T H E G I R L S W R I T E N O W GUIDE TO LIFE IN THE TIME OF CORONA a collaborative project

by the Girls Write Now Class of 2020 “ I K N O W T H E W O R L D I S B R U I S E D A N D B L E E D I N G , A N D T H O U G H I T I S I M P O R T A N T N O T T O I G N O R E I T S P A I N , I T I S A L S O C R I T I C A L T O R E F U S E T O S U C C U M B T O I T S M A L E V O L E N C E . L I K E F A I L U R E , C H A O S C O N T A I N S I N F O R M A T I O N T H A T C A N L E A D T O K N O W L E D G E — E V E N W I S D O M . L I K E A R T . ”

— T O N I M O R R I S O N

" W H E R E D O W E G O F R O M H E R E ? W H E R E W E G O F R O M H E R E I S A B E T T E R T O M O R R O W . W E G O T O W A R D S H O P E , A N D W E G O T O W A R D S L O V E , A N D W E G O T O W A R D S E A C H O T H E R , B E C A U S E W H A T W E ’ V E L E A R N E D I S T H A T W E C A N ’ T G O A N Y W H E R E I F W E ’ R E N O T G O I N G T O G E T H E R . ”

— R U P I K A U R G I R L S W R I T E N O W H O N O R A R Y B O A R D M E M B E R “ I K N O W T H E W O R L D I S B R U I S E D A N D B L E E D I N G , A N D T H O U G H I T I S I M P O R T A N T N O T T O I G N O R E I T S P A I N , I T I S A L S O C R I T I C A L T O R E F U S E T O S U C C U M B T O I T S M A L E V O L E N C E . L I K E F A I L U R E , C H A O S C O N T A I N S I N F O R M A T I O N T H A T C A N L E A D T O K N O W L E D G E — E V E N W I S D O M . L I K E A R T . ”

— T O N I M O R R I S O N

W H E R E D O W E G O F R O M H E R E ? W H E R E W E G O F R O M H E R E I S A B E T T E R T O M O R R O W . W E G O T O W A R D S H O P E , A N D W E G O T O W A R D S L O V E , A N D W E G O T O W A R D S E A C H O T H E R , B E C A U S E W H A T W E ’ V E L E A R N E D I S T H A T W E C A N ’ T G O A N Y W H E R E I F W E ’ R E N O T G O I N G T O G E T H E R . ”

— R U P I K A U R G I R L S W R I T E N O W H O N O R A R Y B O A R D M E M B E R G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1

ABOUT THIS ZINE

In times of crisis, we find ourselves turning to art and writing to help make sense of the world around us—to remind us that there is always hope, that words help bridge the gaps of isolation, and that we are never alone. Over the past few months, our community has come together in astounding ways to support each other, celebrate the work we have created, and imagine the world we want to embrace when we venture back outside. As a community, we felt inspired to chronicle this strange and uncertain time through what we do best: writing.

But writing isn’t all our community does; in our weekly Mentee & Mentor Community Chats, we learned about all the baking, crafting, meditating, Netflix-binging, and more that the Girls Write Now community is up to. So we decided to create this zine as a place to chronicle all the work we’re doing during this time, writing and beyond.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. WRITING IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 2 II. WHAT WE'RE READING 1 2 III. WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO 1 3 IV. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING 1 5 V. RECIPES 1 7 VI. CRAFT TUTORIALS 1 8 VII. WELLNESS 1 8 G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2

I. WRITING IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 Where do we go from here? What Is Life? BY ASHLEY SOTO, MENTEE

