Got a Girl Crush Presents

We all come from different backgrounds and previously from other schools, but have come together at New Village Girls Academy in the Rampart Village neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. New Village is a smaller, non-traditional charter school that gives us the freedom to be ourselves and pursue learning more about what interests us through internships and work-studies. Attending a smaller school has allowed better connections with our teachers who feel more like friends. A lot of us find we are less anxious and more comfortable in a less formal education setting, and being around all girls creates a community with less drama and or judgement (of what we wear or how we act).

Many of us signed-up to take the Publishing Internship offered through Dynamic Girls because we have limited access to knowing about how publishing a magazine or a book works because of our age. It’s hard being a teenager when what we’re reading and being sold doesn’t match what we want or need. We feel that just because you’re older doesn’t mean you know more--which is why we also are excited about being published and contributing to media in our own voices.

From seeing our parents risking their health to make money to support our families and watching nurses and doctors work without proper personal protective equipment, to adjusting to a virtual learning environment and not being able to socialize with our friends--this pandemic has affected all of us in different ways and united us in many.

It’s hard to cope with being stuck inside, adjusting our routines, not participating in sports, and try not to read the news everyday (it’s a lot to process). For the Seniors, we are missing out on having a real graduation and being able to visit potential college campuses. We recognize that our country values capital over people, and are frustrated and sad seeing other countries handle the crisis better than our own. We think people need to listen to guidelines laid out by health officials and stop hoarding masks so our healthcare workers on the front lines can stay safe.

Trying to make a magazine during our Publishing Internship has also changed since we can’t make a physical print version or have guest-speakers and in-person demos, but we hope you enjoy the interviews and essays from the safety of your home.

-The Dynamic Girls Publishing Class at New Village Girls Academy of 2020

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Features

Vivian Nweze

Interview by Brennyn Palmer

I wanted to interview Vivian Nweze because she’s really cool and she’s actually my mentor. We met last year when she came to talk at my school about her job and why it’s important to pursue your passions in life. I liked how passionate she is about the different careers she’s pursued so far. I asked her if she was open to being my mentor and she agreed. She inspires me because she's so young and has accomplished so much and never once has she compromised what she wanted to do. And I just wanted to get to know her a little bit better

Karina Rodriguez

Interview by Maria Munoz-Rivera

The person I decided to interview is my sister, Karina. She’s currently attending UCSC. She’s the first girl at New Village Girls Academy who has been accepted to UC Davis and received a blue and gold scholarship. She’s a third year at UC Santa Cruz. She’s currently majoring in environmental studies and education minor. She’s determined to finish school and make her family proud.