Wings LA Snapshots

Spring 2019

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editor’s note EDITOR’S NOTE W

hile recognizing the necessity of covering campus news, it’s important to realize that student journalists need to get out of their comfort zones, be stonewalled and endlessly frustrated— only to feel the eventual satisfaction that comes with getting the story.

The Talon Marks staff got out of Norwalk with the Spring 2019 issue of Wings Magazine, exploring different nooks and crannies in Los Angeles, from its food culture, to successes of native Angelenos and to those in need of more representation.

We would like to thank professor Bonnie Barrett and two graphic designers, Ayla Aispuro (cover artist) and Elisa Prather (layout designer), from her Art 188 class for collaborating with Talon Marks once more to create a magazine showcasing the hard work and talents of Cerritos College students.

Eighteen-hour-workdays, literal blood, sweat and tears went into this project. Talon Marks’ staff went above and beyond to get their stories, powering

through long days in their dedication for a strong outcome, something that will be immortalized and shared for years to come.

The staff ’s hard work is deeply appreciated, and it goes beyond words.

We hope you, the audience, enjoy and come to appreciate the outcome of sleepless nights—all for the sake of finishing strong and telling stories the way they deserve to be told.

Near-death experiences aside, it comes down to fair storytelling and acknowledging the trust our sources put in us—sharing their pain, happiness and the grey areas in between—to put out into our small world.

Journalism isn’t about “fake news,” exploiting sources to get the best stories or hounding public officials in the quest for truth.

It’s about taking that insatiable curiosity about people and the world around them and using it for good, or at least it should be. Keep being that watchdog, storyteller and truthseeker.

Cheers to LA! Jasmine Martinez, Editor-in-Chief

Wings Spring 2019 1

2 Wings Spring 2019

CONTENTS contents Headphones for Homeless.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Amoeba Music: An Analog Oasis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 LA’s Grub Hubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Donation Based Yoga. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 A Comeback Story Best Seen Underwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 It’s Always Sunny in the South Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 “You Were Born Naked and the Rest is Drag!”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Paranormal in the Midst of LA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 If You Look to Your Right! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Stepping Onto the Pitch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 The Iron Suit That Holds the Heart of a Woman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 City of Hope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Fairfax: The Mecca of Streetwear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Wings Spring 2019 3

Headphones for Homeless

P

LA organizations looking out for those in need— with clothing, housing and even music.

By Derrick Coleman, Keanu Ruffo and Eunice Barron Created by Icon Lauk from the Noun Project

aul Avila says his 22-year-old son Pauly is his inspiration.

“Pauly can’t see or talk,” Avila said. “All he can do is hear so he loves music.”

Hoping to make a difference, Avila launched Pauly’s Project nearly six years ago after realizing his son still had a powerful gift to offer.

“I remember one day I saw this [homeless] man with headphones. And I thought of my son Pauly because he loves music,” Avila said. “A few days later I started Pauly’s Project, and it just grew from there.”

Avila and his organization began with handing out radio headsets a way for homeless Angelenos to hear music, news and sports. But today, Pauly’s Project has expanded into dozens of volunteers donating and delivering much needed supplies every weekend to those living on the street.

Avila said, “the number one [motivation] is obviously my son Pauly, but I also had an uncle. His name was Alfonso and he lived on Skid Row, he was homeless.

“As a young child, I would go down there and I would take him supplies so he had a big influence on Pauly’s Project.”

Avila also recognized his mother as an influence.

“She has the biggest heart, and she instilled that in me as a young child to always give back to others.”

Avila stated his organization with full focus on Skid Row the first two years but the last four years he’s moved into the outskirts of Downtown LA where other homeless encampments need one-on-one attention.

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“When we first started Pauly’s Project, it was just strictly the radios and a way for people to connect to music,” Avila said, “But nowadays we give hygiene kits, clothes, food, water, blankets and pillows.”

Jacob Baruch is the founder of Project Coffee Cup, a non-profit organization with a similar mission to end the cycle of homelessness.

“We do this in Los Angeles one cup of coffee at a time,” Baruch said. “The cup of coffee is our way to connect with the people like humans and not less than because of their circumstances.”

He continued: “We are here to empower our homeless neighbors toward lifelong personal growth, and to create in them a sincere belief in themselves through love, compassion and straightforward conversations.”

