The Corsair, Issue 4 (Fall 2020)

On May 7, 1955, a middle-aged Black preacher was shot and killed in his car in Mississippi.

George W. Lee was an African-American born into extreme poverty in Edwards, Mississippi. The child of an abusive father and a plantation worker mother, Lee was likely destined for the same future as many young Black men in his region as a poor agricultural worker.

From the time he was a young child, Lee sought to unify his local Black community. Despite the odds, he was able to graduate high school. As a teenager, he worked with local community organizers and small businesses. In the 1930s, Lee became a preacher, working in four churches, and eventually saved enough to open a small grocery store in his town. He was already much more successful than most from his western Mississippi community, but his desire to unify and overcome obstacles never wavered.

In the back room of his home, George established a small printing business with his wife, Rosebud. Together, they accumulated a small following, and eventually used their resources to join the ongoing American civil rights battle. He would soon become the first Black voter registered in his county, and in conjunction with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Lee became an increasingly influential voice calling for the registration of African-American voters around the state.

When the sheriff of Humphreys County, Mississippi refused to accept the poll taxes of Black residents, Lee, along with another activist, took him to court, and eventually registered nearly every African-American in the region.

Lee became the vice president of the Regional Council of Negro Leadership, which advocated for equality, business, and community organization. Notably, the coalition organized a successful gas station boycott of those that refused to install Black restrooms.

Throughout his journey as a proponent of civil justice, Lee continued to use his backroom printing company to promote Black voter registration around the state. He relentlessly sought to ensure that every African-American was able to voice their political opinion.

As a public voice in favor of equality, Lee became subject to threats and attacks. White officials from his county offered to protect him, so long as he stopped using his printing press to promote voter registration. Lee refused.

In early May, as he sat in the driver’s seat of his car at an intersection, Lee was shot in the jaw from a convertible next to him. The white sheriff attempted to protect the killers by filing the incident as a fatal automobile accident.

Upon investigation demanded by the United States District Attorney, it was discovered that a threatening letter was sent to the Lee household days before his death. The letter foreshadowed his murder should the black voting flyer production not be halted. Needless to say, he upheld production.

Unless you are a white, landowning male older than 21, somebody has fought for your right to vote. The endearing image of the United States is painted by men and women like George Lee, who fought to the end for the rights of their countrymen. The notion that somebody has likely died for your vote is not cliché or innuendo; it is an unfortunate fact. Heroes like George Lee, Emily Davison, Martin Luther King Jr., Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and others on the endless list of those who fought for equality, would be insulted by the negative generational voter participation trend present in modern American politics.

Now more than ever, the global role of the United States, the nation’s dedication to its future, and its foundational values are being called into question.

People have died so you can help decide the future of the country, and the gravity of the situation could not be greater. There is no better time to start a personal tradition of civic service.

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County Approves SMC as a Voting Center Aja Marshall | Staff Writer Santa Monica College (SMC) has been approved by Los Angeles County to serve as a voting center for the 2020 November general election.

The Corsair Gym, located between the main campus field and the Library, has been assigned as the designated voting center. A map of the area can be found on the SMC website.

In previous years, the voting center was at the SMC Foundation building on Pico Blvd., across the street from the gym.

However, according to SMC Chief of Police Johnnie Adams, L.A. County requested that SMC move the voting center to the gym because it has more ample space to properly execute COVID-19 safety protocol.

“The county is going to provide six-foot distancing markers. They’re also going to have masks [for] people that don’t have masks.

Depending on the lines, we have a backup plan too, that we open up the Corsair field for people to wrap around the track,” Chief Adams said.

This will be the eighth voting center in Santa Monica, and potentially the largest, as it is intended to be a hub for students to have easy access to voting. Tobias Maramba, a recent SMC graduate, believes this will particularly benefit students at the college.

“A lot of students are probably familiar with SMC’s campus and maybe they just feel more at ease going to a place that’s familiar with them to vote,” said Maramba.

He currently attends the University of California, Irvine and still resides in Santa

Monica, so he plans to vote in-person at SMC if the crowds are under control and poll workers properly enforce COVID-19 protocol.

Although many voters opt to cast their ballots by mail this year, the in-person voting process will look similar to years past -- with the addition of masks and sanitizing equipment. The actual voting process will mimic the style of the March primaries: voters will wait in line to be checked in by a poll worker (identification may be required), then receive their ballot and walk into a private booth to fill out their form.

In addition, voters will also have the option to cast their ballot curbside from their car, a new method to help ease COVID-19 concerns.

The voting center will be managed by L.A. County with support from the SMC Police Department and Event Services. Together they will map out, build, and maintain the routes that voters will take to park, enter, and exit the voting center. Poll workers will be on-site to help direct voters, and plastic chains and signs will help distinguish lines for entering and exiting.

The voting center will have two main entrances on the North and South sides of the gym. It will be open for 11 days: Oct. 24 through Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Curbside voting and regular parking will be available for voters in Parking Structure 3.

There will not be a ballot drop-box at the voting center. Vote-by-mail ballots can be dropped off at Marine Park, Virginia Avenue Park and other locations in Santa Monica

that are near the campus and accessible to the SMC community.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted a clip highlighting voting centers at some of L.A.’s most iconic locations on Oct. 7, including

Dodger Stadium and The Wiltern Theatre.

More drop-off stations and additional in-person voting centers can be found online at lavote.net.

return to work or have seen a significant reduction in hours. With the ban on evictions being lifted at the end of the month, many L.A. County residents will have an even more heightened risk of homelessness.

Jennifer Cruz, a full-time employee and college student studying criminal justice at El Camino College, says to have worked less than 15 hours a week for nearly two months. This caused complications and nearly led her to have to choose between school and work. This has been the case for many independent students like Jennifer who have bills and tuition to pay.

“I almost gave up school, things got really hard, I was so stressed out and I was scared that I was going to end up on the streets, but as the first person in my family to go to college, I wanted to set a good example for my younger siblings,” Cruz said.

She explained how she wanted her siblings to see that even when situations get hard,

giving up wouldn’t have gotten her anything.

L.A. County resident Ezequiel Garcia has been out of work since the pandemic struck, and feared losing his home due to a lack of income. These anxieties became reality on Oct. 5, when Garcia officially lost his home after being evicted. Garcia barely has money for groceries and basic hygienic products, and fears his unhoused status will affect him gravely. He has no family in L.A. County, and says he called many organizations and offices that offer assistance to those at risk of being evicted, yet received no assistance.

“I don’t know how I’m going to make it, I feel failed by the system, but all I can do for now is hope for the best,” Garcia said.

