Scene Magazine: Spotlight Issue - Spring 2022 by Scene Magazine

The Dignity of Work The Inspirational Life of David Ramos

Spotlighting the People Shaping Our Community SPRING 2022

the

Spotl

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS D

Ryanne Mena

ear Readers,

Our initial meetings as the SCENE Magazine staff were spent brainstorming themes and ideas to resolve this issue around. We wanted to be thoughtful and intentional. I also wanted each story to have a sort of deep meaning, one that goes beyond the surface and dives deep into the humanity of each subject, organization, or group covered. Humanity is within the essence of all storytelling, I think. And in this tumultuous time in the world, many of us feel disconnected to the world around us and disconnected from one another. Living through a global pandemic that is still ongoing posed many difficulties. The world as we knew it was quickly changing. The Spotlight edition of SCENE Magazine seeks to uplift the voices of those around us — those that make up our beautifully diverse CSUN and Northridge communities. Each story intends to connect the reader to the deeper humanity that we all possess. The stories in this edition of SCENE magazine seek to highlight different members of our community that are often not in the spotlight, and the vital roles their work and passion serves. We hope that each of these stories connects you with the individuals that make up our community.

Samantha Neff

o the reader,

Welcome to SCENE Magazine, where we have prioritized our primary audience, the CSUN students, faculty, and staff. Taking inspiration from the unsung heroes that surround us all, our purpose is to spread the good and shed light on the people that have and continue to make this world a better place. We have written about the individuals and groups we admire that work hard to create progressive environments in all categories of life. We aim to spread awareness and allow CSUN’s students to have a look at the changes they could make personally, as well as throughout the community. If you are like us, you have heard a lot of talk about the pandemic and the destructive events that have taken place within the past two years. There’s nothing more we would want to do than put these difficult times behind us. Even though it’s important to reflect on the tragic times, our focus is to take you behind the scenes of the good deeds and actions done by the people throughout our community. Many thanks to the fantastic and incredibly hardworking SCENE team for taking the time to make sure our ideas came to life. We hope you enjoy reading the magazine as much as we have enjoyed making it.

SPRING 2022 STAFF David Blumenkrantz

Professor and Advisor

Chris Riscen

Production Manager

Ryanne Mena

Editor-in-chief

Rylee Holwager

Copy Editor

Samantha Neff

Editor-in-chief

Patrick Pamanian

Copy Editor

Priscilla Lara

Managing Editor

Sam Landau

Copy Editor

Ozzy Anguiano

Managing Editor

Chris Constantine

Copy Editor

Li Wei Ng

Art Director

Sonia Gurrola

Staff Photographer

Vicente Vitela

Art Director

Shannon Carter

Staff Photographer

Habeba Mostafa

Photo & Multimedia Editor

Aimee Perez

Social Media Manager

Carolyn Burt

Web Designer

Daniela Hernandez

Social Media Manager

Conlee Taylor

Page Designer

Ashton Blatz

Social Media Manager

Front and back cover photos of David Ramos by Sonia Gurrola

SPOTLIGHT

SCENE MAGAZIN

AZINE PRESENTS

tlight issue

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

Revitalizing Pacoima’s Streets The Muralists Who Took Part by Daniela Hernandez

Advocating for the Deaf Community CSUN’s Cass Del Castillo by Ozzy Anguiano

The Meaning of a Mentor

A Glimpse into Residence Life at CSUN by Carolyn Burt and Conlee Taylor

Assisting Communities Across the San Fernando Valley A Kindness Extending Past Resources by Aimee Perez and Rylee Holwager

The Dignity of Work

The Inspirational Life of David Ramos by Priscilla Lara

An Overdue Cleanup

Still Standing

by Samantha Neff

Feeding the CSUN Community by Vicente Vitela

The Future of Women in Entertainment Building a Space of One’s Own by Li Wei Ng

Between Cultures

Japanese Student Association President Koa Kellenberger’s Journey to Creating Community by Patrick Pamanian

The Fraternity Man

Adrian Haro-Sierra’s Rise in Northridge by Chris Riscen READ MORE AT WWW.CSUNSCENE.NET

SPOTLIGHT

Juan Pablo Reyes waving a brush in front of his work-in-progress mural at Hillery T. Broadous Elementary.

Revitalizing Pacoima’s Streets The Muralists Who Took Part Story by Daniela Hernandez Photography by Habeba Mostafa

acoima’s streets have become the center of attention within the San Fernando Valley for their beautiful murals symbolizing the neighborhood’s culture and diversity. With the help of muralists: Juan Pablo Reyes, Kristy Sandoval and Levi Ponce, the neighborhood has been able to illustrate their love for culture and diversity, all while revitalizing Pacoima’s history and the streets themselves. Juan Pablo Reyes, 27, is one of Pacoima’s youngest and newest muralists to paint Pacoima’s walls. With over eight years of experience, Reyes has created an outstanding reputation for himself with celebrity and pop culture commissions such as Chris Brown, Machete and Dwight Howard. Reyes’s love for art first began through his mother. He shared a beautiful story of how his mother felt as though she had passed down her passion of being an artist to him. “She passed that down to me and she’s living through me, through my art and, you know, she’s living her dreams of an artist

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through me. So, I take that very special and I try to go ahead and do good with my art,” Reyes said. With help from Pacoima’s most iconic and beloved artists such as Manny Velazquez, Hector Ponce and Levi Ponce, Reyes illustrated how they helped him get to where he is today as a muralist. Reyes spent his early career observing them and learning their techniques. He now feels that he can stand alone and be the artist they would be proud of him for being. “It goes beyond work. It’s a friendship that you build [and] you want to also prove to them that you can go in and stand on your own two feet and they can count on you as much as you could count on them,” Reyes said. Reyes’s newest mural was unveiled a month ago at Hillery T. Broadous Elementary. It commemorated Hillery T. Broadous, an activist and Pastor important in Pacoima’s history. “A brown person is painting a Black person because I want unity, you know, I want solidarity between us and I want people to know that we can work together. Despite what the media says, and despite what we see on TV, we can work together and we can change the way people think about us,” Reyes said. Reyes explained that the process of this mural was a year long, and through several digital drafts and meetings with the Los Angeles Unified School District, it was approved. He was excited that he had a chance to give back to the community he grew up in. He revealed that LAUSD provided ten percent of the budget that would be needed for the mural’s supplies and the rest was covered by the community through a fundraiser.

(Illustration) Juan Pablo Reyes poses in front of his latest piece at Hillery T. Broadous Elementary School in Pacoima, Calif.

Pacoima’s determination to get this mural up is what really represented their unity. The mural would feature a Latina girl reading a book and an African-American boy. Reyes shared that the roses he painted alongside Broadous represented his grandchildren and that the heart on his chest would illustrate his wife. The most touching detail would be the unformed rose

represening a grandchild that passed away. Juan Pablo Reyes is the hope and inspiration embodied by Pacoima and its art. While Reyes sets down his path, he hopes to inspire other young aspiring artists along the way to follow their own dreams. “He who does more than he is paid for, will one day be paid for more than he does,” he stated proudly. While Juan Pablo Reyes speaks for the younger generation of aspiring artists, Kristy Sandoval has paved the way for women of color to get the spotlight they deserve. Kristy Sandoval, 39, a fellow Pacoima native, has painted murals for over 15 years. She attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco to pursue her love for architecture, which then changed to illustration, then photography, and lastly interactive media. She is best known for her drive for education and art. Sandoval taught several art classes to young kids in her area to empower the next generation of young girls. What really struck a chord within her was her students’ responses when asked,

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The young girls answered, “I want to be a cashier,” or “I want to be the manager of the store.” She was determined to make a change and inspire the younger generation of women. “It just really kind of struck a chord, you know. I was like, wow, like these, these girls are really limiting themselves. They don’t believe that they can go above and beyond. And so that really kick started my work,” Sandoval said. Sandoval’s first big project was commissioned by the mayor’s office. She painted a mural on a three-story building in Sepulveda Park. While she was skilled and had several years of experience, she described how intimidating this project was. As a result, she sought help from a nearby muralist, Raul Gonzalez. “Luckily, there was another muralist who was also commissioned to paint in Boyle Heights. So, I learned a lot from him. His name is Raul Gonzalez … he taught me what a scaffold is, what type of paint to use, and he really broke it down for me,” Sandoval said. Further into her career, she said the Mural Mile project in Pacoima helped cement her reputation and career as a muralist. With the coverage of the Mural Mile,

(Illustration) Kristy Sandoval poses in front of her retouched mural which was originally painted 10 years ago.