Baruch says his staff is full of personal comeback stories and many have experienced deep hardships, but they didn’t give up.

“Partnering with Pauly’s Project has been an honor. That guy is an inspiration to me,” Baruch said. “He’s extremely patient, genuine, and his love for his son is a reflection of his passion to help others going through struggles.

“I love that guy. We share the same passion for helping people and being a voice for the voiceless,” he said.

LA on Cloud 9 is another non-profit organization that was established in 2013 by its founder and director, Claudia Perez. She spoke fondly of the work she’s accomplished with Avila and Pauly’s Project.

“Since we are both on the same mission, helping people experiencing homelessness, our organizations teamed up to make a

bigger impact,” Perez said.

The origin of LA on Cloud 9 was inspired by Perez’s own personal experience with homelessness.

Back in 2010, Perez was displaced for a whole year full with struggles. Perez’s recalls her homeless experience on being addicted to drugs from a really young age and not having a stable place to live.

“It was bad, I did what I had to do to survive and to get my drugs,” she recalled.

Perez remembers her experience living in the streets where she was sexually assaulted and where she also traded sex for drugs.

“I became homeless because of my drug addiction. Back in 2009-10 is when I hit rock bottom; I was highly addicted to meth,” she said.

“I started bouncing around friends’ homes to the point where I was literally homeless, I had no where to sleep so I stayed on the streets,” she confessed.

Everything changed around February 2010 when she met her current husband. Perez was able to get back on her feet and able to start a new life by creating this organization along with a friend.

“Thanks to him [my husband], I was able to get off the streets, he is the total opposite of what I was back then,” she said, “He does not drink, do drugs or anything like that.

“He helped me overcome and thanks to him I’m doing better in life now,” she recalled.

LA on Cloud 9 dedicates its services to the homeless, low-income families and stray animals in Los Angeles County.

The services provide basic necessities such as tents, hygiene supplies, clothes, food and sleeping bags for those in need.

LA on Cloud 9 is also involved in activism work also and spreads awareness at rallies, marches, protests and especially in schools about “homelessness, the importance of compassion and helping people in need,” according to Perez.

“I love collaborating with other organizations that have the same mission, sometimes I try to be careful on [what organizations] we collaborate with,” she stated. “[But] it’s pretty amazing to see how both LA on Cloud 9 and Pauly’s Project have a great relationship with the same people we work with. The reaction of those we help seeing us together is priceless,” she said.

Perez continued: “We’ve done many events together, reached

together and it’s been awesome these past [years]. We’ve been knowing each other for a long time. And it’s been great, we’ve never had an issue because we understand each other’s differences and we’re on the same mission.

“When you do something for someone, do it from the heart.

Don’t expect anything in return,” she said.

Perez’s journey from hardships such as living on the streets to helping people in need has not been an easy task.

“I hope people understand that everyone needs human kindness, we all need that regardless if you’re homeless or not,” she said.

“And just [by] visiting or walking by a person who is experiencing homelessness, even the simplest acknowledgment like saying ‘hi,’ asking for their name or starting a conversation, you never know you might save someone’s life by doing that.”

Avila of Pauly’s Project holds an annual event around the holidays to provide meals, supplies and musical instruments to the homeless.

He hopes to grow this event going forward and plans to partner with businesses to provide more resources for those living on the streets.

If homelessness is going to end in LA, Avila says everyone has to get involved.

“We can all do something,” he said. “And, it’s not just me, it’s the whole team. When I first started Pauly’s Project, I came in one single car. Now we have 15 cars. It just grows and grows.”

All photos courtesy of Paul Avila

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An Analog Oasis “The neon marquee outside of Amoeba serves as a beacon for the ecosystem that is the Sunset Strip.”

O

By Bianca Martinez and Michael Reza

n the corner of Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood stands Amoeba Music, its red and orange neon signs acting as a beacon for those seeking nostalgic refuge in this world of digital streaming.

An Amoeba is described as a single-celled animal that is free-living or parasitic; this store possesses qualities that mimic that description.

It’s a space where everyone is welcome to express themselves freely however which way they so choose, without fear of judgment or castigation. That is made clear when you walk in and above the

stage, it states, “Welcome all races, religions, genders, orientations and countries of origin.”