Back in June, The L.A. Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released their “2020 Greater Los Angeles Homeless

Count.” This included data as of January, before the pandemic even began. At that point, over 66,000 people were reported on the streets of L.A. on any given night -- a 13% increase from last year. The report also emphasized systemic racism in homelessness, as Black people make up 8% of the County’s population but a staggering 34% of the unhoused population.

The organization has since launched its Homeless COVID-19 Recovery Plan.

The initiative was inspired, in part, by the likelihood of post-moratorium evictions, and aims to keep unhoused residents off the streets and therefore at less risk of contracting the virus.

The census count for unhoused residents in L.A. County started in September; any increase in homelessness as a result of COVID-19 will come to the surface once those numbers are tallied.

Above: Santa Monica College (SMC) will officially be a voting center for the upcoming 2020 election. Thursday, October 15, 2020. Santa Monica, Calif. The center will be located at the Corsair Gym, between the Corsair Field and the Library. (Marco Pallotti / The Corsair).

Below: Since its closure in early March the SMC campus has been closed to students outside of the Nursing Program and Respiratory Therapy. (Marco Pallotti / The Corsair).

Los Angeles County Will Restart Evictions on October 31 After a Seven Month Moritorium

Kimberly Aquino | Staff Writer At the beginning of this year, the Coronavirus pandemic put thousands of L.A. County residents out of work. With no steady income, many were left at risk of homelessness, with some eventually losing their homes.

On March 4, L.A. County officials issued a moratorium on all evictions, to be set in place until Oct. 31. With this ban on evictions, landlords were not allowed to evict tenants who were unable to pay their rent due to COVID-19, charge late fees, or interest on late or unpaid rent. Tenants would also have up to 12 months to repay overdue rent.

L.A. County alone has nearly 300,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with at least 1,000 additional new cases recorded on a daily basis. Nearly eight months into the pandemic, many workers have yet to

Santa Monica Election Guide

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Michael Goldsmith | Staff Writer & Johnny Neville | Social Media Editor

Santa Monica Rent Control Board

The Santa Monica Rent Control Board is made up of five members. Each member serves staggered four-year terms, with one member selected annually as chairperson. The board is tasked with ensuring fair rent levels, providing an affordable housing supply, and collecting fees and penalties, among other things. Of the four candidates running, two currently sit on the Board (Anastasia Foster and Caroline Torosis).

Main Goals

Main Goals

Main Goals

Main Goals

ENHANCE TENANT PROTECTIONS

PUBLIC SAFETY

ENSURE RENTERS ARE TREATED FAIRLY

UPHOLD RENT CONTROL LAW

PREVENT CONSTRUCTION & BUYOUT HARASSMENT

ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS

PARKING SOLUTIONS THAT FUND FIRE & POLICE MOVE TENANTS INTO HOME OWNERSHIP

RENT-CONTROLLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING DIVERSITY THROUGH RENTING POLICIES

Aishah Newson

PROTECT TENANT AND LANDLORD RIGHTS

MAINTAIN INTEGRITY OF THE COMMUNITY

Anastasia Foster

Robert Kronovet

Caroline Torosis

I am excited to continue my work fighting for that affordability on the Rent Board for a second and final term. Protecting renters and ensuring that people who’ve made Santa Monica their home can stay are the central pillars of my agenda. Landlords deserve a fair return, and our tenants deserve to have the playing field leveled when up against a bad apple.

I have been a Santa Monica homeowner for 30 years. As former Chairman of the Pico Improvement Organization and Rent Control Commissioner, I have been successful working with city, state & federal officials and local residents and merchants to achieve common goals. Please join me in our campaign to represent both homeowners and renters.

I understand what it means to be a young graduate that’s trying to find a place to live in this city. I want to expand the efforts of RCB so that Santa Monica can be a place where more young people can afford to live. If you’re looking to vote for change and the interest of renters, then vote for me.

I am running for re-election to the RCB because I believe that protecting renters’ rights protects the integrity of our community. I have spent the past four years on the Board ensuring that tenants and landlords are entitled to fair and reasonable rent controls. We must ensure that those controls remain in place and that our laws are enforced.

FosterForSantaMonica.com

KronovetRealty.com

NewsonForSantaMonica.com

TorosisForSantaMonica.com

Santa Monica-Malibu USD Board of Ed

The SMMUSD Board of Education is composed of seven elected members, each serving staggered four-year terms. Members establish educational goals and standards, approve stu district’s budget, approve various purchases & renovations, and appoint the Superintendent of schools. Of the eight candidates running, two currently sit on the Board (Jon Kean and

Main Goals

Main Goals

Main Goals

Main Goals

STUDENT SAFTEY, INNOVATION, & WELL-BEING

CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

INCLUSION

PRIORITIZE STUDENT EQUITY & ACCESS

EMPOWER STUDENTS

IMPROVING RACE & SOCIAL JUSTICE CURRICULUM

EQUITY & OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

Keith Coleman

ATTENTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION

Jason K. Feldman

RESOURCEFULNESS COMMON SENSE

DEFEND FLAGSHIP ARTS & IMMERSION PROJECTS PROMOTE DATADRIVEN DECISION MAKING

Esther Hickman

Steven Johnson

Keith’s experience is particularly relevant in a K-12 educational paradigm. As a Distinguished Visiting Scholar for mediaX at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, a research program focused on the intersection of human sciences and information tech., Keith is prepared to bring a dynamic, critical, and innovative perspective to the board.

I am a local civil rights attorney and parent of two elementary school daughters. I have made a career fighting for the underdog and now I want to fight for the students and families of Santa Monica and Malibu to bring transparency in all Board actions and achieving equity by increasing opportunities for all.

I’m a full time working parent and a product of SMMUSD. I attended Juan Cabrillo, Malibu Park, Santa Monica High School (91’) and graduated from UCLA. I value inclusion, resourcefulness, and common sense. I ask for your vote so that I can help every child within our district attain a world class public school education.

Our current Board and District Administration have abandoned class size reforms and begun to de-prioritize our core Arts & Immersion programs in favor of unproven, ill-conceived pet projects that will limit student choices in the future. I am running to bring transparency and accountability to the District, and ensure our great public schools stay great.