SPOTLIGHT

Kristy Sandoval posing with the female figure of her empowering mural.

she was the top result on Google for “women muralists in Los Angeles”. The Mural Mile is an art movement that began in the San Fernando Valley by implementing murals along a three mile radius. This opportunity landed her a commission from the wireless company, Cricket Wireless, where she illustrated the beauty of Latin culture through a couple wearing traditional Latin American clothing. Sandoval’s mural outside Myke’s Cafe in Pacoima would be another project she worked on with her students and a project that would give her the opportunity to paint her Assata Shakur mural, one of her most popular murals within Pacoima. While heading to Myke’s Cafe she would see an empty wall belonging to the business Stylesville, an African American owned barbershop since 1958. During this time, Sandoval had just finished reading Assata Shakur’s autobiography and it inspired her to paint a portrait of Shakur on Stylesville’s blank canvas. She pitched her idea to the barbershop and they loved it. When she commenced this project, Sandoval aimed to paint an important woman in Black history with a team of women artists to demonstrate the importance of women empowerment.

This project would inKristy Sandoval’s hunger for spire her to start a womwomen empowerment and communien-led group of artists ty-driven projects would distinguish her called the “Hood Sisas the muralist for the women. ters”, that she explained “You’re gonna have good years to be “an acronym for and you’re gonna have bad years. It honoring ourselves, ordoesn’t matter how quickly you’re movigins and dreams”. ing, even if you’re moving at a turtle There was pace. As long as you’re moving towards only one instance where your goals and you continue to put your the Assata Shakur mural energy towards your goals, it will come was tagged with graffiti, back to you and just don’t give up and but she quickly came to keep doing what you want to do,” Sandthe rescue and restored oval said. the mural. This would Furthermore, the artist that lead to an observation would impact the population of aspiring within the murals of artists that hoped to establish a profesPacoima- they were alsional career out of their skill set is Levi most never tagged with Ponce. graffiti. There was a Ponce, 34, is a Pacoima native sense of respect towards that grew up with the influence of the this art. arts early on. His father, Hector Ponce, Sandoval reis the San Fernando Valley’s artist behind called seeing tourism murals such as Abraham Quintanilla, surrounding the murals Juan Gabriel and Michael Jackson. His in Pacoima. Not only murals are what helped illustrate the culwas there respect for these murals, but ture and diversity of Pacoima. there was pride and curiosity by the pubSome of Ponce’s fondest memlic. ories went as far as when he was a child “When we started painting the using his father’s paintbrushes as tools. murals [for the Mural Mile], I mentioned Since then, he has pursued a career as an there was a lot of media coverage. There artist. was a shift in how people saw Pacoima, “My dad painted every day, you know. There were tours being held andwhenever I wasn’t in school, I was and people coming from all over like to typically painting with him. My toys were come see the murals, it was unheard of,” Sandoval said. More recently, Sandoval described that she would be leaving for Switzerland in April. There, she will attend a conference regarding a mural she will paint with students and a friend that is committed to activism and artivism. Though Sandoval does not have the exact details yet on the size of the canvas she’ll be working on, she shared that she had started writing down potential ideas to pitch to everyone at the conference. (Illustration) Levi Ponce, a Pacoima legend, posing in front of one of his many murals on Van Nuys Blvd .

SPOTLIGHT

his tools, and I learned to see art as a game,” Ponce said. In 2009, Ponce graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in animation and would later go on to work with Disney as a color designer for over four years. He worked on the ride “Toy Story Midway Mania” and various other projects at Disneyland in Anaheim and Florida. Ponce is best known for his murals in Pacoima, but he emphasized that he built his career as a commercial artist. The majority of his murals were done as part of his ten percent commitment to giving back to the community. “I am mostly known for the work that I do for free here on Van Nuys Boulevard and around the world, but that’s what people really know me for, which can be confusing. Most people think I just go around painting murals for free and that’s what I do in life, and that would be lovely, that will be beautiful, but at the end of the day, bills gotta get paid,” Ponce said. While Ponce explains that he was the instrument towards illustrating the culture and diversity of Pacoima, the true message of his work does not revolve around him. He painted the murals for the community, not himself. Some of his work includes the remake of Mona Lisa (Ramona Lisa), Girl With a Pearl Earring (Girl With Hoop Earring), and portraits of Selena Quintanilla and Danny Trejo.

Kristy Sandoval’s “Abuelita” mural, seen on Los Angeles’ “Mural Mile.”

As a commercial artist, many of his projects are for-hire deals that included sign paintings, commercial graphics and murals. In other words, he mainly works on paid commissions to make a living. The work he creates under these jobs do not belong to him, they are made for someone else and the rights of said work belong to them. “We make a living out of this and once we pay our bills, once you know, we’re done with all that, then we sometimes take our free time and paint art for ourselves,” Ponce said. When Ponce works on murals and other art projects for the community, he highlighted that though he may have painted it, the mural belongs to the community and what they stand for.

With over 12 murals along Van Nuys Boulevard, all which have been made possible through Ponce’s own funds and time, Ponce has created a reputation for himself as one of the main muralists of Pacoima. The unfortunate aspect of this is that he cannot donate more than 10% of time and money, which means some people get left out. “I get emails from elementary schools every week and it breaks my heart that I can’t go out and paint every single one of them with a bunch of kids and bring my own kids and have a blast. We can’t do that. It’s unrealistic,” Ponce said. Ponce shared that he will be working on a mural of the artist Richie Valens in June, which will be finished by the end of the month. Valens was a Mex ican-American artist and Pacoima native who tragically passed away in 1959. His music was a stepping stone for the Chicano rock movement and the Chicano/a community as well. The touching aspect of Ponce’s career is his goal to help strengthen the community’s revitalization through his own time and money, something that many would not do. The murals are an extension of Pacoima’s own history and progression into the future. Levi Ponce was just the one who helped ignite the fire. “It’s not my mural. It was never my mural. It was Pacoima’s mural and it was Pacoima’s Mural Mile. I was just kind of here to fan the flames, so that’s what I promoted and I promoted, you know, Pacoima as a place for the arts. That was that, you know, that’s always been my thing,” Ponce said.

A Ponce original mural of Diego Rivera on Van Nuys Blvd.

SPOTLIGHT

Advocating for the Deaf Community CSUN’s Cass Del Castillo Story by Ozzy Anguiano Photography by Shannon Carter

ass Del Castillo is a sign language interpreter. A prominent player in the deaf community, Del Castillo has done just about any type of interpreting you could think of in the Los Angeles area, from elementary school classes to big award shows. She’s always busy with interpreting one way or another, yet through all this time she has remained active at California State University, Northridge as a lecturer and interpreter. “I remember saying to myself that day, my very first day in that class, ‘this is going to be my career,’ and I sit here 32, no, 42 years years later, and it’s been a really wonderful ride,” Says Del Castillo. Like many CSUN students, Del Castillo was a first generation college student. Her father was originally from Mexico and college wasn’t really discussed about in her family. “I just kind of ventured out and did it on my own. I was the first one to get a higher education degree in my family,” Del Castillo said. Del Castillo has a brother who’s an attorney, another brother with a PhD, and a sister with a master’s degree. “So I started the ball rolling with that,” she says proudly. Her introduction to the Deaf community began in

1982. Wandering around the Golden West College campus in Huntington Beach, she encountered a table of Deaf Iranians using sign language. They became friends and one of them encouraged her to take a sign language class. Del Castillo took a class and was left mesmerized by the teacher teaching without saying a word. She then took the interpreter training program at Golden West and earned her Associate of Arts degree in Interpreting. Yearning to learn more, Del Castillo looked to CSUN and its’ Deaf Studies program. CSUN was one of the earliest universities to offer a four-year Deaf Studies program. Founded in 1964, it was the first postsecondary program in the nation to provide interpreters and note takers for students for any class. CSUN is also home to the National Center of Deafness. CSUN was and remains a popular choice for Deaf students and those wanting to study together with them, as the university produces the most Deaf Studies graduates in the U.S. Around 153 degrees in the study are being awarded each year, according to college ranking site CollegeRaptor. Del Castillo graduated from CSUN in 1990 and began interpreting there and at other schools within the same year.