What is life? The highs, A gift? seeing red. Eyes and hearts both emanating heat. For some, horrible. Extreme rage. For others, a blessing. An unexplainable vibration For most, a mix. that pulses through our veins. The sudden urge to hurt oneself What is life? or another. Just....unstoppable rage. Uncertainty but certain when knowing.... A rollercoaster guided by decisions we make. we ride a rollercoaster. Events we live. Circumstances we live in. The highs, bliss. But why give us life? Extreme happiness. To be pursued by death A light wonderful feeling. everyday? As if our hearts and bodies are a feather. Our eyes in sync with our mouth, Why give us life? both smiling. To experience tragedy? Forming crinkles at the corners. Why give us life? The low? To know what it means to be fearful? Hurt, pain. A painful venom that spreads through the heart. Why give us life? A forceful, debilitating attack. To know the feeling of deep melancholy? Extreme melancholy....a somber feeling. Feeling locked in the dark, your mind Why give us life? reachable but your heart The heavy and forceful emotions no where to be found. that rock our souls on impact?

G I R L S W R I T E N O W 3

What is life?

A path, chosen by only ourselves.

We, chrysanthemums. Standing boldly in the sun. Gracefully serving our own purpose.

Claiming our essence of life in the fields. That is our purpose.

Fridge Poem II BY RICHELLE SZYPULSKI, STAFF G I R L S W R I T E N O W 4 How has your life changed since going into quarantine?

Untitled BY ANNE RHEE, MENTEE

We live in a dangerous age. And by we, I mean the homogenized singular political entity that is defined by the term “Asian-American”, one that has been politicized as the result of centuries of historical amnesia and violence. We know that to be a minority in America is to be considered an existential threat, yet this has only been accentuated with the onslaught of the Coronavirus.

This is not to understate the severity of the Coronavirus, nor it is to point fingers at the shocking scientific lethality of the truth, but rather, to draw attention to how it has become used as a racialized trope.

Today, a black man poured liquid on an Asian girl’s laptop. A week ago, an Asian man was attacked in Australia. Three weeks ago, a group of my peers who go to my school were belittled by a group of white middle-schoolers.

The urgency of tackling and solving the corona virus does not mean, under any circumstances, to attack the Asian American community even more. It does not justify the fear that people feel because of their racial identity. But very much like W.E. DuBois said, it is a question of the color line. It has always seemed to be about the color line, the world unable to move away from the past.

It is still about the color line. The corona virus is no longer scientific but politicized. Media outlets use pictures of Asian Americans wearing face masks to signify that they are reporting new information about the corona virus. We have become racialized signifiers to indicate the onslaught of a disease, but in doing so, to the world’s eyes, are now diseased. An Asian American woman wearing a face mask on the crowded subway directs bystanders to flee from her, an indication that she may be diseased even though, in the back of their minds, perhaps she is already diseased of her racial identity. My younger brother being called a chink and mocked by his second-grade peers should not be overlooked.

Being in high-school myself, I shouldn’t fear riding the subway home at night, alone. I shouldn’t have to be ashamed of my racial identity, I shouldn’t have to not wear a face mask when for my own safety, it probably is better to. I shouldn’t be worrying about my external image. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 5

I want to be worrying about Thursday’s math test and dreaming about junior prom, I want to be smiling and laughing and joyful like a teenager should be allowed to do. I want to let myself grow up implicitly not force myself to grow up, I want to take funny polaroids of my friends and be able to express emotions in any public area.

This is not okay. Forcing teenagers to grow up in the wake of a crisis is not okay especially when the adults can’t seem to be able to take any fucking action.

It’s time to move from the kid’s table – it’s time to grow up. But I hope, someday, when we look back on this, that all of you perpetrators, whether you have committed direct violence, discursive violence or even thought mental racist thoughts, recognize that you have justified a disease too. No, just because I am Asian doesn’t mean I am automatically diseased.

The public and the media never seem to acknowledge the racist norms of the present until the present is the past, but it is only with time that I hope you have learned to accept whatever the fuck you did wrong. For the sake of your children and future generations, I hope you do. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 6

Friendship, Interrupted BY JORDAN GASS-POORE', MENTOR

Too often, we only find time for friends when we need them, or when there’s a major crisis and we’re afraid they’ve died. I know this has been the case for me. There’ve been times I tried to suddenly wedge myself back into a friend’s life after not contacting them for months, only because I had a few hours to kill on a return visit to London.