Facebook: Keith Coleman for School Board

FeldmanForSchoolBoard.com

Vote4Esther.com

VoteStevenJohnson.com

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Measure AB City Employee Appointment & Promotion Criteria

Measure SM Increased Tax Rate on Real Estate Transfers

Placed on the ballot by the Santa Monica City Council, Measure AB would remove two provisions from the City Charter that establish rules for appointing candidates and promoting employees to open positions within the City’s classified service. It would enable the City Council to advance “equity-based hiring” within the appointment and promotional processes. It would eliminate the “Rule of Three”, which applies to open positions and requires the Personnel Director to provide the names of the three highest candidates on the promotional eligible list, or the top three bands on the non-promotional eligible list for the position. A YES vote supports the passage of the amendment to the Santa Monica City Charter. A NO vote opposes passage of the amendment, leaving in place the “Rule of Thirds” and enforcing promotions based strictly records and experience. A majority vote is required to pass the measure.

Placed on the ballot by the Santa Monica City Council, Measure SM would increase the existing one-time tax rate on each transfer of real estate from $3 per $1,000 to $6 per $1,000 of consideration or property value transferred, for property valued at $5 million or more. New funds would go towards protecting essential services, including addressing homelessness, beach and park cleaning, public safety and emergency response, protections for tenants and seniors, supporting libraries, small business recovery, food for the hungry, after-school programs, and mental health services. A YES vote supports the passage of the amendment to the Santa Monica Municipal Code.

A NO vote opposes passage of the amendment. A majority vote is required to pass the measure.

SMC District Board of Trustees

The Santa Monica Community College District is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees, elected to four-year terms by voters in the district which serves Santa Monica and Malibu. Trustees establish policies for academic and facilities plans and programs, approve courses of instruction, establish academic standards and employment practices, and oversee the district’s budget.

Of the four candidates running, three currently sit on the Board (Susan Aminoff, Margaret Quinones-Perez, and Rob Greenstein Rader).

Main Goals PRIORITIZE TEACHING & LEARNING

Susan Aminoff

I am running for re-election to ensure that our celebrated college continues to lead in workforce training as well as coursework for transfer. In each of the past 20 years, I have either been a community college professor or a College Board member. From budget to curriculum, I have been part of the decisions that define the student experience.

Main Goals

Main Goals

IMPROVE ACHIVEMENT GAP

PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC

CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

STUDENT EQUITY

LEAD IN WORKFORCE TRAINING REMAIN #1 TRANSFER COLLEGE TO UCLA & USC

Main Goals

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

WEATHER THE PANDEMIC WHILE MAINTAINING STANDARDS

FUND KCRW & SM EARLY CHILDHOOD LAB SCHOOL RACIAL EQUITY & SOCIAL JUSTICE

Brian O’Neil A Professor, Not a Politician!

I will bring my experience and knowledge to aid students, faculty, and staff in the transition to the “new normal” that emerges from the pandemic. I will also fight for student equity and for ways that SMC can best serve the students and residents of Santa Monica & Malibu in a fiscally responsible way.

Margaret QuinonesPerez I have proven leadership with years of experience and passion for community colleges.

I am a Trustee and a former Board of Governor for 115 CA Community colleges. As a SMC alumnus, I completed my BA, Masters, and Doctorate. My alumnus children and I are inspired to give back.

TAKEN FROM SMVOTE.ORG

BrianPOneil.com

Rob Rader

UPHOLD SMC AS #1 TRANSFER COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN CA

I first got involved with Santa Monica College over 18 years ago because I wanted to help all students have the same opportunities my family gave me, and I am proud to request your support for an additional term. I have unique experience in business, education, public policy, data & statistics, law, and politics that I have brought to bear on the issues SMC faces.

ducation

udent curriculum & the Maria Leon-Vazquez).

Main Goals

Main Goals

INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

COLLEGE- & CAREER-READY GRADUATES

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Prior to the pandemic, SMMUSD was making terrific progress on social justice, ethnic studies, early education, and balancing our budget. With so much at stake, I believe that my leadership — 2 years as Board VP and currently as Board President — has helped to stabilize and maintain focus.

Continuity of quality leadership has never been more important.

JonKeanForSchoolBoard.com

NEW PERSPECTIVES

LIMIT WIRELESS DEVICE EXPOSURE

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY

PROMOTE CRITICAL THINKING

OPPORTUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION

Maria LeonVazquez

Main Goals

ANTIVACCINATION

CULTURALLY & SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Jon Kean

Main Goals

Dhun May

PROGRESS IN ACCESS & EQUITY

Jen Smith

I am the proven leader with the experience needed to face the challenges ahead and maintain academic excellence That’s why I am endorsed by SMMUSD Classroom Teachers and Staff, local elected officials, and my mentor Dolores Huerta. Proud to be an SMC Alum!

Upon election I plan to advocate for less exposure to radiation from wireless devices, character-building books, plantbased options, dissemination of information on how to strengthen one’s immune system, parental empowerment in sex education curriculum, improved sanitation & ventilation, harmony, true justice and academic success.

I have been advocating for our kids and families for over a decade and am dedicated to eliminating barriers, creating a more engaging learning environment and curriculum, and ensuring a campus culture of inclusivity and excellence to meet the needs of every child.

I will work to maintain a sustainable balanced budget, build our reserves, and create opportunity.

Maria4SMMUSD.com

DhunMay.com

JenSmithForSchoolBoard.com

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A Socially Distanced Halloween

Allie Leeds | Culture Editor

Celebrating Halloween in Los Angeles this month will be quite different from past years. Despite rolling back a previous ban on trick-or-treating, the L.A. County Department of Public Health will restrict how the holiday can be celebrated in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Gatherings, events, and parties with non-household members are not permitted whatsoever, regardless if outside or in, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. Door-to-door trick-or-treating is discouraged, as well as “trunk-ortreating,” where families gather in parking lots with their car trunks decorated and hand out candy.

Live entertainment, festivals, and haunted houses are also banned. This includes wellknown annual Halloween traditions held at Southern California theme parks such as Universal Horror Nights, Six Flags Fright Fest, and Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland.

Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween” is

a month-long event on the network’s channel, showcasing Halloween-themed movies during the entire month of October. This year the channel also hosted their first-ever drive-through event, “Halloween Road,” in Pasadena, which ran from Oct. 2-5. Due to a limited number of tickets being offered each night, the free event sold out almost immediately after the tickets went online.

Those who reserved tickets were able to drive through scenes from movies being shown in the “31 Nights of Halloween” lineup including “Hocus Pocus,” “A Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Ghostbusters,” and “The Addams Family.”

Activities along the route consisted of photo ops while in your car, a live performance of “I Put a Spell on You” from the Sanderson Sisters of the film “Hocus Pocus,” and modified trick-or-treating with bags of sweets distributed safely to drivers.