From student to faculty, sign language lecturer, Catherine Del Castillo has called CSUN home for more than 40 years.

SPOTLIGHT

Del Castillo interprets from her home for an online class in Topanga.

Since then, she has worked interpreting at all sorts of venues outside the realm of education. In the medical industry, she is the channel between deaf patients and their doctors. In the legal industry, she interprets depositions, the oral statement witnesses make before a trial. She is also quite active in LA’s entertainment industry. Covering confidential award shows, interpreting for Deaf actors and even nabbing a few roles herself playing interpreters on television. Lately, she has been interpreting theatrical performances in the Hollywood scene. In March she covered the play, “Alma,” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Interpreting is not just work for Del Castillo. The deaf community is a huge part of her life and her best friends are deaf. Del Castillo spent 10 years working at the Lions Wilderness Camp held in the San Gabriel Mountains. The camp helps deaf children experience nature and learn outdoor skills. “She is a sweet, friendly, and open minded person who supports the Deaf community,” said Nicolas Conway,

She has this unique ability to speak through hearing people who do not know much about the Deaf community. -Nicolas Conway

Del Castillo’s interpreting skills range in different areas of study as she interprets for various classes at CSUN, including STEM, art, and language classes.

SPOTLIGHT

co-director of Lions Wilderness Camp and president of the CSUN Deaf Studies Association, who is deaf himself. Conway first met Del Castillo at the “Introduction to Interpreting” class she teaches at CSUN. “She is the biggest allyship for the Deaf community because she would make sure Deaf people got equal access to communication in the job field, outside of the school and work field and everywhere in general,” Conway said. “Cass [Del Castillo] pops their bliss towards ableism, audism and discrimination to provide equal access to disabilities communities.” Not all of Del Castillo’s friends are Deaf, but the Deaf community is a place where she has strong bonds. That critical moment of stopping at that table of Deaf Iranians all those years ago opened an avenue into one of the most tight-knit and supportive communities out there, and with that a mission for that community. “My goals are to continue to be a lifelong learner, a supporter and an advocate for the deaf community,” says Del Castillo.

CSUN Sophomore and Resident Advisor Michael Gonzalez overlooking student housing.

The Meaning of a Mentor A Glimpse into Residence Life at CSUN Story by Carolyn Burt and Conlee Taylor Photography by Sam Landau

n the fifth floor of Shore Pine Hall, there’s a sense of community and camaraderie. Feelings of warmth and welcoming stem from the floor’s decorations, transporting anyone who enters to Neverland from Disney’s Peter Pan. Flyers are dispersed throughout to share upcoming events. Students welcome one another and share a strong bond. This is all because of the hard work of Resident Mentor Michael Gonzalez. Gonzalez, a sophomore at CSUN, is currently in his first year as an RM. He balances his classes as a Broadcast Journalism major and Musical Theatre minor, in addition to guiding the students on his floor through their freshmen year. On floor five he was able to choose a theme to make the residents feel more at home. With this inspiration he chose Neverland, as he loves Disneyland and thinks you’re never too old to continue your childhood. But there’s more to the Neverland theme than just the Disney reference. “I chose Neverland because all students can give up on their dreams, whether it’s big or small,” said Gonzalez. “They have to continue to strive for them because you never know what the outcome may be for their success.” By having the Neverland theme, it’s also a reminder for his residents to be a kid, have fun and enjoy their freshmen experience; a healthy mentality to keep in mind

during these uncertain times. When asked why he wanted to become an RM his instant response was, “family spirit.” He emphasized that since the students are no longer living at home and we do not know what people go through on a daily basis, “you want to create a family vibe.” Gonzalez grew up in the San Fernando Valley with a close family and aimed to bring that same value to Shore Pine Hall. His goal was to facilitate individuality, so the student’s space could feel like their own and they could be free to express themselves. Gonzalez views his role in part to be an older brother to his residents, making it clear to them that he is there to support them and work together to solve any issues that come up throughout their time at CSUN. In addition to being a support system for residents, RMs have other responsibilities. Assistant Community Director Zachary Ghamlouch knows first hand what these responsibilities entail, as he was a Resident Advisor at CSUN for over 3 years. Whether their title is Resident Advisor, Mentor or Assistant; the same basic principles apply to the job and what it entails. Something to keep in mind is that each RA is unique in how they navigate the position.

SPOTLIGHT

The way I see it is, this is your home away from home so why not be a family with your residents.

-Michael Gonzalez CSUN Sophomore and Resident Advisor Michael Gonzalez playing his ukulele in his dorm.

Their backgrounds can influence how they go about their job, and when conflicts arise. “RAs come in a wide range of people and identities just like humans as a whole,” Ghamlouch said. “We want to be representative of that because not every single person who looks like this, acts like this, is going to be an RA or going to be someone who works in Residential Life.” Resident Mentors are an important part of the student housing system at CSUN for many reasons. They provide a sense of structure and make sure everyone is safe while living in the residence halls.For the freshmen dorms especially, they help students through first year nerves and moving from one’s home to campus. On top of that, they also hold students accountable and enforce policies. One large part of the RM’s role is that they have a set amount of days per semester they’re required to be on duty. Being on duty means that for that night they are responsible for answering

the duty phone for any emergencies residents might have, such as getting locked out of their rooms, a roommate conflict or general resident issues. “That’s primarily what they do, they’re a policy enforer–on duty,” Ghamlouch said, “A community engagement creator and manager during those experiences, then helping develop the community on their floor or within their building.” There are many things on the RMs plates, as they are students too. Yes, there are perks to being an RM but with all this responsibility comes tough times. Students who take on the role as RM are given free housing, free food, free printing, in addition to priority enrollment for their classes. But these advantages also come with their downsides. RMs are not allowed to bring guests past 7:30 p.m. which can lead them to feeling trapped or lacking a social life. As Gonzalez puts it, “I live, breathe and eat CSUN 24/7.” For students who are not familiar with all that the RM position entails, it can be easy to jump to conclusions about how

CSUN Sophomore and Resident Advisor Michael Gonzalez in Shore Pine Hall.

SPOTLIGHT

RAs come in a wide range of people and identities just like humans as a whole.

-Zachary Ghamlouch RMs go about their jobs. “A common misconception is “It’s in those moments of one on one interacthat we’re…that we are not compassionate about having tions where you’re supporting that resident, supporting to deal with difficult situations,” Ghamlouch said. In adthat student, and helping them in that moment that not a dition to building a community on their floor, RMs also lot of people are going to know because that’s something have to be the ones to have privately shared.” those tough conversations For Jaylynn Jackson, a fifth with residents when they are floor resident at Shore Pine Hall, Gonnot following policies and zalez had a huge role in imp-acting her hold them accountable. It is life at CSUN. Jackson was the first resa tough reality to the job, as ident of Gonzalez’s to move into the it makes RMs feel as though residence hall last semester. She was they have to be the bad guy excited about moving, but had some in the situation. first day jitters wondering if she made With everything the right choice. that they have to balance, CSUN seemed to be the perbeing an RM can be overfect distance from home for the Oakwhelming. For Gonzalez, he land, Calif. native. It was close enough is not only a student and an that friends and family could visit, but RM, but an office assistant at far enough that they would not be student housing as well. Gondriving down every weekend. Howevzalez noted that “I thought it er, move-in day had her questioning if was going to be more relaxit was the best fit for her. ing, kind of not as stressful,” It was after a conversation when discussing his preconwith Gonzalez that she felt like it was ceived notions about being where she was supposed to be. Jackan RM. son expressed that, “the energy was Unlike other jobs, already there,” on move-in day and at every day is different for their first floor meeting, Gonzalez did RMs. Gonzalez emphasized a good job with, “letting us know that that, “You don’t know what’s he is here for us.” going to actually occur on a Jackson expressed how most day-to-day basis,” which can people moving into the dorms, whethbe daunting. While trying to er freshman or not, can have difficulbalance one’s life, not knowties with the transition but Gonzalez, ing what’s expected of you “was able to bring the community of on a day-to-day basis can be our floor together.” Bringing commudifficult. nity to student housing is a crucial role Since RMs are crufor the RAs and Gonzalez is a shining cial support systems for stuexample of that. Illustration by Carolyn Burt. dents, Student Housing makes The strength of community on the sure to emphasize the counseling services and resources fifth floor is a testament to the hard work Gonzalez put in that are available. “Being that source of support I think from day one. The residents do many activities with each is somewhat overlooked. It’s not necessarily information other and welcome new students to the floor with open that’s constantly shared,” Ghamlouch noted. arms.