Blame it on me being an only child, but even before the COVID-19 pandemic I was social distancing from my friends. It seemed like the older I got the more I became set into a routine that left less room for friendship. I just assumed my friends were always going to be there and that turned out to not be the case. My English friend Katy died in 2017 from an opioid overdose. Her story shouldn’t be left to memory or to those unanswered messages on Facebook.

My friend Sam lived with Katy. When Katy died, Sam couldn’t bring herself to attend Katy’s memorial service in Canterbury, England.

I introduced Sam to Katy. It was 2010 -- before the coronavirus happened, before Sam settled down and got married.

The Sam I knew a decade ago had short hair with a purple streak on the side. She would get drunk and dance on tables. For fun, one weekend, she and Katy gathered a group of people together to create a plastic bag chain that ran from Katy’s apartment through the outdoor courtyard to our friend’s apartment.

Then I left. Sam grew out her hair and went back to her natural brown hair color. She works in communications with the NHS. And she met Skye, who she married, and now lives with in a three-bedroom house in downtown Canterbury. They have a cat.

I may not have been able to be there in person for Sam during those major life moments, but we’ve kept in touch through WhatsApp and Google Hangouts.

Whether I’m 3,513 miles away or just down the street, the coronavirus has changed the way I stay in contact with my friends. I’ve implemented a daily routine of checking in with friends while I go on a walk around the block -- wearing a mask, of course. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 7

My friend Abby lives near me, and although we can’t see each other in person, we send each other daily messages and cat GIFs.

What I’ve learned about Abby since the pandemic: she’s not interested in my cat GIFS; she continues to get matched on Tinder with a former co-worker she’s had a crush on for nearly a year; and there’s a good chance she’ll be laid off from both of her part-time jobs this summer.

My vision for friendship when this is all over is that we tell our friends we love them.

This piece was originally written for and will be aired by Ochenta Stories this summer.

Fridge Poem III BY RICHELLE SZYPULSKI, STAFF G I R L S W R I T E N O W 8

Audio Diary BY SYLVI STEIN, MENTEE

Written for my mentor, Nan Bauer-Maglin Click here to download.

Collage BY RICHELLE SZYPULSKI, STAFF G I R L S W R I T E N O W 9

Write about the outside world without going outside. Challenge yourself and your memory by writing while inside. What does the sky look like? What do you see when you look out the window? Explain the feeling of the sun on your skin, the breeze through the trees. Think about the way the world will feel when you emerge back into it.

When I See You Again BY SPENCER GEORGE, STAFF

It started quietly, at first, almost overnight. I did not know that the last time I saw the sky would be the last, but I wish I had. I would have looked longer and stared deeper. All the leaves blowing in the breeze, not yet the way I imagine them. Green, ripe with summer. The way they must look now, bright with rain. In quarantine, I begin to dream of the outside. I remember it, it is still there. Nothing is devastated, beyond repair. Not yet. The skies clear without us, the rivers fill with fish. Their scaly bodies slipping in and out of the sun. All this waits outside the door. I know this. But the pain of loss is fresh, its edges still rough. I remember the world. I do. It is so beautiful in my mind’s eye. When it rains it pours, and I am South now, where it rains all the time. Hail pounds on the roof, and I think of the city, how similar the sound of the trains rushing up and down their tracks is to the storms. They shake the shutters and flood the roads. I know the tides are high, that the ocean must have raised itself to the city walls. I know this place well, even if it has been years since I called it home. I stand in the doorway as the clouds part and watch as the grass turns soft. It is warm now; the seasons have shifted without my notice. To enter into a park, to stand barefoot in the dirt— these are privileges tinged now with loss. The flowers fresh and fragrant in the rain. How it must feel to touch once more. The loneliness shedding from our skins. Sometimes illness leads to strength. One day, when I can hold my friends again, I will think of this and hold them even closer. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 0