Freeform’s “Halloween Road” is not the only COVID-19 safe Southern California Halloween celebration to take place this fall.

Drive-in theaters, both existing locations and various pop-ups, are deemed safe venues

Entrance to Freeform’s Halloween Road. Masked employees welcomed guests to the Drive thru event in Pasadena Calif. on Oct. 4, 2020. In order to abide by COVID-19 guidelines participants remained in their vehicles at all times. (Octavia Anderson / The Corsair)

and will screen Halloween movies throughout the month of October.

The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride’s Live Drive-Up Experience is another event to consider. It takes place on select nights from Sept. 25 through Nov. 1 with tickets ranging from $49-$249 per car.

The Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience runs from October to February.

This Downtown L.A. event brings Hawkins, Indiana to L.A. for a visit to the extraordi-

narily creepy, supernatural world of the upside down with tickets starting at $89.

The Bite LA is throwing a Halloween Food Crawl on select nights from Oct. 2 Nov 1. Foodies can sample various themed snacks and dishes served in a socially-distanced, festive environment. The event price starts at $43 per person and caters to vampires of all persuasions, including those vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free.

physical contact with anyone outside of that zone.

Student film production at Santa Monica College (SMC) was also approved by the state of California and L.A. County, nevertheless SMC has utilized alternative filming methods to avoid putting students at risk.

When SMC moved classes online in the spring during the initial lockdown they halted any production that required students to meet in person.

The Film Department managed to overcome this challenge by shooting with Zoom software. SMC Professor Simone Bartesaghi, who teaches several courses in film production and development, explained how students in the Film 33 class were able to make films remotely.

“We actually shot a few scenes and they’re seamless. Two actresses were in Italy. Two were here in the United States. Another was in another country, and we shot them through Zoom and then all the material was edited together in a normal format. So you can watch the scene and it seems like all of them are in the same room,” said Bartesaghi.

One of the films made this Spring in the course, “Leaving the Factory,” won the Next Generation Indie Film Awards in Canada.

In addition to the monetary prize, the award proves that short films can be shot successfully over Zoom.

Although students are eager to get back on-set, Bartesaghi emphasized that safety is the SMC staff’s first priority. With social distancing a priority, the Zoom platform offers an educational and safe environment for filmmaking.

“I’m glad that we have that tool because we can really stay in touch and still work together. Something that six or seven years ago, we couldn’t have done,” said Bartesaghi.

Yet, as proven by Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Batman,” shooting during the pandemic comes with it’s own set of challenges.

Production on the highly anticipated, tentpole movie came to a screeching halt in early September due to the lead actor, Robert Pattinson, contracting the COVID-19 virus.

Pattinson made a full recovery and production continued, however, this was the industry’s first example of a big-budget film resuming production amid the pandemic, only to be put on hold yet again due to infection.

Lost money and time are the typical casualties when productions are put on hold, but with COVID-19, a dangerous virus also potentially threatens the cast and crew. Major motion pictures are insured, but the policies are unclear during these times. Insurance companies may not be able to cover the cost of multiple big-budget production lockdowns due to a high risk of COVID-19.

In spite of the danger, a few TV shows and movies have continued to shoot during the pandemic such as NBC’s “The Voice,” ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World: Dominion,” and 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar 2.”

These unaffected productions are proof that filming can safely resume despite the dangers of COVID-19. The show must go on, whether virtually or on set.

Hollywood Goes for Take Two Aja Marshall | Staff Writer Just off of North Gower Street in the heart of Hollywood, two production crew members wearing masks walked briskly between sound stages and trailers on the Paramount Pictures Studios backlot.

Paramount is one of several giant studios in Los Angeles where movies and TV shows are brought to life on elaborate sets and outdoor locations. It is adjusting to the changes seen in production with the onslaught of COVID-19.

On June 12, the state of California approved the resumption of TV, music, and movie production, including big-budget studio, independent, and student films.

Filming has resumed in part thanks to a COVID-19 safety proposal submitted by major players in the entertainment industry to the state governments of California and New York on June 1. The safety proposal was created by a new task force consisting of some of the industry’s major guilds and unions, including The Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild of America.

The state of California allowed film production to resume, utilizing existing safety guidelines for office regulations on June 12.

In addition, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health simultaneously approved new film production with the release of a COVID-19 safety order detailing rules specifically tailored to production.

Entertainment productions must now comply with guidelines issued by production management in addition to the protocols of the safety order. This has allowed the enter-

tainment industry to expand on L.A. County guidelines and utilize the proposal they submitted to the state government.

The entertainment industry calls their new guidelines “The Safe Way Forward.”

The protocol includes periodic testing during production of all cast and crew, as an extra safety precaution for those shooting without a mask or protective gear for long periods of time. It also requires a medical professional up to date with all COVID-19 safety protocols to be on set during production.

On Friday, Oct. 2, “The Goldbergs” television show was filming at a park near the Sony Pictures Studios lot which positively reflected the new safety regulations.

Anthony Watson, an on-site security guard, spoke about his experience working for the production.

“Now that there’s COVID, obviously things are different. Like our food, we can no longer service ourselves, they have to serve it to us. We have to have our temperature checked, we have to have testing twice weekly before we go [to] set. They have more washing stations, more everything,” said Watson.

It was clear that the new rules were being followed as crew members wore masks and appropriately distanced from each other as they waited in line at a catering truck.

The crew wore yellow tags with the zone they belonged to. This regulation specific to “The Safe Way Forward” groups workers together based on their role in production.

For example, actors who must remove their protective gear during a shoot are grouped in “Zone A,” and are forbidden to come into

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Pianist and Composer John Beasley poses in Venice, California on October 11, 2020. (Maxim Elramsisy / The Corsair)

Jazz Legend Locks Down Grammy Nomination Rebecca Hogan | Staff Writer Six-time Grammy nominee John Beasley is honored to be nominated for a 2020 Latin Grammy for his work on the song “Asas Fechadas” with Maria Mendes. Beasley, who grew up in Santa Monica, is an acclaimed pianist, composer, music director, arranger, producer, and ensemble leader.

He has played with Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, James Brown, and Chaka Khan.

He also served as Music Director for Steely Dan, Queen Latifah, The Emmy Awards, American Idol, and all of the International Jazz Day Global Concerts, earning an Emmy Nomination for “Jazz at the White House hosted by President Obama.” His film credits include “1917,” “James Bond films “Spectre” and “Skyfall,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Finding Nemo,” “Wall-E,” “He Called

Me Malala,” James Brown biopic “Get on Up”, and “Godfather III.” In August, Mack Avenue Records released “MONK’estra Plays John Beasley,” from Beasley’s 15 piece Grammy nominated jazz ensemble MONK’estra. This project includes “Come Sunday,” which features another Santa Monica native, childhood friend and Grammy nominated classical baritone vocalist Jubilant Sykes.