He’s basically shown what an RA is supposed to be like.

-Jaylynn Jackson 11

SPOTLIGHT

CSUN Sophomore and Resident Advisor Michael Gonzalez outside his dorm in Shore Pine Hall.

They spend their time together by going to the pool on campus, studying at the library and taking full advantage of the common room by playing games and just hanging out with one another. “We are so close on this floor, all my friends are on this floor,” Jackson said. RMs are expected to put on events for their residents to build community, although COVID-19 restrictions have reduced this. Because of this, Gonzalez is also helping students who are sent to the COVID-19 unit in the residence hall. Because the students have to isolate themselves outside of their dorm room, he’s helping to provide decorations to create a more enjoyable environment. As restrictions reduce on campus, things look a little more optimistic. Student Housing is hosting Mata-chella, inspired by Coachella, which will have an obstacle course for residents to partake in. That evening they will also put on a Prom Night, a night of recognizing academic achievements for residents, but also providing an experience for students who missed out on their senior prom because of the pandemic. For anyone who becomes an RA, it is a much bigger experience than what the description looks like on a resume. It is a chance to grow, become a leader and make a meaningful difference in students’ lives. Gonzalez emphasized that, “Seeing that I made an impact on people’s lives,” has been one of the most rewarding parts of being an RA. Even though it can be stressful balancing life and academics, the memories are ones that RAs like Gonzales and Ghamlouch will be able to look back on for years to come.

CSUN Freshman and Psychology major Jaylynn Jackson outside her dorm.

SPOTLIGHT

Myra Fisher, former Assistance League president at the Assistance League thrift shop in Canoga Park.

Assisting Communities across the San Fernando Valley A Kindness Extending Past Resources Story by Rylee Holwager and Aimee Perez Photography by Sonia Gurrola

or the past 33 years, the Assistance League of San Fernando Valley has been helping the community as an entirely non-profit organization. Assistance League is a national organization that began in Los Angeles in 1919. In January of 1989, a group of all women volunteers of the San Fernando Valley were invited to start a chapter. Current president Tina McConnell is able to keep the league going with the help of volunteers from the community. Myra Fisher is one of those volunteers, and a past president who currently takes the role as parliamentarian and bylaws chairman. Assigning roles to each member is crucial because every role is needed to keep the organization going. At a national level, the Assistance League works with schools in order to provide necessary aid. This program is formally called Operation School Bell®. Operation School Bell is a program that is required for every chapter to have. It started off by providing clothing for underserved students, but as the years have gone by and the needs have shifted, it has evolved to accompany the students.

Assistance League of San Fernando Valley personally visits schools across the valley to observe the students (they range from elementary to high school). They take note of everything and anything that they see the students might need. They quickly realized that many of them were not able to bring books home due to a lack of a book bag. Thus, they found their first donation plan for their chapter’s Operation School Bell. The donation of book bags to these schools had a major impact on the students, but also made the teachers aware of the chapter’s generosity and care for their community. The chapter began to work directly with the teachers and nurses at the schools to provide for the current needs of the students. This includes school supplies appropriate by grade level - jackets, clothes to be sent home in if they experience an accident and even a hygiene kit brought to the kids by “the tooth fairy.” “We had our eyes opened when one little boy was so excited when he pulled out his toothbrush. And he said, ‘I’ve never had my own toothbrush.’ Now can you imagine a family using

SPOTLIGHT

And even though we see everything you know, looking nice and bright and shiny...

Jessica Brazil shops at the Assistance League thrift shop.

...and the sun comes up, and the moon comes up, there are a lot of families in this valley that just don’t have it.

-Myra Fisher Tina McConnell, president of the Assistance League, at the Assistance League thrift shop.

one toothbrush or maybe not even having a toothbrush?” Fisher said. The chapter even took the hands on approach so far as to personally take these underserved students to Payless to get their feet measured and then buy them a new pair of shoes of their choosing. This was of course before Payless’ closing in June 2019. Now they go to the school personally and measure their feet there. After that, they contact their vendor and order the appropriate sizes. The chapter constantly looks for any way they can help because at the end of the day, there is always someone who is in need of their services. “And even though we see everything, you know, looking nice and bright and shiny, and the sun comes up, and the moon comes up, there are a lot of families in this valley that just don’t have it,” Fisher said. “They just don’t have it for their kids. They can’t afford to buy them the shoes, the clothes they need. And it’s such a very sad situation.” The Assistance League of San Fernando Valley continues to do honorable work by providing for the underserved communities. Despite these continuous efforts, they still struggle with the one thing nonprofits need - donations, specifically ongoing ones.

“I always say the hardest part is not getting that first donation, but getting the second one afterwards,” said McConnell. “I wish we were millionaires.” The chapter raises funds for their programs through fundraisers, silent auctions, bake sales, but their primary source of income is the Assistance League Thrift Store. With all of the programs that they have instilled, it has become difficult to manage them all from multiple spaces. Currently they occupy two office spaces at the First United Methodist Church as well as working from members’ homes. “Our prayer right now is that somebody would sponsor us,” said McConnell. “To either buy a building for us, or help us lease it, something, you know, where we can have everything all contained under one roof would be great. In our offices, as well as our meeting place. I mean, that would be a dream The Assistance League San Fernando Valley teddy bear. come true.” SPOTLIGHT

David Ramos, custodian, outside CSUN campus store.

overty, drugs and alcohol led Doroteo “David” Ramos Linares, 46, to migrate to the U.S. 30 years ago in hopes of a better life. After accepting God into his life, Ramos dedicated himself to volunteering at a church and working at several companies – including The University Corporation at CSUN for the past 24 years. Ramos now finds himself facing yet another challenge: getting the love of his life back. Ramos was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, but was raised in the state of Zacatecas. In Zacatecas, his family worked in mines in a town called Sombrerete. Ramos, on the other hand, worked the countryside and cattle. According to him, growing up in Mexico was tough. Although he came from a hard-working family, income was low, so he did not have the opportunity to get an education. “My family was very poor. I lived with my parents and my 13 siblings in a small house made of cardboard,” said Ramos. In addition to economic challenges, Ramos was engaging in behavior that worried his mother. He would go out with friends, party, and drink alcoholic beverages that would lead him and his friends to behave undesirably. According to him, this unwanted behavior caused some of his friends to go to jail.

“My mom would always worry about me. Seeing her cry and worry about me and telling me to take it easy broke my heart. So I decided to change my life and allow God to be part of it,” said Ramos. “When I crossed to the other side, I started going to a church called Victory Outreach in El Paso, Texas.” According to its Facebook page, Victory Outreach El Paso is not just a church, but a family that welcomes people from different parts of the world. Its mission is to empower individuals and help them control their lives by placing their future in the hands of God, which is exactly what Ramos did. When he arrived in the U.S., Ramos had many fears. Not speaking English was his main concern. Ramos remembers thinking that finding a job and communicating with others in a new country would be impossible for him to achieve. However, his strong belief in God gave him the strength to push forward and search for jobs. “When I came from Mexico, I was money hungry,” said Ramos, “I started off by working in the fields in Northern California and saw it as an opportunity to give back to my people in Mexico. And I did. I don’t have a family of my own or a girlfriend, so the money I was making was all mine.” His time working at the fields did not last very long since it was seasonal employment. Ramos later got a job at a SPOTLIGHT

The Dignity of Work The Inspirational Life of David Ramos Story by Priscilla Lara Photos by Sonia Gurrola

laundromat and a pizzeria where he met The University Corporation’s (TUC) facilities supervisor at the time. He offered Ramos a job as a maintenance worker at CSUN. Ramos accepted and has been working for the TUC at CSUN ever since. According to TUC Associate Director of Facilities and Operations, Michael Lennon, Ramos is one of the two maintenance workers working for TUC. Initially, Ramos would work the morning shifts, which implied arriving to campus at 6 a.m. Though his schedule has changed, his responsibilities remain the same: giving maintenance to the Arbor Grill, the bookstore and the Sierra Center, the main building under TUC. He starts his shift by cleaning the bathrooms – sweeping and mopping the floors; stocking up on toilet paper, paper towels, soap and hand sanitizer; and sanitizing frequently touched areas. From there, Ramos moves on to inspecting the buildings for any issues concerning the air conditioning. In addition to indoor maintenance, Ramos is also responsible for the buildings’ outdoor appearance. As a result, Ramos does not have the same routine every day he comes to work. Some days his focus is on indoor maintenance, and other days his focus is on landscape maintenance, which includes blowing the leaves around the building and mowing the lawn.

