WriteGirl Alums Reunite Online for 20th Anniversary
/
By Sofía Aguilar, WriteGirl Alum
More than 50 WriteGirl alums, volunteers, and staff reunited on Dec. 21, 2020 for an online celebration of WriteGirl’s 20th anniversary! The reunion gave them a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with the wider WriteGirl community, network with each other, and hear professional advice from the event’s 10 special guests in various careers — yes, 10!
The event was held on the Winter Solstice of a particularly difficult year for WriteGirl alums.
"Today not only marks our first WriteGirl alum reunion ever, but it's also the Winter Solstice,” said WriteGirl Founder and Executive Director Keren Taylor. “The shortest day of the year marks the onset of winter, and also the time when darkness gives way to light. So Happy Winter Solstice as we welcome the light of 2021."
WriteGirl Founder and Executive Director Keren Taylor
Several longtime WriteGirl volunteers, who have been involved since day one, shared a few words as well.
“20 years – to hold onto a relationship for that long, that shows such a tenacity for what is important. Relationships are the bedrock foundation of life," said founding WriteGirl volunteer Clare Sera.
Select alums interviewed an incredible panel of special guests about their career journeys, work-life balance and strategies for life post-college. The panel included:
Clare Sera has been a WriteGirl volunteer since 2001.
Cindy Lamar, a personal development specialist, who coaches, writes and volunteers to support growth in others and herself
Erin Tillman, a French-speaking Extroverted Dating/Consent Coach
Maria Muñoz, born and raised in the LA area and is a full time arborist in Orange County
Clare Sera, an actress in the (Princess Diaries), a writer for (Smallfoot), a comedy improviser at the (MGM Las Vegas), a modern interpretative dancer in (her livingroom) She has big plans to continue her unique, creative career path
Brandra Ringo, a Senior Director of Artists & Repertoire at Warner Chappell Music and since joining the company in 2018, she has signed and worked with many multi-platinum writers and producers
Lisa Horiuchi, a former business strategist turned writer-and-editor who enjoys conquering both literal and metaphorical mountains
Producer, Writer, Director, PR/Digital Media Strategist, and Entrepreneur – Wadooah Wali. She’s a visionary and a natural born storyteller
Dr. Allison Deegan, WriteGirl’s Associate Director and board member. She has been with WriteGirl since its inception, and has an extensive career journey spanning many different professions
Edith Rojas, an Assistant Professor of Geology at the College of the Desert, and has a passion for helping Women of Color pursue careers in STEM
Kirsten Giles, the founder of a Learning and Development company that builds online and classroom training for the automotive industry.
The alums found their advice helpful and inspiring, and many felt renewed hope for their career aspirations.
“Cindy Lamar shared great advice about paying attention to those feelings that tug at you when it comes to your dreams in career,” said WriteGirl Alum Allie List.
WriteGirl’s traditional Soapbox, an opportunity for attendees to rant or rave for 30 seconds, had a special alum flair, even featuring 3 first-time soap boxers! The reunion came to a close later that evening, but not without allowing the alums to network through Padlet, a digital wall for attendees to share their social media handles, contact information, career ambitions and outside interests to allow them to network with each after the event.
“I’m so grateful for this spectacular alum community— I had no idea what a wonderful lifelong community I was joining as a tiny 13 year old,” said WriteGirl Alum Violet Paulsen.
We are looking forward to offering WriteGirl alums more opportunities to stay involved, including our creative nonfiction workshop on January 23rd featuring a guest Paleo-Botanist from the Museum of Natural History, our Poetry Drive (You can find the details at writegirl.org!) and a Spring Career Workshop tailored for alums in the summer. We can’t wait to see our amazing alums there!
Special thanks to Desk Yogi for providing gifts for all of our alums in attendance!
We love these quotes from our special guests!