Dear NYC, I'll Be Here When You Wake BY JAYOLA REID, MENTEE

I wanted more than anything for New York to slow down. Being born and raised here, you would think I would be used to the fast-paced never sleeping city. But I always felt behind. This is a place for those quick on their feet, the multitaskers, the squeeze between a subway cart door with a coffee in their hand to get to an interview that they are late for. But I had too much anxiety to run after a bus or scream back door when the driver had arrived at my stop. I rarely pushed, but was rather the one who got pushed on the busy sidewalks. I never was aggressive enough at the deli to scream my order to the cook and instead waited in the non-existent line. Somehow, after sixteen years I still needed google maps to assist me around the city. I wanted to ask the girl on the train who had her head in her lap why she was crying, but that’s not the New York attitude. So it’s easy to conclude that I was overwhelmed. Despite how long I had been living here in the city, I was stressed out about having to dodge the people begging me for money on third ave in the Bronx. I was worried about the fact that I was on my last ride for my student metro and I still had one more program event to attend. But I didn’t quite realize how unnatural a pause on the city would be. I was asking for what anyone would call the impossible. But when it proved itself possible after the coronavirus outbreak, I quickly took back my wish. This dream of mine for the city to sleep, at least for one night, quickly revealed itself to be a night terror. It is truly scary to see an empty time square and Broadway with no shows playing.

Now I would do anything to see the cat that lives at the bodega that used to be open twenty- four seven. I would give up anything to walk into a shop and enjoy a $1 pizza slice. Next time I go to the Guggenheim, I'll pay a bit more on the suggested admission price nights. I’ll make sure to open the door for the guy without a MetroCard just trying to get home from his construction job. I’ll give the dancers a tip and buy candy from the teenager selling snacks on the subway. I’ll make sure to attend GovBall and Afropunk and Curlfest even if I don’t know the headliners and have hair products falling out of my cabinet. I will make sure to visit every art gallery in Chelsea. I’ll walk the Highline again a thousand times if I had known that this previous summer would be my last time. But it won’t be my last. One day, I'll stroll through Union Squares farmers market again. One day I'll attend the street fairs again. One day I'll be able to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on TV again. One day I'll get lost in Central Park for the hundredth time. One day I'll check out a book at the New York public library again. One day I'll have a picnic in Bryant park again. I'll see the animals at the Bronx Zoo, ride the rollercoasters at playland, and soak up the sun on Coney Island Boardwalk. One day the city will wake up again. And that day I'll be bright and awake with it. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 1

An Incomplete List of Things I Miss BY SYLVI STEIN, MENTEE

I’m reminded of rollercoasters, and pineapple, and fading posters, and my best friend’s house, and the grass, still growing since I cut it last.

I’m reminded of the pool, and the smell of chlorine, and the hell that was learning to drown. I remember the clown

that juggled with plungers and banana splits; I remember like this — in pieces and bits, in times half-remembered, half-dreamed into truth. I’m only seventeen, and I miss my youth. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 2

II. WHAT WE'RE READING

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Arcadia by Lauren Groff Circe by Madeline Miller American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson The Book of Rosy: A Mother's Story of Separation at the Border by Rosayra Pablo Cruz & Julie Schwietert Collazo In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life by Cleo Wade Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern A Tender Thing by Emily Neuberger (a Girls Write Now mentor!) Caged Bird by Maya Angelou You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arifat Lying Hordes by Moiya McTier (which you can read online!) The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy Bitter Sweets by Rupa Farooki My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle Blood Relations and The Poison Artist by Jonathan Moore Uprooted by Naomi Novik House of Mirth by Edith Wharton With Malice by Eileen Cook Birds of America by Lorrie Moore G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 3 III . W HAT WE'RE LISTENING TO

Podcasts Lore Two Girls One Ghost StoryCorps Podcast Gastropod Unlocking Us: Brené Brown Dirty John Organized Chaos by Aliyah Simone

Music Check out our Spotify playlist of all the songs here!