Beasley has strong ties to the Santa Monica College (SMC) music department. Both of his parents, Rule and Lida Beasley, are known as Santa Monica music education icons and accomplished musicians. Lida taught award winning music programs in Santa Monica’s Jr. High and High School and rebuilt the SMC Concert band and Symphony orchestra, both of which still exist today.

Rule was an SMC music professor for 20

years, building one of the premiere music theory programs in the U.S. and directing the Jazz band for two years.

When asked about John’s connection to the college’s music program, SMC Jazz Studies Professor Keith Fiddmont, longtime friend and collaborator, said, “He definitely played with the [SMC Jazz band]... even though he was just in Jr. highschool. [The director] told me John was his star.” Dr. Brian Stone, recent SMC Symphony Orchestra Director and Conductor, and former music student of the Beasley’s, remembers a Symphony orchestra performance where Lida conducted and Rule and John played a dual piano concerto to sold out crowds.

John is currently in Germany performing with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and is looking forward to the Latin Grammys on Nov. 19.

In the studio known as “The Hive” with John Beasley, a multi Grammy-nominated and Primetime Emmy Awards Nominated Music director. (Kevin Tidmore / The Corsair)

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People of all ages protest aggression towards Artsakh in Los Angeles, Calif. on Oct. 11, 2020. (Todd C. Wilkinson / The Corsair)

Smoke flares in the colors of the Armenian flag ignited near the Turkish embassy in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. (Alex Ramirez Canales / The Corsair).

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Artsakh Under Attack: March for Victory on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 in Los Angeles, Calif. Attendees span for blocks between La Cienega Blvd and San Vicente on Wilshire Blvd. (Alex Ramirez Canales / The Corsair).

Protestors at Pan Pacific Park in Los Angeles, Calif. during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Oct. 11, 2020. (Romeo Kuhn / The Corsair)

L.A. Armenian Community Protests as Regional Tensions Rise Jackie Sedley | News Editor Armenian flags and chants for justice filled the air in Beverly Hills on Oct. 11, as an estimated 100,000 pro-Armenia demonstrators “Marched for Victory.” They started in Pan Pacific Park and ended outside of the Turkish consulate in Beverly Hills.

The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) invited “all those who stand against Azeri and Turkish aggression to voice their demands.”

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in an ongoing conflict for decades, with the latest violent clash beginning on Sept. 27. Reports are ambiguous regarding who attacked first, but hundreds have been killed in the weeks since.

The war centers around the highly disputed Republic of Artsakh, formerly known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The territory belongs to Azerbaijan under international law; however, Armenian governs and financially supports the region. Armenians also make up the vast majority of the region’s population and surrounding territory.

Ofelia Seropyan participated in the protests to shine a light on what she called a “modern-day genocide” currently happening in Artsakh against Armenians. She says Western media has done a poor job covering the conflict.

Demonstrator Helen Ohannessian spent most of the day chanting through a megaphone. She, too, feels that the conflict has

been underreported and incorrectly conveyed. “ We need international attention on this humanitarian crisis,” Ohannessian said.

“These are our folks...that are dying out there on the field. So we need everyone to wake up.”

Turkey’s outspoken support for Azerbaijan is heightening Armenian anger. The Turkish government continues to deny the existence of the Armenian Genocide, which occurred in the early 1900s and led to the expulsion and mass murder of 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey and adjoining regions.

Southern California is home to the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia or Moscow. The Trump Administration has yet to directly condemn the war.

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Los Angeles’ El Salvador Corridor Jackie Sedley | News Editor Los Angeles is home to the largest population of Salvadorans in the United States, as a result of the Salvadoran diaspora in the 1980s. A high concentration of the community resides in Pico-Union or around the El Salvador Community Corridor.

Established in 2012, the El Salvador

Corridor in Los Angeles, Calif. aims to promote Salvadoran business while recognizing and uplifting the community’s “invaluable contribution to economic, social, political, and cultural development.” The street food market offers a taste of Salvadoran culture, and resides in front of Two Guys Plaza on Vermont Avenue.

LA’s Salvadoran street food market, in front of Two Guys Plaza on Vermont Avenue, during the Covid-19 Pandemic on October 15, 2020 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Yasamin Jafari / The Corsair)

A man playing guitar, at LA’s Salvadoran street food market, on October 15, 2020 in Los Angeles, Calif.

(Yasamin Jafari / The Corsair)

A vendor hand makes Salvadoran street food at the market on October 15, 2020 in Los Angeles, Calif. (Yasamin Jafari / The Corsair)

Carolina Lopez has been working in LA’s El Salvador Corridor for the past 46 years. (Yasamin Jafari / The Corsair)

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The Impact of Breast Cancer Johaira Dilauro | Staff Writer One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - a global annual campaign to increase awareness, support, and early detection of breast cancer.

According to the CDC, more than 250,000 women in the U.S. get breast cancer each year and 42,000 women die from the disease.

One in every 100 breast cancer diagnosis is in a man.

Some people may not experience any signs or symptoms pointing to breast cancer.

Signs to be aware of include a change in breast size or shape, pain in any area of the breast, nipple discharge, or a new lump in the breast or underarm.

Breast cancer usually affects women over 50, but can happen at any age. MoNesha La Violette was 47 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Natalia Fernandez is 36 and just recently found a quarter size lump on her breast.

Natalia was getting out of the shower, putting her hair in a bun, when she looked in the mirror and noticed a lump on her left breast. She knew she had to get it checked.

“When I felt my lump, it was the size of a quarter. It was tough because it was during the quarantine and it was scary to go to the doctors, but it had to be done so we made the appointment,” said Natalia.

She went to a general check-up appointment, followed by a referral to a gynecologist. The gynecologist ordered a mammogram, they confirmed the lump, and her next step was to get an ultrasound and remove some breast tissue for a biopsy.

“They took three samples, once tested they determined I had a very rare fast-growing tumor called a Phyllodes Tumor.” On Nov. 3 she is getting a lumpectomy. The next step will be to send the tumor to pathology.

Natalia was taught at an early age by her mother to always check her breast. “I was one of [those] people that loves touching her breast so it was shocking when I felt something I never felt before.”

She said that breast cancer awareness was something that has taken on a whole new meaning. “My advice is don’t ever get comfortable, get to know your breast, do your check-ups, even mammograms, just do it. This is your body, your life, get to know every inch of yourself.”