I’m very proud of myself for being able to give back to people that helped me when I needed it the most.

-David Ramos SPOTLIGHT

David Ramos and his friend Martin Carillo at The Rockey Peak Church in Chatsworth.

“I don’t supervise David directly,” said Lennon. “But I’ve known him since 2021 and would say he is a hard-working, responsible and dedicated employee.” In addition to working for TUC at CSUN, Ramos does volunteer work at The Church at Rocky Peak in the city of Chatsworth. According to their website, the church’s mission is to create “a movement of passionate Christ-followers who are pursuing God, loving people, serving sacrificially, and sharing Christ.” After falling in love with God at Victory Outreach and moving to California, Ramos began attending services at

the Church at Rocky Peak to maintain his relationship with God. His volunteer work at the church consists of setting up tables, chairs and umbrellas before any service and putting them away at the end. Additionally, Ramos helps fix any broken machinery. “My work at the church is completely voluntary,” said Ramos. “I don’t get paid. One day, the pastor came up to me and the other volunteers and said our work was worthy of a salary and we all laughed.” Martin Carillo, has worked at The Church at Rocky Peak for 32 years and has known Ramos for about 15 years.

SPOTLIGHT

In fact, Carillo is also from Zacate-cas, Mexico and says he and Ramos “go way back.” Carillo said that he was impressed by Ramos’ personality and work ethic and offered him a job at the church a while ago, but Ramos refused. “He told me he already had a job and he’s very faithful to what he does,” said Carillo. “He’s a workaholic – for him, it’s all about work, work, work.” According to Ramos, being a workaholic has allowed him to do something he considers to be one of his greatest accomplishments: giving back to the people back home. As a child, he said,

David Ramos, works at his second job at Lucky Coin laundromat in Granada Hills.

He’s someone who likes to give. He’s always wondering who he can help and give to. -Martin Carillo many women in his town would call him “Nene” and would offer him food when they saw him. In addition to helping his childhood neighbors, Ramos is proud to have been able to purchase a home for his mother back in Mexico. Not to mention, he also purchased a house for himself and hopes to share it with his future wife and kids someday. But finding love is something that Ramos said he has struggled with. When he arrived to the U.S. his focus was on making money, and though he achieved his goal, he says he deprived himself of other experiences like going out with friends and dating. “I’ve always been busy with work and volunteering at my church, so I didn’t have intentions of meeting someone, let alone falling in love,” said Ramos. “I would frequently visit the bank to deposit my checks and one day, one of the tellers came up to me and said she would see me come by often. From that day forward, we started talking during my visits to the bank, and soon after my

love for her started to blossom.” According to Ramos, he met Veronica Ruvalcaba, a bank teller, a little over two years ago. Though their relationship seemed promising at the beginning, third parties managed to drift them apart. Ramos admits that he has never felt the way he feels about Ruvalcaba before. He says what made him fall in love with her were her eyes and her kindness towards others. In fact, he says he spoke to her about marriage and having children several times when they would meet at the bank. “Prior to meeting Veronica, I had never had a girlfriend, so I didn’t know how to go about it,” said Ramos. “I would visit her at the bank and spend a long time talking with her, but that was it. We never went on an actual date – and that’s where I think I messed up.” Ramos is certain that Ruvalcaba’s friends at work envied her and the relationship she was starting with him. He said that every time he would go to the bank he would feel them staring at SPOTLIGHT

him and feel their negative energy. Moreover, he believes that her friends convinced Ruvalcaba to believe that he was not the right partner for her because of his occupation. “My intentions with her were serious. Even though I never took her out on a date, I made sure I was a gentleman and treated her with respect,” said Ramos. “My goal was to get married to her, have our honeymoon in Hawaii, and have children.” Ramos said that the last time he spoke to Ruvalcaba, he still felt the connection between them. He also stopped going to the bank where she works because he would always feel the tension between him and Ruvalcaba’s co-workers. And though he has yet to see Ruvalcaba again, Ramos said he strongly believes and prays to God that he and Ruvalcaba will be together again soon. Ramos hopes to continue working for TUC at CSUN until he is 62. Once he retires, he hopes to travel with his wife to places like Zacatecas and Hawaii.

Igor Leontiy of Overdue Cleanup picks up trash at Lake Balboa Park in Van Nuys.

An Overdue Cleanup Story by Samantha Neff Photography by Sonia Gurrola

essica Gonzalez and Egor Chumak began their volunteering journey with the Overdue cleanup group in Jan. 2021 and slowly

made the change that the Los Angeles community desperately needs as a couple. “I feel like this environmental issue transcends things like race, ethnicity and culture because it affects everyone,” Chumak said. “I think that’s one of the things that I like about Overdue, it’s so diverse, and you get to connect with so many different people.” Los Angeles produces an average of 59,000 tons of trash every day and a considerable percentage is improperly disposed of in public areas, according to the LA county website. Maxwell Suwaki is a 27-year-old man that recently moved from Portland,

Portland, Oregon to Los Angeles. Within a week of moving, Suwaki’s dog Leon almost stepped on a heroin needle in a public parking lot. Suwaki was already shocked because of how much trash was left in public compared to Portland, but after his dog was put in danger, he knew he had to do something. He decided that a clean-up of Los Angeles was far overdue, leading him to start a community cleanup called Overdue. Gonzalez and Chumak found out about Suwaki’s project through the Nextdoor application. They decided that it was necessary to show support by donating money and eventually showing up to participate in the clean-ups. “You know, you try to do something, but quite often as a person, you may feel alone in trying to make a difference, and Overdue kind of brought that community aspect to it,” Gonzalez said. Besides hosting clean-ups twice a day, Overdue aims to educate people about the trash they throw away and why it should be separated into different categories of waste. “There’s a big knowledge buildup that happened after we joined Overdue. For example, If you throw in your recycling something contaminated SPOTLIGHT

with food, LA city decides the whole load is considered contaminated, and that goes into landfill,” Chumak said. Gonzalez and Chumak explained what it means to them to take care of the environment they surround themselves in, whether they consider it their home or not. “I want to make it a thing where if we travel somewhere, to try to join a clean-up organization to learn a little bit more about the community, the location, and the culture,” Chumak said. Gonzalez has a deep connection with her community, being born and raised in Los Angeles. “It is my home, it’s dear to me, so I wanna make my home clean and if there are other people here who can contribute to that, I’ll support them,” Gonzalez said. “From my travels, I experienced that a lot of transient cities have this tendency of being very dirty or trashy because you just expect a lot of tourists to come and go.” Chumak was born in Ukraine and moved to Russia before officially moving to the United States at 17-yearsold. His girlfriend Gonzalez pointed out that Chumak has gone above and beyond to help his community in Los Angeles from the second he has been

Alma Leon (left) and Rachel Rosenberg (right) clean up Lake Balboa Park.

here.

“When we had the heavy rains, like out of the blue, he said, ‘I gotta run. I gotta go after work to take a picture of the LA river because we need this as proof for Overdue to show the city how much trash is accumulated during the rain at lake Balboa and what we’re dealing with,’” Gonzalez remarked. “I’m like, wow, this takes dedication. He was committed to getting that picture in that very narrow window of opportunity.” Lifelong friendships are formed for volunteers showing up every day and bonding over passions to create a healthier environment as well. Over the past year, the number of volunteers showing up to Overdue clean-ups has tripled. Volunteers have begun to bring their friends, family and pets to help Suwaki take his clean-ups further. Chumak and Gonzalez have both agreed that the success of clean-up organization is all because of Suwaki. “I would say it’s a hundred percent credit to Max; that guy has persistence like a honey badger. He

You know, you try to do something, but quite often as a person, you may feel alone in trying to make a difference, and Overdue kind of brought that like community aspect to it.

-Jessica Gonzalez

SPOTLIGHT

just would not give up,” Chumak remarked. The couple expresses that at times, they had little to no hope that they were making a difference. “There’ve been a few times when I’ve literally felt like giving up, and he just keeps going like every morning, afternoon. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or shining, Max is going to be there,” Chumak said. Every day since Oct 13. 2020, Suwaki has been hosting cleanups, even if he was the only one attending. Overdue has made more than just an environmental difference by collecting over 57,000 pounds of trash, according to their social media where they keep track. The organization has also changed volunteers’ personal lives forever. “Coming to one clean-up, they’re gonna learn something new, and they’re gonna bring it home. Whether it’s the principle, they make new friends, learn how to better recycle or where to get a better graber that doesn’t break, it does guarantee they learn something,” Chumak said. “It just takes showing up at least once.”

