Åsa Orbison had set her adoration for music aside for a lucrative marketing career. Romance completely revolutionized the trajectory of her life. “I sang and played guitar and piano at Tallasskolans Musikklasser in Sweden,” she remembers. “Music, baking, and babysitting…
If you want a glimpse into the mind of Frankie Rodriguez, look no further than the arts. He was nourished by creativity. “The arts have definitely shaped me into the person I am today,” he says. “I always had an…
None of us would be able to succeed in the game of life without coaches to cheer us on. Think about all the mentors who shape us, whether it be a parent, teacher, or sports coach.Youth, particularly girls and children…
Young girls have plenty to navigate through, as anyone who has been or loved a teenager can attest. But what if you had to work twice as hard just to fit into your passion? Nia Faith had experienced the unnecessary…
Maisy Kay is in her halcyon phase as an artist. Her life is textured by innumerable delights. “It is by far the most romantic and joyous. It’s also probably the most authentic and open I’ve been as a writer,” she…
We all remember how time throughout lockdown seemed to crawl. Simultaneously, it allowed many people to explore interests that they had never considered. Jillian Shea Spaeder discovered a love of filmmaking. “During the pandemic, I got super bored of not…
Any wheelchair user knows it’s quite the odyssey to get new equipment. Anna Pakman decided to capture this saga in her latest entry for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, in which participants are tasked to make a five-minute short film…
Niki Nihachu turned to streaming at a time of isolation. Gaming filled in the doldrums of boredom.”When I was 17, I had leg surgery on both of my legs, so I couldn’t walk for about a year,” she explains. “Right…
With her jet black lipstick and electric blue hair, Kris Davidson doesn’t look like the typical patron at a country bar. You’d better check your assumptions at the door and don your cowboy boots because Kris (best known as @countrydancekris)…
Despite distance from loved ones, Aysha Harun is feeling grateful this Ramadan. Holiday customs can change, but what’s important is the sense of joy. “My husband and I are celebrating Ramadan on our own here in LA this year, as…
Alessandra Conti was born with a natural affinity for romance. While other kids were playing tag, she was playing Cupid. “I have been a matchmaker since I was a little girl,” she smiles. “My sister and I would always set…
The blissful ignorance that comes with youth sometimes translates into a lack of awareness of the people around us.That same attitude can carry over to our elders. Lucy Walsh was determined to rectify this mistake. “As a child, I adored…