ABOUT US
Starshiner (擦星星事务所) is a Chinese-diaspora nonprofit in the San Francisco Bay Area. We grew out of the scattered community of the 2022 White Paper protests — activists who left China and found each other far from home. In the dark, we polish the stars, so we can see one another.
We create the offline spaces where Chinese speakers can remember censored history, watch banned films, record testimony before it is lost, and speak freely without surveillance. Memory is resistance — and no one should have to speak alone.
Starshiner currently has two main initiatives:
Starshiner Office, a youth-led initiative based in Northern California. We are a group of college students and working professionals in the Bay Area dedicated to sharing and creating conversations around content censored in the Chinese-language world. We keep talking, everywhere, and out loud.
Lhasa Spring, a platform for dialogue and exchange between Chinese and Tibetan communities, operated by Chinese Youth Stand for Tibet.
We are also developing two experimental projects:
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Art & Politics: A digital archive of protest and resistance art from the Chinese-speaking world.
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Technology for Human Rights: Using AI and other technologies to provide tools and support for independent media and human rights organizations.
Our work is currently funded entirely by small private donations. Your support helps us sustain independent expression, public discussion, and the spirit of resistance in Chinese-speaking communities.
Help us keep the stars shining. ✨
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