Gina (right), the owner of Falafel Palace, with her daytime employees.

Still Standing Feeding the CSUN Community Story by Vicente Vitela Photography by Habeba Mostafa

OVID-19 struck hard and fast, as we are more than two years removed from the pandemic’s start, and many people are still feeling the effects of the worldwide shutdown. Some of the biggest recipients of the covid effect have been restaurant businesses, as around this time last year nearly a third of California’s restaurants permanently closed. Univerity students were pleased upon returning to campus to see that two of their favorite food stops, Seňor Sol and Falafel Palace, were still standing. Falafel Palace is a family-owned and operated restaurant that opened in 1972 by Sam Danon — 2022 marking 50 years of its existence. Today, it is run by his twin daughters, Gina and Rebecca Danon. Both Gina and Rebecca pride themselves on making Falafel Palace a staple in the community. Falafel Palace has catered over hundreds of CSUN events, most recently as this year. Their relationship with the university dates back to the 1994 Northridge earthquake, where they fed a lot of the faculty and staff by having their food truck

SPOTLIGHT

stationed on campus. The tragic event saw the campus cafeteria crumble, and become inoperable. Falafel Palace has always seen CSUN students and staff as an integral part of its business, making up about 15% of its yearly revenue. When the pandemic first hit, there was a discussion amongst the sisters about whether or not to shut down. Gina wanted to keep it open, but Rebecca wanted to close. Ultimately, the sisters made the decision not to shut down because they and their employees had to pay their bills. It was a rough 2 to 3 months at the start of the pandemic’s start. Gina believes their rough start could be attributed to too many people being afraid to go out, or even drive. Falafel Palace did make the decision to close the inside part of the restaurant at the beginning of the pandemic and had to use third-party delivery services in order to survive and compensate for the loss of revenue. “If we didn’t use the third parties we would be at a major loss,” said Gina. The pandemic immediately caused a fast loss in revenue which was something they had never seen before. On top of dealing with a global pandemic, Gina and her sister saw a significant increase in cost for simple things like forks, plastics, condiments, and oils. The cost of a plastic bowl used for to-go orders went from $.15 to upwards of $.75, and even a dollar at times. “One day we were out of napkins and it took forever to get a new shipment, we were forced to go to the grocery store and buy some,” said Gina. Today, Falafel Palace has seen its business return to normal, sooner than other restaurants. They still do catering and third-party delivery services, which has helped them get

back to 100% financial stability. 2020. When Gina became aware that students were The initial shutdown quickly affected Senor Sol returning to campus, her spirits in hopes of surviving as it saw a nosedive in its business. To supplement some very much increased, as she was able to see people come of the revenue loss, Veronica opened up the restaurant to in and bring life to the place. To her, students are much third-party delivery services, something they had never done needed at the restaurant as they bring fun energy to the before. Despite this, business was still slow, and she saw little restaurant. growth from the third parties. What makes Falafel Palace special is they import Senor Sol, much like many other restaurants, made a lot of their prothe necessary adjustduce from Turkey ments to stay open and Greece, they such as adding shields, make their food from sanitizers, and requirscratch fresh every ing face masks. day and they make it “Without the their mission to have government PPP loan customers feel like we would have been family. forced to close permaSenor Sol is a nently,” said Veronica. part of the Las FuenGovernment tes family, founded by grants and the PayAlejandro Morales check Protection Proand Norma Morales, gram loan helped pay who established Las for the payroll for the Fuentes in 1982 afemployees and allowed ter starting out with this restaurant to sura food truck off Vavive. nowen St. and Reseda With money Blvd. After immeditight, Senor Sol was ate success, the Moforced to change its rales family decided hours from 8 A.M. to to open up a second 10 P.M., to 11 A.M. restaurant called MelWorkers at Falafel Palace preparing the staple Greek gyro bowl from the grill. to 9 P.M., eliminating odys in 1993, and lattheir breakfast hours. er Sol y Luna in 2004. If COVID-19 wasn’t Senor Sol is enough, the Minimum operated by Veronica Wage went up. VeronParra and her husica was happy for the band, who spoke to employees to receive a the Morales’s about bump in pay, however, opening up another it made staying afloat restaurant. Veronica that much more diffiadvocates for a cozy cult. environment, giving When Vecustomers a little taste ronica was aware that of Mexico. CSUN students were In 2011 Sereturning to campus, nor Sol opened up the news improved and was an instant her spirits and hopes success with the of surviving. She saw campus attributing to more activity in her about 10-15% of the place, on the streets, business income comand just around her ing from students and restaurant. staff. Fast forward to As of today, 2020 and the restauSeñor Sol, a Northridge favorite, is a recurring recipient of the “Best Senor Sol is still not rant was forced to shut Mexican Food” award. 100% back to normal down and lay off all its employees due to the pandemic. “Not having students on campus did affect us as we saw a lot less foot traffic,” said Parra. Veronica however kept in contact with all Senor Sol employees and after eight weeks, asked if they were ready and willing to come back to work. All the employees except for about 1-2 workers returned to work in May of

on a financial level, however, they are around 90% back to normal as compared to 2019’s revenue. With the employees working less hours because of the change in store hours, they are still not at their normal paycheck numbers pre-pandemic, especially with the increase in prices for many of the foods and supplies they need. SPOTLIGHT

Jahana Rahman (left) and Samantha Smart (right), the vice president and president of AWE at CSUN.

The Future of Women in Entertainment Building a Space of One’s Own Story by Li Wei Ng Photography by Chris Riscen

exism, misogyny, and marginalization of women in entertainment is a systemic issue not limited to macro levels of society. They lurk in corners of college classrooms and extracurricular clubs, thought to be safe communities where those emerging in the field of entertainment first turn to for support. However, women and nonbinary people who face these systems of oppression soon turn away from those insidious environments, perpetuated by students and educators alike. The Alliance of Women in Entertainment, known as AWE, emerged at CSUN in March 2020 as an organization that seeks to uplift and empower women and nonbinary people in the entertainment industry. Through guest speaker events, networking workshops, movie screenings, project fundraisers, and more, AWE encourages the open expression of opinions and provides opportunities for members to grow and succeed in their future careers. “Before [AWE], who do you even bring that up to? You don’t talk about it. That’s just how it is,” shared Jahana Rahman, 20, vice president and co-founder of AWE.

SPOTLIGHT

“It got us feeling that we didn’t have a space on campus. So why not create one?” Despite continuous efforts to champion for representation and diversi ty, entertainment industries all around the world – film, television, music, art, theater – remain overwhelmingly white and overwhelmingly male. The highly scrutinized Hollywood film industry is an example of the egregious gender gaps and glass ceilings that exist for women and especially women of color. In the top 100 grossing films of the year, women comprised 35% of lead roles in front of the camera and 25% of roles behind the camera, according to a 2021 study by the Center of the Study of Women in Television and Film. During the internationally televised Academy Awards held this March, New Zealand director Jane Campion became only the third woman in the ceremony’s 93-years of existence to win the Best Directing Award. “There have been times when I’ve felt underestimated. In my beginning production class at community college, none of the guys invited me onto their sets,” said screenwriting major and member of AWE, Abby Sciortino. “I don’t think it was because they thought I was incapable; I think it was because they didn’t want to embarrass themselves in front of a girl.” Coming to CSUN, there seemed to be hope that things would be different. But when cycles of discrimination persisted, Rahman and AWE co-founder Wendy Young decided that enough is enough. They rallied together a board of officers equally committed to the cause of AWE, collectively braving the COVID-19 pandemic and personal struggles with online learning to push the club forward.

It got us feeling that we didn’t have a space on campus. So why not create one?