Stranger in the Alps album by Phoebe Bridgers Bey-thoven by Sam Tsui x Carnegie Hall Ensemble Cinema by Kero Kero Bonito Kataomoi by Aimer Koisuru Universe by Scandal Oui ou non by Angèle Elephants Mobile by Aseul death bed (coffee for your head) by Powfu & beabadoobee mary magdalene by FKA Twigs 4EVER by Clairo Es Tarde by Juanes Seaside by The Kooks Orange Trees by MARINA Moi by Lolo Zouaï Cleopatra by The Lumineers Lucky by Lucie, Too Where Are You Now by Mumford & Sons circle the drain by Soccer Mommy G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 4

Garden Song by Phoebe Bridgers Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees Show Me by Big Wild Past Life by Maggie Rogers Bad Decisions by The Strokes Waves by Chloe Moriondo The Boy is Mine by Brandy and Monica Swing Lynn by Harmless Can't Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli It Rains in NYC by Dalynn Sere Nere by Tiziano Ferro More by IAMDDB Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi 4 Morant by Doja Cat Nervous by Gavin James I Kissed a Girl and She Kissed Me by Kid Bloom Go Flex by Post Malone Sangria by Blake Shelton O' City Lights by Gregory Alan Iskarov Amsterdam by Gregory Alan Iskarov Darling by Christian Leave G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 5 IV. W HAT WE'RE WATCHING

La Casa de Papel/Money Heist (Netflix) Derry Girls (Netflix) Bon Appétit’s Gourmet Makes (Youtube) Bon Appétit’s It’s Alive With Brad (Youtube) Buzzfeed Unsolved (YouTube) Epicurious 4 Levels (YouTube) Criminal Minds (Netflix) Glee (Netflix) The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (Netflix) Freedom Writers (Netflix) The Get Down (Netflix) The 100 (Netflix) Always a Witch (Netflix) Elite (Netflix) Vagabond (Netflix) Crash Landing On You (Netflix) Itaewon Class (Netflix) Memories of the Alhambra (Netflix) Abyss (Netflix) Oh My Ghost (Netflix) The Lies Within (Netflix) Well Intended Love (Netflix) Nightmare High (Netflix) The A List (Netflix) Sherlock (Netflix) The Americans (Amazon Prime) Married At First Sight (Netflix) Unorthodox (Netflix) Insecure (HBO) Pasion de Gavilanes (Netflix) G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 6

Baby (Netflix) Patriot Act (Netflix) Fauda (Netflix) Normal People (Hulu) Bridget Jones (Amazon Prime) The Grand Hotel (Netflix Spain) Supernatural (Netflix) The Vampire Diaries (Netflix) The Originals (Netflix) Legacies (Netflix) Dead to Me (Netflix) She-Ra (Netflix) Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix) G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 7

V. RECIPES Ariah’s Homemade Oatmeal Cookies 1 cup unsalted butter ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tbs. Pure almond extract 1 ½ cups flour ½ tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 3 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp. Nutmeg 3 cups rolled oats 1 ½ cups dried cranberries 1 cup white chocolate chips OR any chopped/shaved nuts!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and almond extract. Combine dry ingredients. Add to butter mixture and stir until well blended. Add dried cranberries and choc. chips/nuts. Drop by teaspoonful onto parchment covered baking sheet. Bake for only 10 mins! Pro tip: do not overbake! Even if they don’t look done, they are and will continue cooking while they cool. Allow to cool slightly before eating… last step: ENJOY!!