The place is an inclusive hub of art and pop-culture that encourages uniqueness.

Its atmosphere engulfs you as you walk in and out of aisles that are inundated with music and memorabilia, old and new. It’s a living and breathing organism that is nearly impossible to escape once inside its entrancing walls.

Since 1990, Amoeba Music, with two other locations in San Francisco and Berkeley, has established itself as the one stop shop for anything music and movie related.

Amoeba Music on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood has been at its location since 2001. It is the largest of three stores and after all this time it is on the move. Though no location for the new store has been realized, Amoeba plans on sticking around the Sunset Boulevard area.

“Patrons at Amoeba shop a wide ranging selection of content that’s as diverse as they are.”

Store manager John Liu explains, “Well we used to own the building, but we don’t own the building anymore. The owner is planning to put in a hotel and some other things, so we’ll be here

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definitely a few more months, maybe through the summer.”

He explains that the relationship between new and old owners is not hostile.

The relocation has led the store to appeal to customers in other ways such as an endless selection of merchandise that cannot be downloaded or streamed off the internet.

Liu highlights the idea stating, “People have changed the way that they get their music and their movies-- that’s kind of led us to diversify things that still tie into the culture, but you know, maybe that aren’t so easily digitized."

In this ever-growing digital society, vinyl, cassettes, DVDs, VHS, CDs and books have taken a backseat in most retail stores due to streaming services, such as Spotify and Hulu, which has made media readily available.

Due to the convenience of these apps, there has been a decrease in demand for physical copies of album or film. However, most patrons of Amoeba prefer what’s tangible over convenience.

Howard Clarke, who lives in Nevada, always finds himself at Amoeba when in LA. Clarke regards the vinyl album in his hand, “I like something tangible to hold, so if it has lyrics, [I] take a look at the lyrics, look at some of the liner notes, the artwork, you know, the artist puts a lot of thought, a lot of times, into how they want their album to look, if you’re streaming it you kind of lose that.”

Tangible media is not the only reason that keeps people coming to Amoeba.

Selection and atmosphere are what has made Amoeba a staple in the LA community.

Liu states, “You can kind of come in here and do your thing and hopefully we’ll have something that appeals to all different tastes, demographics, ages or cultures.”

Amoeba’s demographic ranges from those who know how to use a record player as if it was second nature to those who have to retreat to YouTube for instruction.

From rare to obscure to mainstream, Amoeba carries it all.

Whether folks are interested in b-movie exotica, garage rock or Britney Spears, Amoeba is the mainline for any music or movie junkie’s fix.

24-year-old LA local Elena Perez expresses why she visits the store on a frequent basis, “I thinks it’s pretty good, I mean it gives the community a selection, like a really good selection of new, old, classic, it’s a little bit of everything, so I think it’s a good place, everybody knows where it's at, especially in LA, it’s hard to find a David Bowie CD at Target, so here is where you go.”

With the presence of hard copy elements within the store,

All photos by Michael Reza

Amoeba acts as an ode to the past for some of the younger patrons.

Perez states, “I think it’s a novelty, it’s very nostalgic to come in here and get exposed to an older generation, but it's new to the new [younger] generation, you actually have a good, grounded idea of where this music is coming from.

“I think that’s why people like it so much, you don’t find that on freakin' Hulu or whatever the hell.”

Liu, who has been working at Amoeba for 17 years now, lends a hand to the inclusiveness of Amoeba by saying, “[It’s] definitely inclusive, kind of offering something to anybody and everybody.”

Liu also explained that the atmosphere that the staff attempts to present is a “general welcome-ness.”

To complement the vibes people can get from the store, the employees offer a myriad of niche store-related content.

Employee Howard Baker, a jack of all trades at Amoeba, has an affinity for an iconic piece of fashion in the music world. He is the conductor of the Instagram page titled The Red Flannel, which is a collage of patrons who wear red flannels in the store at any given day.

According to Baker, this is only one of the store’s many hidden gem activities. They have an event called Insider Tuesdays, where the staff gives inside tips about the store that people may not know about.

There’s “What’s in My Bag,” which is a series where various celebrities and taste-makers talk about what they bought that day.