MoNesha, a vivacious, bold, hungry for life Registered Nurse at Kaiser West LA, was working in Labor and Delivery when she found a lump in her breast. She was teaching a new mother how to manually express breastmilk. While demonstrating the technique on her own breast, she noticed something very tiny and abnormal, about the size of a pea.

That same day she went to her primary doctor and after 20 minutes of palpating, they found that tiny lump. She was scheduled for a mammogram and 2 days later had an ultrasound with biopsy.

“They call me and tell me that I [have] cancer, my middle son was standing in my room talking to me when the doctor called and, you know, I really didn’t have time to process what had been told to me because I was really concerned about him standing there and all I could think about was, if I break down, how is that going to affect him?

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MoNesha La Violette reflects and embraces her reconstructed breast. “These are not the breasts that I breastfed my babies with,” Los Angeles, Calif. on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Johaira Dilauro / The Corsair)

That is kind of how I spent my entire breast cancer journey... really worrying about other people,” said MoNesha.

When cancer strikes it affects not only the person diagnosed but their friends and family. MoNesha’s advice, “This is the time to be the most selfish individual ever on the planet. And people have to be okay with that and it is not your job to make people feel okay with your diagnosis.”

Every stage of the journey requires the woman to advocate for herself. “When it came time for the chemo and my hair started to fall out I was worried about my husband because I’ve had long hair all my life and he was like...just wait and see. But my instincts were telling me just to cut it off because I didn’t want to watch it fall off. And I didn’t do what I knew I needed to do for me, I did what was best for somebody else and they caused me a lot of trauma,” said MoNesha.

“I threw everything but the kitchen sink at mine. I’m like a double mastectomy?

Yeah. I gotta have chemotherapy? Yes, I have to take medication for the next five to 10 years, ok. It’s a hard road to lose your breast, what you identify with, and even

though I went through reconstruction. These are not mine. These are not what I was born with, these are artificial, man-made gel bags that are stuck shoved underneath my skin, but these are not the breasts that I breastfed my babies [with]. I’ve learned to embrace and accept them. I’m so glad for modern medicine.” says MoNesha.

“That sense of security that I had; cancer took that away. You are always worried about it coming back. I was listening to a survivor talk and she said you know this is a really exclusive club. I said no, it’s actually not that exclusive. It’s a club nobody wants to join, but it’s a lot of members. There are so many women who have breast cancer just in this department alone,” said MoNesha.

Ladies, this month, like every month, commit to getting to know your bodies.

MoNesha’s advice is “Please check your girls, make friends with your body, check your breast. You need to know every aspect of your breast.” Educate other women about breast assessments. Normalize feeling, assessing, and seeing your body. It’s the only one you get.

The audience’s memories, along with the personal objects they choose, will magically become key moments of each night’s story and performance. Silven interacts with each member, saying he strives “to draw on the audience’s own thoughts, memories, and experiences to guide the narrative forward and to be the catalyst for the illusions.”

Immersed in the theatrical presentation written by Rob Drummond, imagery by Jeff Sugg, musical composition by Jherek Bischoff, and soundscape by Gareth Fry, audience members will transition from strangers into acquaintances within The Journey experience, as Silven reads their minds.

The Journey’s director, Allie Butler, said, “The Journey asks questions about how physical space and landscape affect the sense of emotional place in the world...traveling across a familiar landscape that suddenly becomes unknown and unfamiliar, but managing to find a way home again.”

Examining our relationship to physical space is relevant and vital during the COVID19 pandemic. People have shifted their whole

lives back into their home space and wrestled with this new relationship with homes as they’ve become germ-free shelter-in-place fortresses, and in contrast served as podiums to the outside world. Once a familiar landscape becomes unfamiliar and unknown, the search to find an internal place of stability and familiarity begins. We are finding our way home in our homes.

Silven uses his mentalist skills and craft to “explore the audience member’s sense of home, the transformative power of place, and to reveal the mysteries of their own mind.” He said, “There is something truly powerful about gathering together from across the world for a moment to reflect and discover what we might take to the future.”

Yes, “The Journey” is a show of illusion, entertainment, surprises, and mystery, but the fresh perspective it brings, is not to be overlooked.

Tickets start at $65 per screen and can be purchased at www.thebroadstage.org.

Mentalism and Magic Hits The Broad Stage

Rebecca Hogan | Staff Writer Is it mind travel, mind reading, hypnosis, or magic? Could it be an authentic mind connection conducted through a virtual medium?

Whatever it is, Scott Silven’s “The Journey” has become the New York Times’ Critics’ Pick, and The Broad Stage in Santa Monica is co-commissioning its West Coast premiere from Oct. 20 to Nov. 15.

Ongoing limitations on travel and strict protocols for in-person socializing continue to limit interactions, bringing some sense of isolation.

The idea of the mind having a deeply personal and connecting experience, in real-time, with a group of people and a mentalist in a mystical land almost halfway across the globe, is an intriguing concept.

Illusionist, mentalist, and performance artist Scott Silven is highly acclaimed for his productions including “Wonders at Dusk,” and his sold-out international tour of “At the illusionist’s table.” He has received stellar

reviews from The New Yorker, Vogue, and The New York Times.

His latest creation, “The Journey,” establishes a virtual portal from his homeland in rural Scotland, directly into the living room and deep into the lives of 30 audience members.

Through the use of illusions, traditional magic, psychology, imagery, geographic soundscape, and a strong narrative, Silven creates what he calls “theatre of the mind,” which he thinks of as the “purest form of magic.” But the real magic may be the power of the human mind to connect one-to-one through this interactive virtual experience.

Weeks before participating in any of “The Journey” experiences, each of the 30 audience members receives materials that help them become familiar with Scotland’s landscape, and instructions on how to meaningfully reflect on memories of their own lives. Additionally, each member is asked to bring a personal, meaningful object with them during this interactive broadcast.

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Are The Oscars Really Changing?

Rebecca Edwards Owens | Staff Writer On Sept. 8, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released new diversity standards set to take effect for the 96th Annual Oscars in 2024. These new standards are applied to the “Best Picture” category, to increase diversity on-screen, within the industry, and among audiences. People that are supported by these standards are described as “underrepresented groups,” including women, racial groups, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities either cognitive or physical.

The new standards stated by the Academy range from A-D and the film has to meet two out of four of these standards.

The new A-D standards primarily only ask for at least one or two underrepresented groups. There are standards for lead, supporting roles, and minor roles for underrepresented groups as if they’re a rarity. These bare-minimum standards won’t make a change because most “Best Picture” films have fulfilled these requirements, yet the nominees are still majority white.