Jim Lahey's No Knead Bread from the New York Times

The Salty Marshmallow's Best Banana Bread

The Minimalist Baker's Portobello Steaks with Avocado Chimichurri G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 8

VI. CRAFT TUTORIALS

The Spruce Crafts: How to do the Basic Knit Stich & How to Crotchet For Beginners

Origami Way's Easy Origami for Beginners

VII . WELLNESS AND MEDITATION

Box Breathing

Breathe in for the count of four, hold at the top for the count of four, breathe out for the count of four, hold at the bottom for the count of four. Repeat.

Alternate Nostril Breathing

With your thumb, press into the side of your right or left nostril until you can only breathe through one side. Take a deep breath in through your open nostril, then switch your fingers and hold that side closed with your pointer finger. Breathe out through the other nostril. Switch and repeat.

Sleep Hygiene Limit screen time (and blue light). Online learning means more screen time so go for walks, limit caffeine, and wind down, sans screen, a few hours before you go to bed. Try not to be in your bed all day, ie, do your HW in the living room if you can and keep your bedroom a sanctuary for sleeping. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 1 9

I Love You, Lola BY LOLA BAKARE, MENTEE

I love the way you walk as if you’re beyonce. I love the way you coordinate your outfits. The way you tap your hand because your anxiety is acting up. That you are your own hairstylist. I love that you spy on conversations because you're nosey and not afraid to admit it. You hold back your laugh sometimes because you hate it but I think its beautiful. You hate how dark your eyes are but I love it. From your 5-head to your small arched feet. I love you from head to toe.

I remember for years things would get to you. You never took disrespect. You could fallout and argue with the entire world over people disrespecting you. Now you’re maturing. You still don’t take disrespect but react to it in a civil manner. You barely fight and argue anymore and im proud of you. You're really growing and I see it.

I promise to love you unconditionally; to try and protect you from people who are not good to you. I promise to spoil you. To take care of your mind, body, and soul. I promise to be there for you every step of the way. You are so beautiful, smart, and an extraordinary human being. I love you. You deserve so much more than you get but better things are coming your way. Just hold on tight. You will be okay, Lola.

A prompt by Girls Write Now mentee alum Maxx Carr

Write down the emotions you have been struggling with recently. It can be one emotion or many! Now, choose one emotion to personify and write a letter to your emotion. Address your emotion as if you would another person rather than your own self. Select a tone for your letter. Comedy Break up letter / Love letter Scary movie style POV - of a parent, a younger sibling, a doctor, a lawyer G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 0

Mentee Cento: Statement on Black Lives Matter

BY EMMANUELLA AGYEMANG, ANDREA AMBAM, ATIQA CHOWDHURY, CAITLIN LEVY, JAYOLA REID, SUHAYLAH SIRAJUL-ISLAM, KILHAH ST FORT, CLAIRE YU & GRACE YU

In this world, we must, at the minimum, value life.

We ourselves can understand and make the people in our lives understand the value, power and significance in every single human life.

Abolish the police system.

Our little siblings don’t have to know the same fear as we know right now.

Get the law 50-A repealed, as well as the addition of more training protocols for police regarding necessary violence.

My blackness should not be a threat

Melanin is now a trend so why is the loss of melanin a trend too.

We will wear our battle scars proudly, and they will be seen as something beautiful.

Fund the communities you try to look over.

Celebrate us, our ancestors’ blood is all over the foundation of your country.

We don’t need prisons.

Eat the rich we don’t need them.

A revolution must liberate enslaved people before liberating anyone or anything else. G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 1

GIRLS WRITE NOW CLASS OF 2020

Mentee Mentor

Giana Adote Dayna Sason Obenewa Adu Tracy Miller Afiwa Afandalo Caroline Preston Onyeka Agwu Kelsey Weekman Ugonna Agwu Kate Newman Emmanuella Agyemang Grace Aneiza Ali Annemarie Alms Kate Napolitano Mikayla Augustin Kate Riley Luna Azcurrain Carina Storrs Maxine Babb Agnes Bannigan Nyasia Bailey Jazmyn Tuberville Sierra Blanco Abigail Keel Kinah Britton Casey Cornelius Janein Brookes Emily Morris Scarlett Burwell-Pharel Danielle Chéry Joanne Cai Leela Deo Amanda Castillo Miden Wood Saony Castillo Lauren Kiel Dominique de Castro Courtney Stevenson Amina Rosa Castronovo Angelica Puzio Genesis Cespedes Katerina Allen-Kefalinos Jordan Che Maria Whelan Chelsea Chinedo Olivia Jane Smith Atiqa Chowdhury Nandita Raghuram Jayli Milan Christopher Isabel Stanish G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 2