Also, “Record Store Day,” which allows employees to recommend things they are looking forward to in the future.

The legendary music store is more than just a place of commerce, it is a pulse in Los Angeles that provides sanctuary for its natives.

It is a beacon for physical copy purists and lovers of the tangible and everything that is behind it.

Music purists sift through thousands of media options to find what is unique to them.

Wings Spring 2019 7

LA’s Grub Hubs O

By Cindy Cañas and Guadalupe Zaragoza

ne of the most talked about cuisines, specifically in the greater Los Angeles area, is street food and small shops.

The popularity of LA food on social media is difficult to explain due to its variety of styles, incorporation of cultural fusion foods, healthy concoctions and trendy creations.

Jorge Martinez, an active supporter of small business owners, commented, “It doesn’t really matter if they have a restaurant or not because what really matters is the food, service and the people.”

Martinez supports street taco vendors and all of the people that make an effort to sell food on the streets to make a living or even to grow their businesses.

There are multiple small businesses selling their most signature and one-of-a-kind foods and creations in their stores or in outdoor locations.

Although most of the business locations are located in small communities, their popularity only grows larger and larger thanks to their social media platforms.

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In greater LA, the tradition has been a staple that has really stuck to the area and most of the city.

There are multiple small businesses and street vendors that have branched into social media platforms to gain a larger following and more clientele.

Most people that eat at the businesses are locals from the community and food bloggers that would share their signature creations on social media to their large media audience.

Although the small business owners are only starting out with a few items on their menu, their popularity spreads as far as the outside of the United States on social media.

“I have some close family friends and people that I know that have come from Mexico, El Salvador and other places to the United States to share their country’s most popular foods there,” Mia Velasquez, a supporter for street vendors, added.

“I don’t think they should be discriminated or put down for sharing their signature food from their countries or even trying to build their business by themselves.”

s Multiple people would use ingredients found in the United States with the techniques and adaptations learned in other parts of the world or even recipes made up themselves to create their own signature dish.

In LA around the afternoon to sunset time on weekends, driving through the neighborhoods, it is inevitable that someone might see a taco stand or a small ice cream shop on the side of the street.

“I have my go-to taco stand that I go to usually, [the owner] is a cool guy and makes some bomb tacos de al pastor and asada,” Martinez said.

Velasquez added, “To be honest I like trying new tacos places, like ‘White Boy Tacos’ that aren’t really Mexican but are sort of an adaptation from the original with the chefs own personal twist which makes the dish even more delicious.”

However, there have been multiple complications and obstacles making it difficult for street vendors to sell their foods and products legally on the streets.

In early 2017, the LA had put into place rules and regulations on street vendors, making most of them face misdemeanors criminal charges for selling on the street.

As of 2019, the adoption of the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act, SB 946, has protected multiple vendors from possible deportation and allows vendors to continue selling with some regulations that are ultimately for their safety.

Jonathan Calzada said, “I see how difficult some of the [vendors] work and I try to help them out as much as I can because they are cool people and very hardworking.”

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Street vendors and small businesses are usually seen in a small group or independently selling, cooking and managing their food spot, which is basically the same steps and procedures that chain restaurants follow, but on a smaller scale.

“I can’t stress the amount of support that I have for street vendors and admiration for all their hard work because they are out their working mostly all the time and hustling,” Velasquez stated.

There are multiple street vendors that have their license and are following the regulations that the city of Los Angeles has given them to continue thriving in their small business.

The Safe Sidewalk Vending Act has allowed multiple taco stands, chopped fruit stands and other food shops to have a thriving and blossoming business even if they don’t have the same resources and benefits as corporate level and chain businesses.

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Donation Based Yoga more than just exercise- it’s medicine for the soul

By Oceana Christopher and Edgar Mendoza

A

ll across Los Angeles, people are coming together in the spirit of health and community, yoga has become a movement for the people, not just the privileged.

Something powerful is happening every day in LA. Whilst everybody knows that LA is the place for auditions, clubs, celebrity sightings and amusement parks more recently, it has become the place for yoga!

This is not just yoga in high-end studios that cater to the privileged, but yoga in parks and canyons, and in studios from Santa Monica to the inner city with participants of all shapes, sizes, ages and demographics.