Oscar Academy affiliate Jennifer Todd

is on the Board of Governors for the Academy, representing the Producers Branch. Regarding the new measures, “We recently announced new representation and inclusion standards for films qualifying for Oscars in the Best Picture category. It is part of our Academy Aperture 2025 initiative,” said Todd.

When it comes to whether there will be more new and unique films coming ahead for nomination. Todd states, “Yes although it’s not really up to the Academy to determine what stories get told. It’s a group that awards excellence in film, so we are encouraging thoughtfulness of diversity across the board when making a film.”

Regarding whether this change encourages films to steer away from stereotypical depictions of people of color, Todd said, “Again the Academy is not meant to guide filmmaking but rather help put standards in place in order to be recognized in excellence.

I do think in the Film and TV business right now there is a universal awareness we need to stop depicting characters based on racial stereotypes.”

This recurring issue was highlighted by the Twitter #OscarsSoWhite hashtag in January 2015. Former lawyer April Reign created the hashtag in reaction to the announcement of 20 white actors nominated in the Best Actress/Actor and Best Supporting Actress/Actor categories.

By the 2016 Oscars, when there hadn’t been any change, Spike Lee, Will Smith, and Jada Pinkett Smith announced via social media that they were boycotting the awards.

To see a reprisal of #OscarsSoWhite during the 2020 Oscars wasn’t a surprise.

After some criticism, former Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced in 2016 that she and the board would double the “number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020”. Of the 54 members on the board of governors in 2015-2016, 17 were women, and only two board members were people of color -- Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Daryn Okada.

Even with new additions to the board and new actions put in place by Isaacs, an African-American woman, the nominees in all categories were primarily white and there

wasn’t much of a change. Under the new Academy President David Rubin, the board of governors 2020-2021 consists of 26 women and 12 people of color. The amount of women hasn’t even doubled, but the amount of people of color has increased sixfold. Looking at the February 2020 awards the majority of nominees in all categories were primarily white.

The 2024 standards for “Best Picture” are the Academy’s latest attempt to make a change, but it seems that this may have the same end-result where diversity is not increased.

Since 1986, only 13 African-American films have been nominated for “Best Picture” with only “12 Years a Slave” and “Moonlight” winning. Most of these nominated films are about the African-American struggle and having to measure up to white people. Black Panther didn’t win “Best Picture,” yet it had strength, no stereotypes, different shades of blackness, and was set in a fictional African nation. When the new standards are in effect, there has to be room for new stories of diverse people, without glorifying trauma.

Don’t Blame The Freshman Carolyn Burt | Managing Editor In April of this year, Santa Monica College (SMC) made the decision that classes would continue online for the Fall 2020 Semester.

While it might have seemed early on to make the call, as the fall semester was four months away, the precaution allowed for SMC students to prepare themselves for the Fall course load, navigating which classes they’d rather wait to take until they could be held on-site.

In an email to students, SMC President Kathryn Jeffery noted the decision was not an easy one, “There is no replacement for teaching, counseling, and talking to you in person; at the same time, nothing is more important than your health and physical, emotional, and mental well-being.”

However, many colleges across the country did not follow suit. They encouraged students to come back to campus, assuring them that strict COVID-19 precautions were being implemented to ease the minds of students and parents. This move, however, was a reckless tactic in order for schools to secure tuition payments from their students.

And no one was more eager or desperate to jump at this option than the incoming college freshmen.

The graduating class of 2020 has had one of the more somber educational experiences in recent times. For high schoolers, senior year is hyped up from the early days of elementary school, a grand send off with friends and classmates known for over a decade. A victory lap filled with Prom, Graduation, and other traditions anticipated since Freshman year. But for this year’s seniors, it was one feeling of disappointment after another, featuring virtual proms and socially distanced

graduation ceremonies.

For the past 7 months these young adults have felt trapped under their parents’ roof, unable to escape to summer jobs or concerts with friends, due to reopening restrictions put in place. Students are jumping at the chance to fly the coop, grasping for anything that resembles the college experience they’ve romanticized, desperate to live on campus. Now left unsupervised from their parents, these 18-year-olds are soaking up their new found freedom, and breaking the rules.

It takes place every year -- freshmen partying in their dorm rooms and getting written up by their Resident Advisors for breaking policy.

The big difference this time, however, is that the United States is still in the midst of a global pandemic, and by not following the rules, students are selfishly putting not only their lives at risk, but the entire campus population.

They’re falling victim to the societal norm of college peer pressure, romanticizing the idea that the first week of college sets the tone for the entire trajectory of their life, or

thinking that by going out they could make friendships that’ll last a lifetime or meet that special someone. With the hefty price tag they’re paying for tuition, getting the proper college experience is of just as much, if not more, value to them as their education.

College administrations knew the risk they were taking by deciding to bring students back on campus.

It’s similar to the toddler challenge that was going around back in May, where parents would leave out a bowl of snacks for their child, telling them not to eat it until they came back. No one was surprised that the toddlers began eating their goodies the second their parents stepped away, and no one should be shocked that these students gave into that same feeling of temptation, now that they too are lacking parental supervision.

Students are now having to, quite literally, pay the price for their actions. Northeastern University dismissed 11 Freshmen for the remainder of the Fall Semester after

they were found together in a room. In addition to putting this group of students behind academically, their tuition is not being refunded.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ended up sending students back home and returning classes online just a week after they initially opened after the positivity rate for COVID-19 went from 2.8 percent to 13.6 percent in just six days. The call was not surprising to the many who followed along through the week’s viral videos on TikTok. They documented the large gatherings and parties with no social distancing or masks in site, including a makeshift slip ‘n slide on the grass outside of their Residence Hall.

To say these institutions didn’t know the likely outcome of returning in-person after an uptick in COVID-19 cases is naive and negligent. Out of fear that students would defer their acceptance thus losing the college money, they made the choice, and a selfish one at that, to allow students back to campus.

They baited students with the desire for in person education, after months of online classes. Because of that, students who did follow protocol are also being sent back home, potentially exposed to the virus, and putting their families health at risk.

At the end of the day, this Freshmen class made costly mistakes, let their guard down, and are rightfully suffering the consequences for their actions, but they are not the ones to blame. The blame falls onto the administrations who opened up campus too soon and allowed classes to be held in person, far before our country is ready.