Lauren Cichon Kara Stiles Sunei Clarke Caitlin Chase Brianna Clarke-Arias Rachel Shope Blake Coniglio Jude Wetherell Dalya Cordeiro Paige Carlotti Chenicia Cummings Jennifer Ford Faith Destiny Cummings Kathryn Cardin Cheyenne Cuthbertston Kaye Weinstein Marta Davila-Lomas Valentina España Kristina Dawoud Jordan Gass-Poore' Lorena De La Rosa Judith Roland Jaida Dent Jalisa Wright Mariama Diallo Angela Dorn Manar Dihyem Jaime Fuller Laila Dola Jill Kaminsky Kimberly Dominguez Elizabeth Thomas Madolley Donzo Annie Bryan Ilana Drake Erica Drennan Yadyvic Estrella-Batista Kimberly Jacobs Amoya Evans Rebecca Sananes Siarra Francois Ashley Welch Lizbeth Fuentes Ascencio Deiona Monroe Gabrielle Galchen Emily Barasch Jyoti Gandhi Laverack Ashley Mannetta Victoria Gao Soyolmaa Lkhagvadorj Aaliyana Garcia Lauren McDermott Glaire Giannosa Anna Humphrey Isabel Golightly Anna Perling G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 3

Ruby Gower Janice Nimura Siara Greco Eleanor Cummins Jayla Greenberg Caroline K. Fulford Aniya Greene Robin Willig Gyana Guity Sarah Gouda Francis Gutierrez Ashna Shah Gianny Guzman Hermione Hoby Lena Habtu Sammi LaBue Naomi Habtu Kristen Gaerlan Irene Hao Lauren Vespoli Nylah Harris Kathleen Scheiner May Hathaway Alena Graedon Heremi Herman Eva Greenholt Tiffany Ho Katire Reilly Olivia Hom Linda Corman Maxine Hsuing Emma Baker Vicky Huang Neha Kulsh Fikirte Hunt Stephanie Kariuki Elisabeth Hynes Jennifer Milton Mekkiayah Jacobs Brooke Borel Sheyla Javier Shannon Carlin Jessica Jiang Kelly Moffitt Maribel Jiminez Meghan McDonough Jadah Jones Nikki Palumbo Rachel Kelly Lauren Thompson Nora Knoepflmacher Natalie Daher Eli Kowar Rachel Ludwig Alice Kresberg Amelia Possanza G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 4

Catilin Levy Celia Alicata Mai Listokin Emily Neuberger Giftbelle Lomotey Jordana Narin Jade Lozada Carol Hymowitz Savannah Lucas Jan Greenberg Pilar Lu-Heda Catherine Santino Lorena Maca Garcia Candace Cunard Lyla Malcomson Alikay Wood Mary Massaquoi Arriel Vinson Alicia Maxwell Rebecca Louise Miller Ciara McKay Hannah Worby Odalis Mendez Rachel Prater Anaee Mero Laura Litwin Tatiana Mezitis Caroline Sydney Hadia Miah Monique Hall Angely Morel Kat Jacobs Alexis Morgan Victoria Chow Maisha Nabila Alexandra Ossola Ashley Nuñez Amber Jamieson Yamilet Ortega Heather Strickland Gabi Palermo Kate Mulley Leslie Pantaleon Lauren Hesse Ria Parker Amy Flyntz Lilly Perez Kiki T. Britney Phan Lindsay Zoladz Tori Phelps Laura Geringer Micaela Pinto Madeline McSherry Daniela Ramos Julia Carpenter Jaya Rao-Herel Amanda Ekery G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 5