-Jahana Rahman Despite the physical separation from their member base due to remote learning, AWE’s thought-provoking programming not only bolstered the work of women artists, but also provided connections that their community, now starved for social interaction, desired. “It was an opportunity to connect with people from school with similar interests,” explains Sciortino, who was an active participant of AWE during its foundational stages. “The club was really formed as a reaction to marginalization, so it was very intentional about passing the mic and making sure everyone got to share their perspective.” “Unfortunately, our name can deter potential members of a certain gender identity,” remarked Sam Smart, 20, the former director of marketing and current president, about their membership. “We’re a feminist club. We’re not fighting men; we’re fighting the patriarchy.” Today, the organization boasts a 500-strong following on Instagram and a tightknit community that revels in participating, collaborating, and learning. Smart took over the helm of AWE in 2021, which has noticeably shifted under her leadership. Her love and passion for the organization fuels its current direction. “[AWE] has really deepened my relationships and given a lot more value to my time at CSUN,” Smart reflectively stated. “It was important to me, and I hope that I can make it important to other people too.” As the campus slowly returns to a semblance of normalcy with the increasing implementation of in-person classes, Smart recognized that AWE needs to change along with the tides. “What place does the club really have?” she asked rhetorically. “What we ultimately concluded on was utilizing AWE as a fundraising source. Becoming a fundraising club where we can give money to people who need it, to make the projects that align morally with our

organization.” Funding projects has been on AWE’s docket since its founding, truly coming into fruition in Spring 2022 with the production of “Reflection,” the first AWE-funded short film. The horror short film about queer identity, created by queer women, is the first CSUN student production by an entirely non-male crew. It is AWE’s effort to provide tangible opportunities for members to acquire skills and gain experience, in this case with the practice of filmmaking. “This whole process of creating a short film that is literally my story was something I’ve never gotten to do,” said the writer of “Reflection,” Tessa Nelson, 20. “Even when I’ve written scripts before, it always had to either fit the mold of what the school wanted or that there was a bunch of different voices telling me to change things.” “I haven’t really had many opportunities to do filmmaking in high school. And now, I’m in my second semester and I’m already working with them on a film! It’s something that’s really going to help,” admitted Clark, a new member of the organization and production assistant on the film. While AWE has managed to provide so much value to those in the CSUN community, how has it contributed to the lives of the two leaders? Well, first of all, Smart and Rahman both live together. “We set hours for ourselves, like we can only talk about AWE from 9 to 6, so we have boundaries. But we never follow that!” laughed Smart. “At least with Jahana and I, it’s just a part of us.” Peeking behind the screen, one may find two well-spoken, driven, bubbly women who are both full-time students with outside jobs and internships, juggling multiple responsibilities on a daily basis. When asked about challenges balancing all those commitments, both Rahman and Smart are optimistic. Their experiences with student leadership, on the other hand, are a little more complicated.

“The difficult part about being a leader in general is that every single day, you put yourself out there and you make decisions that people are going to disagree with,” Rahman confessed. “I didn’t know that going into being a student leader means that you’re being vulnerable every day.” But through those challenges, AWE has provided them with a platform to develop and improve themselves in more ways than one. “It’s taken me a long time to get to the point where I feel like I can learn from my mistakes and not be ashamed of them,” acknowledged Rahman, who has also struggled with her physical health. “I’ve come out of it knowing myself a little bit better, knowing my weaknesses a bit better but also my strengths. And learning how to deal with criticism and negativity and being okay with the fact that I’m not a perfect human being.” In terms of community uplift and empowerment, AWE is already seeing success in its members’ reflections about the organization. The word “space” surfaces repeatedly throughout conversations, illuminating the importance of having settings aside from the dominant culture, both physical and symbolic, for marginalized groups. “If this is a sample size of what all of our futures are going to look like, it makes me feel more comfortable in going into future professions because the same space can still exist if it can exist here,” said Taylor Clark, film provisional major and AWE member. “On a college campus, nothing existed like it,” concluded Smart in response to a question about AWE’s legacy. “In terms of what we had immediate access to, it’s a new concept. It’s given me – and I think others – the ability to envision what wasn’t previously possible. Theoretically, its sheer existence is an opposing force to things that we stand against, in addition to the more literal community. That’s what AWE is. It’s the future, and it’s a possibility for what we hope for and strive for.”

We’re a feminist club. We’re not fighting men; we’re fighting the patriarchy.

-Samantha Smart SPOTLIGHT

CSUN sophomore and Japanese Student Association President Koa Kellenberger leads a group activity during the JSA club meeting.

Between Cultures Japanese Student Association President Koa Kellenberger’s Journey to Creating Community Story by Patrick Pamanian Photography by Chris Constantine

“I

realized…Wow, I made a movie!” When other kids got a Nintendo DS, Koa Kellenberger got an iPod Touch. While other kids were playing games, he was recording videos. Today, the 21-year-old sophomore majors in film production at California State University, Northridge. But that’s not all he is doing. Kellenberger finds time to juggle two jobs, fraternity duties, and perhaps one of his most important responsibilities: being president of the Japanese Student Association at CSUN. “There’s just a lot on your plate,” Kellenberger said. “And so I was worried but I was willing to give up on other things ... because I really cared about the

Japanese Student Association being a proper club at CSUN.” Born from a Japanese mother and an American father, Kellenberger was raised in Tokyo, Japan. He moved to Los Angeles in 2019 specifically for his goal of working in film. Living in the states was not his first exposure to American culture, however. That happened when he was still living in Tokyo. Kellenberger attended an international school called the “American School in Japan.” Located in Chōfu, a city in the western suburbs of Tokyo, the school’s curriculum was mostly taught in English. “I did APs, we had an American football team, it was literally an American school that was just placed in Japan,” Kellenberger said. SPOTLIGHT

“That was my education growing up, so I spoke both languages. Then I came here when I was 18 to start my college life.” Kellenberger knew quickly after his move that he wanted to have a support group of other Japanese students. In his Freshman year he sought a network of people in case of any troubles or culture shocks of living in America, he said. Wanting that connection with Japan and people with similar experiences, Kellenberger found what he was looking for in the Japanese Student Association, or JSA. “Although I was exposed to the culture, I’ve never actually lived here,” Kellenberger said. “I wanted that safety net, that comforting group of people to support me.”

Kellenberger soon recognized specific nuances of both American and Japanese culture. From the use of unfamiliar slang, to the different experiences of social gatherings. The merging of cultures was important to Kellenberger. As a half-Japanese half-American student, he understood what many mixed ethnicity and multiracial people experience in the melting pot of America — a sort of disconnection from cultures, a feeling of not belonging, an imposter syndrome. Feelings that may only increase alongside the country’s multiracial population. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of multiracial people has increased a staggering 276% since 2010 with over 33 million people identifying as mixed-race. “Not everyone always feels like they’re a part of a culture,” Kellenberger said. “They’re oftentimes not both, but neither…I want the club to represent a safe space for that.” A 2015 study by Pew Research Center found distinctions in how mixed-race people are influenced to shape their racial identity. A “multiracial identity gap” was described with a majority 61% saying they were not multiracial though born with multiple racial backgrounds. This is further explained in a survey in which people described their own racial identity based on how they believe others see them. These identity gaps that are commonly linked and unique to being a multiracial person are addressed by Kellenberger’s hopes for JSA as an organization. “Not everyone in our club is Japanese, and we really welcome that because we want diversity and Japanese people to talk to non-Japanese people,” said Kelleberger. Before he became president, Kellenberger was recognized for his dedication to the organization and was invited to become an officer in his second semester as a freshman. But after COVID-19 hit, the club sort of disappeared, he said. After coming back from a gap year during the height of the pandemic, Kellenberger was approached by a previous officer to start the club again. Excited and willing, he helped to rewrite the JSA Constitution and re-established it as an official club at CSUN. “They signed me as president and I wasn’t reluctant about it,” Kellenberger said. “Just because that gives me a lot of, in some ways, a big voice and influence in how the club goes.” Pre-COVID, JSA threw events and activities for its members, but mostly it was supposed to be a centralized hub for Japanese students to get together so they could make plans, Kellenberger added. “I want JSA to not be so much of a club that offers events, and then people come together and leave separately once again,” said Kellenberger. “I want it to be more of a place where people can get together, and have those friendships continue for years to come.” Kellenberger was able to meet with friends that he had gotten close to at CSUN during his gap year in Tokyo. This reflects what he wants JSA to be for everyone else. Something that brings people together so that they can grow independently is the ultimate vision of JSA, he said. As club president, Kellenberger retains quite a few responsibilities. Checking in with people, working with PR for engagement and keeping a schedule are among a few of his duties. His biggest job is to make sure everyone else does theirs. What he puts into the club is received back. Kellenberger recalled feeling the weight and authority of his title for the first time during a fundraiser at a local boba shop. Since becoming president he felt a pressure, a good pressure, to talk to people, he said. His role pushed him outside of his comfort zone with the thought of wanting to be a good president, he explained further.

