By Zuiry Gaytan “For me, the beauty contests were the key to entering the world of the television and entertainment industry, to make a career in the media.” Clarissa Molina was the winner of the beauty contest Miss Dominican Republic, in 2015, and Nuestra Belleza Latina, in 2016. Born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican […]
Alternative Education with High Expectations
By Annie Diaz “For the last ten years, over 40% of Reading youth have not graduated high school. Where are they now? Likely unemployed, uninsured, unhealthy, or incarcerated. These young adults are lost to the system, lack adequate work skills, and don’t know where to go to get their lives back on track. The I-LEAD […]
More Than Just For Laughs: An Interview with Comedian Gina Brillon
Comedian Gina Brillon has been cracking jokes since childhood. A Bronx native, Brillon has entertained audiences from Montreal to Los Angeles, headlining at some of the top comedy hot spots and appearing on network hits like Comedy Central, Chelsea Lately, and The View. In 2012, Brillon made history, becoming the first—and only—Latina to win NBC’s […]
Interview with Nicky Jam
Who is Nicky Jam? Nicky Jam is an artist who performs on stage and who everyone knows on social media. Nick Rivera is a son, brother, husband, and artist. How did Nicky Jam emerge into music? Nicky Jam emerged early, around the age of 9, when working at a grocery store assisting clients buy their […]
An Interview with Pulse Shooting Survivor, Tony Marrero
AND FROM THE DARKNESS AROSE A BRILLIANT LIGHT By: Jen Fertenbaugh Tony Marrero is still experiencing intense physical pain nearly six months after the shooting inside Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub. He is unable to return to his job at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where he loved to make people smile. Yet, Marrero is hard at […]