I graduated from Gardena High in 2019, but joined the WLP during my junior year. I turned 24 this year and am a student at Santa Monica College, where my major is in interior architecture. Although academically I am pursuing a career in architecture, currently I serve as a youth educator, coach, freelance artist and creative facilitator. My involvement in the Women’s Leadership Project and #Standing4BlackGirls Coalition has had a very positive impact on my life and those around me in my community. Every year, I look forward to attending or facilitating the LGBTQ-plus retreats because I leave with someone new to look up to, very inspired and informed. My experiences with WLP at events like UCLA’s Resource Fair resonate with me because those are the times when I get to connect with other organizations and students. Seeing people interact with merchandise that I’ve created for the program is super satisfying, too.

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