Illustraion by Carolyn Burt | The Corsair

OPINION

Vincent Marcel | Staff Writer Illustrations by Sonia Hiew

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Sports Organizations Team up to Make Voting Accessible

Missael Soto | Sports Editor Since the ongoing pandemic began in March, live sporting events inside stadiums have been cancelled for fans in Los Angeles.

However, some L.A. sports organizations have come together to repurpose their stadiums to serve as polling places. Athletes have also taken part in voter advocacy, with many famous sports stars educating communities and motivating them to hit the polls in order to participate in the upcoming general election.

The Dodgers were the first organization in Major League Baseball (MLB) to offer their stadium as a polling place, announced on Aug. 13. Previously, the space was being utilized as a COVID-19 testing center. The Los Angeles Lakers, Rams, Clippers, and Chargers followed suit shortly thereafter, announcing that the Staples Center, The Forum, and the new SoFi Stadium in Ingle-

wood would be participating in offering the general public a place to cast their vote safely, while complying with COVID-19 guidelines.

Athletes from different sports have teamed up to do their part and encourage the people to make their voices heard with movements such as More Than A Vote. The non-profit was started by Lakers superstar Lebron James, along with other Black athletes, and has since partnered with the Dodgers.

“Voting is all of our civic duty, and we’re excited to work with More Than a Vote to do anything we can to help get out the vote by making this process as easy, accessible, and safe for all Angelenos,” said Dodgers President Stan Kasten in a statement made earlier in September.

The influx of politics in sports has stirred controversy, with the credibility of athletes constantly being questioned. Despite the criticism, athletes have continuously used

their platforms to push team and league owners into taking action on social injustices happening across the country. Owners and teams have listened to their athletes and worked alongside them to promote justice and equality.

“We are focused on systemic, targeted voter suppression in our community and have a specific mission: educate, energize and protect Black voters,” said More Than a Vote organizers in an open letter co-signed by over 20 marquee athletes and artists.

“Sports venues not in use need to be converted into voting locations and we are here to help the teams and universities ready to step up.”

Using these empty stadiums helps reduce voter suppression, while maintaining voter safety. Voter suppression often occurs when people with lower-income status cannot afford to take time off work, and are further discouraged by long lines caused by insuf-

ficient polling places and workers. With these enormous arenas serving as polling places, it is easier to navigate large crowds, ensuring that everyone can stay six feet apart to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

These spaces also make voting more accessible by shortening wait times.

More Than A Vote addresses the shortage of poll workers as well. The organization is advocating for young people to volunteer as poll workers. Since the average poll worker’s age is 60, they are at a heightened risk for the virus; therefore, the non-profit encourages younger, less susceptible people to take action.

Voting centers at the stadiums will be open from Oct. 30 through Election Day, Nov. 3. All four participating stadiums will allow voters to cast their votes or drop off their mail in ballots. COVID-19 restrictions will be enforced, including requiring masks.

All-Womxn Skateboarding Group Cruises L.A. Paige Strickland | Staff Writer “When a womxn steps on a skateboard she is overcoming fear. The strength that’s gained is one more tool that’s now available to boost her self-confidence as she navigates other challenges in life. That tool is not only useful, but fun and liberating. She can be whoever she chooses to be,” said GRLSWIRL co-founder, Julia Ama. Established by a group of nine friends, Lindsey Klucik, Monroe Alvarez, Shannon Moss, Kelsey Harkin, Tobi Ann, Myriah Marquez, Danielle Schwartz, and Julia Ama came together in 2018 to create GRLSWIRL. Their mission is to form an all inclusive skate community with the focus of building meaningful relationships, empowering each other through a sport that can seem intimidating, and tearing down stigmas and gender boundaries.

The sun slowly set over the Venice Beach Skatepark as girls began to roll in, chatting amongst themselves and popping tricks on their skateboards. For the first time since COVID-19 placed a halt on social gatherings, the GRLSWIRL crew is back to hosting their bi-monthly open skates. Word is spreading quickly on social media and among returning members as their meetups continue to expand and welcome new skaters.

Since 2018, GRLSWIRL branched out nationally, starting groups in San Diego and New York.

LJ Amaral, 29, attended her first group

skate this September. “GRLSWIRL has changed my entire experience of living in L.A. and brought me some rad womxn of the same wavelength who like to be active and empower each other. It’s like nothing I’ve ever been a part of before; an elite club of sorts, but is open and available to all,” Amaral said.

“It makes you feel so connected with your community and with the ladies you’re sharing this experience with. I feel so grateful to be a part of an organization filled with people who really care, who want to give back, and who want to lift each other up through skating!” said Amaral.

The members of GRLSWIRL are not only skaters; they are present as mentors, role models, and volunteers in their communities. Through their skate mentorship programs in the U.S. and Mexico, they have taught over 300 girls in underserved communities the basics of skating. By pairing older volunteers with younger generations eager to learn, their mentorship programs provide young girls with positive examples and role models.

These experiences also give them a safe space to be vulnerable and make new friends.

A prominent piece of their mentorships, and GRLSWIRL as a whole, is disassembling the gender boundaries womxn experience from a young age through adulthood. Skating has long been a male-dominated sport, but these programs teach girls they can succeed in anything they put their mind to, and can

GRLSWIRL participants pose at the Venice Skatepark in Los Angeles, Calif. on Sept. 15, 2020. The allwomxn skate community meets up bi-monthly for group events and workshops. (Paige Strickland / The Corsair)

change the way skating is perceived.

GRLSWIRL is in partnership with Girls Club, Girlpowerful Inc., Think Lab after-school program, and Santa Monica Pico Library. Through donation collections, they have raised more than $15,000 to support local non-profit organizations. They collect feminine products, skateboards, and more, distributing to those in need. They have also spearheaded local beach clean up projects.

“The open skate is really empowering, being with so many womxn from different backgrounds all coming together and building each other up. I personally really love it because it helps me build confidence, and I get to meet so many amazing womxn,” said Drew Resnick, 24.

“Through the open meet I was able to connect with a group of womxn that I have been skating with on a regular basis, and they have opened me up to other womxn’s collectives and events, which builds com-

munity and is so important, especially during COVID.” Since attending her first open skate, with the help of newfound friends, Resnick has improved her skating skills, and continues to build the courage to test out ramps and smaller hills.

GRLSWIRL aims to make skating a sport that is accessible, fun, and open to all.

They send the message that no matter your skillset, background, or age, it’s never too late to break out of your comfort zone and try something new. As their website states: “No comparing, no wishing or wanting – we genuinely want women to get out and join us.”

To learn more and sign up for updates and group skates, visit their Instagram, @grlswirl, or their website, grlswirl.com.