“There’s always that want, but no real push, if that makes sense,” Kellenberger said. “And that title attached to my name really pushed me to do what I’ve always wanted to do. Which was to just be more social and meet new people.” While other Asian cultural clubs at CSUN may boast more members, Kellenberger is satisfied with the JSA head count of around 50 people. This number may be a reflection of the Japanese population in the country. Out of all Asian American ethnic groups, Japanese people account for only 7%, according to a 2019 Pew Research analysis. Though California as a whole is home to more Japanese people than any other state. The JSA welcomes diversity in its members, but the possibility of losing a deeper connection between members to a larger population is a concern of Kellenberger for JSA. “‘The more the merrier’ is great but we also like to maintain a sense of closeness,” Kellenberger said. “So we don’t want it to get too big to a point where club members don’t know each other.” The concern for closeness within his community may be a result of a lack of spaces for Japanese people. There are such few areas around LA that remain a place for Japanese people to enjoy their heritage and culture. Even Little Tokyo is being gentrified and disappearing, said Kellenberger. He hopes JSA can fill that void for all students, regardless of background. “JSA is supposed to be a community where Japanese people and people who have interest in Japan can get together and appreciate the culture and enjoy the things that it gives us,” said Kellenberger. “But also take comfort in knowing that there are similar people around you … that you are not alone.”

CSUN sophomore and Japanese Student Association President Koa Kellenberger stands outside the JSA meeting room at the University Student Union building.

SPOTLIGHT

The Fraternity Man Adrian Haro-Sierra’s Rise in Northridge Story and photography by Chris Riscen

illits, Calif. is a long way from Northridge for Adrian Haro-Sierra. A 22-year-old who needed a way to get involved in the Northridge community and did so by joining the fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa at California State University, Northridge in the Fall of 2020. Since then, Haro-Sierra has become a leader. “Leading by example and having all my brothers. That’s one thing I pride myself on, you know. None of us are your typical knucklehead fraternity guy and we are all smart and level headed. We’ve had the highest GPA for a few semesters going straight,” Haro-Sierra said. He is involved in multiple communities in Northridge, but he takes most of his pride in his fraternity. This is the community that formed him at CSUN and he wants to show people what Phi Sigma Kappa is all about. During the pandemic, Haro-Sierra needed to find a sense of community and Phi Sigma Kappa,

answered his call. “On virtual I actually found the fraternity because I had advertised myself on a new incoming Freshman page … I put myself out there because I needed roommates … and that’s how I had one guy reach out to me … and then eventually we started talking more and he told me about the fraternity he was in and I looked into it.” This is what led Haro-Sierra to eventually join the fraternity in the Fall semester of 2020 and gave him a community to be part of. Adrian Haro-Sierra is from a small town of Willits, about eight hours away in Northern California. Haro-Sierra transferred to CSUN in the Fall of 2020 and went out of his comfort zone in doing so. “I chose to transfer to CSUN because essentially I wanted to get out of the small town environment. I really wanted to branch out, get out of my comfort zone, try something that I will never get a chance at again because college is a good opportunity to just get out of your home and try something new,

and Cal State Northridge I felt was not too into the city ... but at the same time, it was part of Los Angeles so I could still get that city feeling from moving out here, so that’s why I chose CSUN,” Haro-Sierra said. He took a chance on this opportunity however, 2020 was the year the COVID-19 pandemic began. Haro-Sierra brought up how he handled the pandemic and said, “It sucks because I actually had transferred to CSUN and I had plans to move out, but with the whole COVID thing I never actually moved out because classes transitioned to online … so I stayed home for the first year and a half almost because I transferred when the pandemic started.” One of the fraternity brothers that met him before joining was Jaciel Gonzalez, who eventually turned into his big brother in Phi Sigma Kappa. “At first I thought Adrian was kind of different considering the fact that he’s from Northern California you know he’s not from the valley. But after getting to know him I realized how he

Adrian Haro-Sierra (right) discussing a topic with Jaciel Gonzalez in a Phi Sigma Kappa meeting.

SPOTLIGHT

Adrian is the type of guy who no matter what you are going through or what you need, even if he has school, family, work on his plate, he will always set time aside to help you out.

-Christian Gonzalez Adrian Haro-Sierra (right) hanging out with Andrew Concepcion, Jose Garcia, Brian Zuniga, Francisco Jacobo, and Franklin Solis-Rivas in the backyard.

is like the same person in terms of what he believes in and how he was raised. Although he does have differences in his hometown, he is a lot closer to people. He knows how to be diverse and get to know different people very well and I think that always stood out to me,” Gonzalez said. He was one of the Phi Sigma Kappa brothers Haro-Sierra met and has seen him grow in his time in the fraternity. The pandemic caused Haro-Sierra to wait for some time to meet his fraternity brothers in person. Being virtual, he stayed in Willits while the brothers were meeting virtually. When he met some of the brothers for the first time they were memories he will never forget. “It was crazy. So I remember driving out here for eight hours for the process just to meet the guys and introduce me to the school and you know it was amazing to be open in their arms like one of the brothers he let me stay at his house, and keep in mind he has a girlfriend and a baby there so you know to let someone you never even met stay at a house with his child is really eye-opening to see how deep this was and it was just amazing to meet all the brothers and an amazing experience I will never forget it,” Haro Sierra explained. Haro-Sierra even mentioned that he never thought he would be in a fraternity at all before transferring to CSUN. “Honestly looking back there’s no way I would look back and be like ‘yo when I go to college I am going to join a fraternity’. Never in my mind and now I

am sitting here president and never thought I would be in a fraternity. But I think it has a lot of bad stigmas tied to it. That was my persona of it, before until you actually get to meet some of the guys and realize it’s not what the TV and movies make it out to be and it’s a lot bigger and deeper in what everybody thinks or sees,” Haro-Sierra said. Phi Sigma Kappa influenced him enough to join and is now currently the president and leader of the fraternity. There were steps Haro-Sierra took to become president of a Greek community here at CSUN. Before he became president, he went from being the new kid on the block, to becoming part of the executive board of the fraternity as treasurer, and was one of the main enforcers in getting a house for Phi Sigma Kappa. Haro-Sierra said, “Because I knew the atmosphere and everything would change once we got a house and you know there were a lot of guys looking for a house and it was a tricky situation of how close and waiting for the right opportunity and finally the right one came and we jumped on it as fast as we could and luckily here we are.” Haro-Sierra’s leadership in house hunting showed what he is capable of in the fraternity. Haro-Sierra expressed, “When I finally moved in it was surreal you know it was sort of like a moment like I don’t know. Realization of where I was in life and not living with my parents anymore, living eight hours away from home, new journey, and it was just surreal just surreal. I couldn’t believe it and to this day, SPOTLIGHT

I still think, ‘damn I am not home anymore.’ I am on my own out here.” Even though Haro-Sierra wanted to move to Northridge, he was on his own and had no family around him besides his fraternity brothers. This leadership in this process showed that Haro-Sierra was capable of becoming a leader of a community at CSUN. He became the President of Phi Sigma Kappa because of what he has shown as a leader. Christian Gonzalez is a newer brother of the fraternity and is actually Jaciel Gonzalez’s brother. Gonzalez gave his opinion on why Haro-Sierra is a great leader. “For me what makes Adrian a great leader is willing to not just lead, but like always be in that situation where he has to say the first thing or have the last say, or make a big decision, but also listen to other people’s opinions, decisions, and kind of watch other people make the first move,” Gonzalez said. This is Haro-Sierra’s first semester as President and he is already showing his impact as a leader of the fraternity to a new member like Gonzalez. Gonzalez is comfortable with Haro-Sierra as a leader, but also brought up why you want a guy like him by your side.

For more of this story please check it out on Scene Magazine online.

The Hope of Friendship Story by Clarissa Corral Photo by Shannon Carter

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Scene Magazine: Spotlight Issue - Spring 2022

Articles inside

Between Cultures

Still Standing

An Overdue Cleanup

The Meaning of a Mentor

Advocating for the Deaf Community

Assisting Communities Across the San Fernando Valley

Revitalizing Pacoima’s Streets

The Future of Women in Entertainment

The Dignity of Work