Donation-based yoga is a newer facet of the yoga craze that has taken hold of the area and is a powerfully equalizing component.

People often shy away from yoga because they think they aren’t flexible enough, however, at a recent yoga class at Long Beach’s eponymous Yoga on the Bluff, instructor Erin Grissom, shared her thoughts about these types of sentiments.

She said, “I love it when people say that they don’t do yoga because they aren’t flexible enough. That’s like saying you’re too dirty to take a bath.”

Yoga offers something entirely unique in the health, wellness and fitness industries--the concept that you are right where you are supposed to be and if you meet yourself there you have already succeeded.

It has been said that yoga empowers you to be present with yourself and your circumstances and gives you the tools to handle life’s adversities.

Long Beach-based yoga teacher Blak Watter, said, “Yoga has allowed me to navigate life, because I think that’s the most important element, being able to deal with the challenges in life, yoga’s helped me to breathe through it.”

The core tenet of yoga is presence and quieting the mind, something that our hectic communities can be sorely lacking in.

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This inclusive form of yoga offers an escape from life’s struggles, as one need only follow along with poses to the best of their ability while focusing on the breath, without the financial stress of affording the class.

Donation-based yoga has taken root in cities all across Los Angeles, from Long Beach to Boyle Heights and beyond, you can find studios and parks offering daily classes.

Yoga is no longer something that only those with extra disposable income can enjoy.

Yoga student Jessenia Galvan-Lloyd, who has been practicing at Yoga on the Bluff in Long Beach since January, has experienced a huge improvement in her back.

She said, "I've done yoga very sporadically throughout my life, I started with my grandma when I was a little kid but it has never been a consistent thing. I can come here for free, that's a huge part of why I'm more consistent now."

Many of the donation-centered yoga studios also offer extra health and wellness classes such as reiki energy healing and tai’chi, also on a donation basis.

In addition, many offer yoga classes in English and Spanish, and are doing a great job of serving their communities’ individual needs.

Donation yoga also creates community spaces; something that LA is notoriously lacking in. Although LA does have public

squares, gardens and museums, they are often bustling and surrounded by noise that makes it difficult to relax. With this new movement, LA now has a thriving donation-based yoga community that has one goal, calming the mind and allowing for detachment from the noise of the city.

Blak Watter notes that Yoga on the Bluff in Long Beach has united a lot of people from different backgrounds.

“I hear people reference it all through Long Beach. Personally, it’s helped me connect with Long Beach more.

'I’m not originally from Long Beach and I didn’t really have the connection with Long Beach that I have now, through yoga," he said.

He went on to speak of the connections built through yoga, saying, “If it wasn’t for that experience, sharing and holding space with people, certain people I know on the street that I come across, I probably wouldn’t have the same relationship.”

Whether you simply want a little more relaxation in your daily life or increased energy, donation based yoga is there.

All are encouraged to check this the movement out, as it is for everyone. Countless more spaces are popping up and each offers something unique and meaningful. All you have to do is show up and breath and let the magic of the poses do the rest.

All photos by Derrick Coleman

12 Wings Spring 2019

G

By Jah-Tosh Baruti and Christopher Martinez

rowing up in Los Angeles can often be an uphill battle, but sometimes it’s best to put running shoes aside and just swim.

Paralympic swimmer Jamal Hill has done just that, overcoming the inherent adversity that comes with being a black male raised in LA, coupled with the diagnosis of a rare muscular disease- only to punch his ticket to the 2020 Paralympics.

Hill will represent team USA in the sporting event, which will be held in Tokyo.

The 24-year-old professional athlete grew up about five miles from LAX, in Inglewood to be exact. Hill spoke on the city, “I love LA.

There’s always so much to do, so many people, so many cultures to adapt to.”

Standing 6-foot-4, with a muscular build, Hill has the physique of a typical pro athlete—on the surface, no one would know he even has a muscular disorder.

At a doctor’s appointment on March 21, one physician said, “ Jamal you shouldn’t be able to walk. I don’t know how you walked in here the way you did, I would’ve never assumed anything is wrong with you.”

Wings Spring 2019 13

Jamal talked about the overwhelming negative reports.

He shared, “At that age, the way it manifested, it was like full body paralysis.”

