A.C. Brooke

10/01/2026

I had the honor of preparing this report over the past few months! Graphic design is always fun, but working on larger projects—even if it comes with more creative blocks and frustration—is really rewarding, especially for something as impactful as this.

The real credit though goes to all the amazing researchers, participants and supporters who worked tirelessly for years to make this study possible. Go team! :)

A Milestone for UCA WAVES, a Step Forward for AAPI Communities We’re proud to share a major milestone in our work to advance health equity for AAPI communities in North Carolina. After more than tw…

09/23/2026

I had a wonderful time last night back at Millersville University screening Paper Birds for Dr. Chang's Doc 2 class! I got to talk a bit about the project, my evolution as an artist and, most importantly, connect with current students. There was so much curiosity, creativity and talent all in one room—I don't think I've ever answered so many questions about the piece and it's contents before!

The group was about double in size compared to when I took the course half a decade ago now, which I think speaks to the increased importance of authentic, grounded storytelling in our culture. If MU's media arts students are a reflection of the next wave of journalists and documentarians...I think we're in good hands :) To say I'm excited to see what they create is an understatement.

Getting to present this film back where it all began never fails to land as the deepest honor. Thank you all for having me!

P.S. Learn more about this film at projectpaperbirds.com!!

08/31/2026

WAVES Corner: Using Filmmaking to Go Far!🌟🌎

Back in April, we were elated to announce that WAVES Creative Director, Alli—who goes professionally by A.C. Brooke—premiered her Paper Birds in observation of Month. Now, we’re even more excited to share that her piece was recently nominated for Best at the Montreal Women Film Festival!

MWFF is an international, qualifiying competition and dedicated to uplifting women in . Upon hearing the news, Alli noted, “Of course, any and every selection, , or sign of recognition comes with an immense amount of honor and gratitude. But having my work acknowledged by an event specifically geared towards 's voices hits different.

Being in a male-dominated field, I take a lot of pride in what I do thinking about the who paved the way before me, the female contemporaries who shape and inspire my path today, and the little ways I can widen the trail for all the and girls to come after.”

The 30-minute piece follows her own journey dealing with fragmented and and the delayed onset of post-traumatic stress disorder ( )—a common phenomenon for survivors of .

We’re so proud to see the WAVES team breaking silences surrounding both on and off the clock. Congratulations, Alli! We're so proud of you!😊🩵

Looking to learn more about ? Click on the link below!

📲 https://projectpaperbirds.com/

08/18/2026

I’m super excited to share that my debut film, Paper Birds, has been nominated for Best Documentary Short at the Montreal Women Film Festival!

MWFF is an international, IMDb qualifying competition and screening festival dedicated to uplifting women in media. Of course, any and every selection, nomination, or sign of recognition comes with an immense amount of honor and gratitude. But having my work acknowledged by an event specifically geared towards empowering women’s voices hits different.

Being in a male-dominated field, I take a lot of pride in what I do thinking about the pioneers who paved the way before me, the female contemporaries who shape and inspire my path today, and the little ways I can widen the trail for all the women and girls to come after.

Thank you, MWFF!

P.S. To learn more about the project, watch the trailer, or connect with relevant resources, visit projectpaperbirds.com 🙂

07/06/2026

So excited our first annual report is out! I had a blast putting this together, and I can't think my team enough for their help in getting it off the ground.

I've loved pretty much anything graphic design related for a while now, but I have a special spot for doing annual reports. It was one of my first tasks as an intern at Lancaster EMS, and ultimately what led me to pursue a minor in graphic communication technology.

If you have a few minutes today, definitely recommend giving this a glance! UCA WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative is doing some INCREDIBLE work, so it makes my job pretty easy :) Happy reading!

Our Biggest Year Yet UCA WAVES is ecstatic to share our very first annual report! This extensive document dives into who we are as an organization, unforgettable moments from this past year, and wa…

04/14/2026

I'm so very lucky to work at UCA WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative! One of my colleagues drove from a state over just to see the screening. With her, she brought flowers and a card filled with congratulatory messages from our team. Reading it brought me to tears.

Everything WAVES advocates for externally, they practice internally, too. My deepest gatitude to my team for always supporting me on and off the clock💙

04/14/2026

A little late on posting this link, but I was honored to be featured in this article last week on MU's site! Thank you Cora for writing this piece. Can't wait to share more about Saturday's event :)

Connelly hopes her film makes those who watch it reflect on what it means to ‘believe survivors’ and the impact of having or not having that kind of support.

04/06/2026

Hope to see you there this Saturday!! :)

🎬 Join us for the premiere of Paper Birds 🕊️

A powerful documentary exploring trauma, memory, and healing.

📅 Saturday, April 11
🕐 1:30 PM
📍 McComsey Hall, Millersville University

Following the screening, stay for a meaningful panel discussion featuring:

• Alli Connelly – Director, Paper Birds
• Daniella Harvey – Counselor & Medical Supervisor, YWCA
• Shelby Witmer – Family & Child Advocate, MHA Lancaster
• Miguel Pereira – Title IX Coordinator, Millersville University
• Kendra Sanders – Psychologist, MU Counseling Center

✨ Connect with local organizations through on-site resource tables
✨ Engage in conversation around trauma, healing, and support
✨ In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

This event is FREE and open to the public.

We hope to see you there 💚

03/22/2026

Last month, I had the honor of serving on a panel at Millersville University for their Center! Alongside some other really amazing alumni, I got to connect with current students and share a bit about my journey.

Something I found quite beautiful and comforting was that none of us perfectly fit the mold of what a "traditional" looks like (not that such a thing exists). While I entered undergrad immediately upon graduating high school and earned my degree in the 'standard' four-year time frame, I remember feeling quite self-conscious when comparing my experience to my peers. Dealing with —or sometimes, avoiding dealing with it—seemed to color everything. No matter how many boxes I checked or A's I got, there was always the sense of not being fully present.

One of the best byproducts of therapy post-grad was redefining success. I know that's the most LinkedIn thing you could possibly say about treatment, but genuinely, I think I find as much fulfillment now in moments like these as I do reading by the stream near my apartment, because it all comes down to feeling —to yourself, to others, to the world, to purpose.

Whenever I get the privilege to speak with young people, that's what I try to emphasize: Your best investment is in your . You could build the most impressive resume in the world, but it'll be increasingly hard to appreciate the direct and indirect benefits of that without being grounded. (It's worth nothing that in today's economic climate, unfortunately many feel—or are—forced to treat as a luxury as opposed to a necessity, but that's another conversation for another day).

Thank you again to (especially the amazing Kaila Germany!) for holding this invaluable event and inviting me to be a part—I think I got just as much out of it as the students did! :)

03/06/2026

Around this time six years, I remember first hearing talk of Covid-19 during a meeting for a news club I was involved in at school. Truthfully, I didn’t think much of it. Even when I got the email spring break had been extended, I had no inclination of the rapid ways in which our world was about to change.

But when it DID start to change, I decided to pick up my camera and begin recording through the only lens I could: a concerned but curious college student. This endeavor is what solidified my love for documentary work.

I think these photos become more resonant with time, perhaps because it transports us back to an era that seems to have been collectively compartmentalized. I’ve always considered myself to be among the really lucky ones in respect to the Pandemic—I was impacted emotionally, but never endangered, or had to worry about financial insecurity (among the many other challenges people faced).

While Covid has disappeared from the headlines, its effects have continued to ripple through time, silently shaping tomorrow. I sometimes think about the studies that will be published some ten, twenty years from now discussing the longterm impacts of school closures, or the virus itself. What will the passage of time reveal?

For more of my work, visit acbrooke.com.

#2020