Leadra Reeves Baze Mpinja Jayola Reid Ashley Okwuosa Anne Rhee Sunny Lee Kathy Rivera Mary Darby Janet Rojas Vazquez Lily Butler Jo Rosado Regan Winter Tiffanie Roye Christine Flammia Lilly Sabella Toni Brannagan Claudia Sanchez-Jean Sarah Gruen Isabelle Sanderson Anna Witiuk Princesa Santos Camille Bond Lulu Sha Sophie Flack Oleysa Shanabrook Karina Jougla Sanjida Shueba Megan Wood Zakiyyah Singletary Elizabeth Koster Suhaylah Sirajul-Islam Ruey-yah Tang Ashley Soto Karen Pennar Shyanne Spencer Sherrill Collins Sylvi Stein Nan Bauer-Maglin Margareta Stern Jen Straus Kilhah St Fort Amber Loveless Alin Suarez Kiele Raymond Sandy Tan Claudia Marina Hannah Thomas Stephanie Golden Kenia Torres Hannah Sheldon-Dean D Townes Chaya Wilkins Kayla Walford Allison Considine Sharnice Walker Deenie Matthews G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 6

Kathy Wang Nicole Jones Abena Wirekoh Mareesa Nicosia Christine Yan Avery Carpenter Forrey Chelsea Yan KK Apple Kaitlyn Yang Meghann Foye Claire Yu Jesse Chen Grace Yu Sarah McNaughton Jenny Zheng Saira Khan

GIRLS WRITE NOW STAFF

Maya Nussbaum, Founder & Executive Director Molly MacDermot, Director of Special Initiatives Erica Silberman, Director of Curriculum & Engagement Natalie McGuire, Controller Ariah Dow, Community Manager Lisbett Rodriguez, Community Coordinator Andrea Ambam, Community Fellow Anjali Misra, Community Fellow Richelle Szypulski, Events Producer Spencer George, Special Initiatives Assistant Kelsey LePage, Development & Operations Associate Elizabeth Baribeau, Senior Grant Writer G I R L S W R I T E N O W 2 7

ABOUT GIRLS WRITE NOW

For more than 20 years, Girls Write Now has been a nationally respected leader in arts education as New York’s first and only writing and mentoring organization for girls. Girls Write Now matches underserved teens—over 90% of color, 90% high need, 75% immigrant or first generation, and 25% LGBTQ/gender non- conforming—with professional writers and digital media makers as their personal mentors. Mentees’ multi-genre, multimedia work is published in outlets including Teen Vogue, Buzzfeed, and The New York Times, performed at Lincoln Center and the United Nations, and wins hundreds of Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. 100% of Girls Write Now seniors are accepted to college—armed with confidence, portfolios, and life-long bonds. Through Girls Write Now’s Writing Works workforce development program, we prepare young adults to be skilled communicators and competitive candidates, creating a diverse pipeline into the schools and industries most in need of their talents.

Girls Write Now has been distinguished three times by the White House as one of the nation’s top youth programs, twice by the Nonprofit Excellence Awards as one of New York’s top ten nonprofits, by NBCUniversal’s 21st Century Solutions for Social Innovation, by Youth INC for Youth Innovation, and as a DVF People's Voice Nominee. Reaching over 6,000 youth annually, Girls Write Now is a founding partner of the STARS Citywide Girls Initiative, now in its seventh year. Girls Write Now earned the 2019 HI Impact Award, ranking in the top 4% of programs nationwide for outstanding performance driving social-emotional growth for youth. With features in Bustle, People, Newsweek, and more, Girls Write Now’s annual anthology has received numerous awards and recognitions. W W W . G I R L S W R I T E N O W . O R G @ G I R L S W R I T E N O W