Due to the diagnosis, he was hospitalized for a few weeks at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

Even through the injury and CMT diagnosis, Jamal said, “At no point did I ever feel handicapped.” He attributes that to the support of his mom and dad.

His parents even withheld information from him about his condition, because they did not want him to limit himself.

Hill said, “That’s had the biggest influence on my life.”

Hill spoke on his mentality to overcome obstacles. “I can’t afford to let everything outside of my control affect the things that are in At the age of 9, Jamal was hit with several misfortunate my control,” he said. realizations that could have ended his swimming career before it His message to parents of kids with disabilities who are even had the chance to manifest. interested in swimming is to put them on a regular swim team, if Jamal said, “heartbreak No. 1” was dislocating his right shoulder. possible. “Don’t separate, participate,” he said.

The doctors informed him that they may have to amputate his Hill’s swimming journey began with his mom Hill’s Mom’s name right arm if he did not stop swimming. signing the two up for the YMCA’s “Mommy & Me” class.

Reflecting on that hiatus, he said, “I never The program offers swim lessons for mothers would’ve imagined that I would be here [in “Jamal you shouldn’t and their children. the Paralympics.]” be able to walk. I don’t know how you He said, “Swimming was just my first love, Shortly after the injury, heartbreak No. 2 walked in here the way you did, I would’ve just like my mom was my first love.” was revealed as Hill was diagnosed with a never assumed anything is Although the program was Jamal’s first taste hereditary nervous system disorder named wrong with you.” of life under the sea, he said the only thing he can Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. remember from the classes are the photos.

The disease runs in Hill’s family. His mom deals with When Hill was about 6 or 7 years old, he asked his mom if he some of the symptoms, while his uncles are also greatly affected. could join the swim team.

CMT is a rare degenerative condition. According to Mayo “Hell no Jamal,” she exclaimed, “You can’t even follow the Clinic, it causes muscles to develop smaller and weaker. For most instructions in class.” cases, CMT impacts the legs and feet first, then it travels to the Admittedly, Hill said, “I was a badass arms and hands, leading to a loss of sensation in extremities and kid in swim lessons.” impaired walking.

Later, Hill’s mother reasoned with her son and told him he could join if he started following directions from the swim instructors, he said, after that moment, “I became the best swim student ever.”

It’s no secret, swimming as a sport is predominantly made up of white athletes. Attending college in the northwest, Hill was the only black swimmer and one of only three in the entire conference.

Hill said he’s never experienced blatant racism for being a black swimmer, however, that does not mean he hasn’t faced subtle racism.

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Hill did recall a “racially charged” interaction between himself and an unnamed coach.

The coach said, “Jamal, your hands are so big, why didn’t you just play basketball?” To which Jamal replied, saying, “I figured my hands are so big they would probably make good paddles.”

Hill said of the coach’s remarks, “That’s like taboo. It was out of line. He had no business saying anything like that.”

Hill said the stereotypical comments felt to him as if the coach said, “You’re a black guy. You should be playing basketball, you shouldn’t be in the pool.”

An honors student in high school, Jamal says he’s always been a smart kid. He even received a few full-ride academic scholarships.

However, he rejected all of them.

After high school, Hill attended Hiram College, a Division 3 school in Ohio. He spent three years there, before making the decision to leave.

College years were tough for Hill because he says he lacked the discipline that he has now.

After leaving Ohio, he sought the best coach in the world, which led him to USC coach Dave Salo. He called the coach and said he was going to drop out to come swim for him. Salo told him, “You’re crazy. Don’t do that.”

Hill was persistent, going as far as telling the coach, “Listen dude, this is not an option, I’m coming, I just need you to make space for me.”

Salo eventually agreed and Jamal swam on the Trojans Elite team for his senior year.

Nowadays, Hill is being trained by Wilma Wong, who coaches nationally-ranked swimmers. He spoke of her importance.

“God sent me the coach that I needed, the coach that was meant for me,” he said.

In a one-year span, Wong helped take Hill from an unranked amateur to ranked No. 1 in the nation.

The 2020 Summer Paralympic Games will commence on Aug. 25 and continue throughout Sept. 6.

Hill will be competing in the men’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay, the 4x100-meter medley relay, the mixed 4x50 meter relay, the men’s 50-meter freestyle race and the men’s 100-meter backstroke race. He said his best stroke is the freestyle.

