curatorial Practice and the Public Sphere from USC’s Roski School for Art and Design. Diego has contributed research at the USC Folklore Archives, as well as the ONE Archives. They aim to continue making art accessible and representative of diverse communities through education and artistic initiatives.
Umi Hsu
Creative Director / Producer
Umi Hsu (they/them) is a public humanist and digital strategist, currently working as the Director of Content Strategy at One Institute. Previously, Hsu led design strategy and digital initiatives at the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Hsu has received fellowships and awards from National Endowment for the Arts, American Council for Learned Society, Shuttleworth Foundation, GovTech, and LA Metro. With a PhD from the Music Department at University of Virginia, Umi Hsu is also a sound artist and audio producer. Their sound practice has been featured in LA Weekly, KCET, MIT Arts, Giant Robot, KCHUNG Radio, and Dublab, and presented by the Rubin Museum, Japanese American National Museum, CTM Festival in Berlin, Tuesday Night Cafe, 18th Street Arts Center, ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, and MIT Community Innovators Lab.
Shei Yu
Audio Editor
Shei Yu (she/they) is a Taiwanese American writer, editor, and community organizer. They are currently editing audio documentaries at One Institute and making podcast episodes at Immigrantly. A recent graduate of Pomona College, she graduated with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. Shei aims to elevate the voices of queer, Asian, and immigrant communities through audio and immersive storytelling.
Saphir Davis
Graphic Designer
Saphir Davis (they/them) is a Denver-based artist committed to healing and restorative justice for PGM (People of the Global Majority) and queer and trans communities. Saphir received their B.A. in Multimedia Arts from Loyola Marymount University in 2020, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Art Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southwestern College. Currently, they also serve as the Community Programs Coordinator for Queer Asterisk Therapeutic Services, a mental health nonprofit organization serving the queer and trans communities of Colorado.
Sadie Buerker
Copyeditor
Sadie Buerker (she/her) is the Development and Communications Associate at One Institute. Prior to joining One Institute, Sadie served as Program Coordinator and intern at the Los Angeles Review of Books. An east coast native, Sadie graduated from Smith College with a BA in Sociology and Global South Development Studies. Her research has been supported by the Mellon Foundation and the Kahn Liberal Arts Institute. An avid creator and consumer of media, she also proudly served on the Executive Boards of the college's radio station and newspaper. Sadie's work is driven by her passion for promoting the vitality of the global media, arts, education, and cultural landscape and her commitment to excellence and equity. She is currently based in Los Angeles.