As the marathon continues, by 2028 Hill plans to win a third gold medal.

He’s already launched a marketing company named Swim Up Hill, which aims to promote swimming-- it’s also Jamal’s personal brand.

Hill’s also working on a book loosely titled “S For Swimming.” It’s projected to be a fun book, because "swimming is fun," Hill said.

On land, Jamal wants to leave his legacy as a philanthropist.

Being an LA native, he said, “How can I do something like Tony Robbins has done... like Nipsey Hussle has done? These are the people I look up to... whose track I like to think I’m on now.”

Jamal wants to use his swimming prowess to help others. He has aspirations of teaching one million people how to swim and he’s working towards that goal on the daily.

So how does Jamal plan to reach a million people? He marked social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube as being the major driving force to accomplish the feat.

Additionally, Hill said he wants to see more people that look like him and other minorities get into swimming as a sport.

“I give swim lessons to everyone,” Hill said, “but my primary focus is black and brown individuals, the underserved, the inner-city communities—that’s who has the least exposure, that’s who needs it the most.”

All photos by Christopher Martinez

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By Carlos Ruiz and Christopher Martinez

T

he South Bay has some of the nicest areas to visit for photography, picnics, hiking, sightseeing and a lot more.

There are three stand-out locations that the South Bay has to offer when visiting the area, next time you’re driving along or around the coast of the South Bay:

Sunken City, San Pedro Wayfarers Chapel, Rancho Palos Verdes Point Vicente, Rancho Palos Verdes

These locations are generally always occupied with an abundance of people, but the amount of people doesn’t interfere with the locations' beauty. There’s enough area to appreciate what you’re seeing.

A visit to these parts is recommended if you’ve never been before, it’s a nice experience and a great place to stopover if you’re around the area.

Photography is very popular in today’s culture, people on social media are usually hunting for the perfect spot to take their next profile picture or just post.

The perfect angle and shot will come as long as the sun is always behind you and not in front of your camera lens.

There are a lot of hidden locations around the coast where you can stop for a quick look or a quick snapshot, so you’ll never forget the view, this side of the community brings in people from all over.

Rancho Palos Verdes reels in a lot of tourists and locals to some of the hiking trails scattered around the city.

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If you are a fan of being in the water there are a plethora of private and public beaches to fill your head with sand. Many beaches within the South Bay coast offer different beach fronts such as: Golden Cove which offers a rocky beach front with small pools of water in trenches formed by the rocks.

Portuguese Bend Beach Club which is a private beach nestled in a gated community which offers a wide flat beach with imported sand and plenty of shared picnic tables and sports courts.

Other reasons that attract people to the peninsula is the vibe and culture you can feel and sense walking down the street or the beach everything feels so much closer to nature and the beautiful views that can be seen driving down Pacific Coast Highway.

Sunken City

According to dailybreeze.com George Peck began building Bungalows on a six acres stretch just south of Shepard Street in San Pedro in the mid-1920s. He imagined it to be the go-to housing market for perfect views from atop a cliff.

Unfortunately, on January 2, 1929, in the area Peck had built his bungalows, there would be a devastating landslide.

The land was eventually moving at a rate of three inches per day.

Over the years this place has become a hang out destination to the likes of teenagers, gang members, the homeless and many people from all over the area looking for an eerie atmosphere and street art along with spectacular views from atop the cliffs.

According to the LA Times, californiacuriosities.com, and ktla. com, there have been around 18 deaths in the last five years and in 2003, there were five cliff side deaths, two of which happened within a three-day span. In 2006, four people fell or threw themselves from the cliffs onto the rocks below and died.

Sunken City offers a beautiful view of the ocean from atop cliffs and brings with it the passion and style of Los Angeles street art among artists, filmers, vloggers and other creative people.

Many musicians find inspiration from the atmosphere surrounding Sunken City, such as local EDM artist Michael Gilliam, who finds inspiration from the area.

“Its kinda therapeutic for me actually.

I get inspiration from the way artists express themselves and i feed off of their energy out here,” he said.

Gilliam, whose DJ name is blvckjesus, says Sunken City has inspired a song or two He said, “I come up here about once or twice a week and just sit here, relax and find inspiration through meditation and the calming sounds along with the artwork.”

Knowing the dangers of instability of Sunken City Gilliam stated, “I don’t think it’s dangerous as long as you are being responsible, I don't think anyone should be getting hurt out here.”

Sunken City is blocked off to everyone who tries to enter and also has trespassing signs posted along the fence that keep people out. Even though there is a heavy presence of people, when asked how to enter the place Gillam said, “I climb a fence at the end of the trail and walk down, but there is another way of getting in that is safer that I have yet to try.”

Wayfarers Chapel

Wayfarers Chapel, also known as the “Glass Chapel,” is known for its unique modern architecture and seemingly all-glass design, making it seem as though you are getting married in a utopia of nature.

The Chapel is well known for its location off the cliffs over the Pacific Ocean, which was designed by Lloyd Wright in the late 1940s.

The Chapel features geometric designs and incorporates the natural landscape into the design and its scenic location, the church is very popular for weddings, both the inside of the chapel as well as the chapel grounds.

The Chapel has grown in popularity over the years as it has been featured in many television shows and music video from “The O.C.” to the 2014 movie “Endless Love,” and Marina and the Diamond's “Baby” music video.

Many people use this church as a wedding destination. Northern California resident, Don, who preferred to not give her last name

was married at the chapel 10 years earlier and visited the location to reminisce.

She recalls, “It was the view that initially caught our eyes, it's beautiful.” Don remembered what if felt like to be wedded, “It was actually just a serene day, there was a calmness and I think it had to do with the church being glass, open and just surrounded by nature.”

Many people, even if not getting married, come out to this beautiful area to propose, picnic and enjoy the view with a loved one.

Point Vicente

Point Vicente Lighthouse was built in 1926 on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It is the most prominent coastal feature.

The lighthouse was created to mark the turning point into the harbors of San Pedro and Long Beach, but was not approved until 1916.

The light source was dimmed during World War II to avoid aiding enemies. It was automated in 1971 by the United States Coast Guard.

Today, the lighthouse gives out free tours every second Saturday of the month along with being a family-friendly park where families come to picnic and enjoy the scenery.

Raymond, who declined to give his last name, has friends who live out in the area and comes out to the lighthouse to enjoy the view, “It's very beautiful and the air is fresh.”

He enjoys the fresh air and view so much that he has encouraged other people to come out and join him in taking in the view. He said, “I have already got some of my friends to come up here with me, as well as some of my friends from out of state and even out of the country out here to enjoy all of this. They say it's amazing.”

Raymond has plans on moving to Ranchos Palos Verde just for the view. Point Vicente has come along way from being a lighthouse and staying dark to avoid enemies during World War two, to now creating everlasting moments for families and friends who soak up nature and enjoy the view.

All photos by Carlos Ruiz and Christopher Martinez

Wings Spring 2019 17

“You Were Born Naked and the Rest is DRAG”

By Julissa Villalobos and Carlos Ruiz

18 Wings Spring 2019

d ”

“Hailing from the disreputable city of San Francisco, drag moved its way down to Los Angeles to become a late night guilty pleasure for all those who stand out in a vanilla setting”

D

rag is art. A walking, living and breathing art form full of attitude and pure love. When someone is in the presence of a drag queen, they cannot help but admire and attempt to take in every stitch and sequin. A performance from a drag queen is one of the most intensely immersive art experience and the queens know this. Drag Queens live to make you gag.

Let's make one thing clear, drag is not the desire to be a woman, it is the act of impersonating a woman. The way a woman is projected is chosen by the drag queen. It could be satirical or realistic. Either way, it is the art of the queen and it is hard work.

The hours of makeup, the creation of the outfit, the heavy wigs, the heels and the tucking! Then comes performance time, where drag queens balance it all while performing death drops and lip syncing, or actually singing, to an audience eager to shower them in dollar bills.

It’s not news to know how much scrutiny the LGBTQ community goes up against. For years, gay men and women faced the fear of imprisonment or deadly assault with no justice if their sexuality was discovered. It was not till the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City that a major gay rights movement occurred.

Gay people have existed since the beginning of time and they will never go away, from now until the end of time they will only become more visible society. LGBTQ members of society present themselves in many ways, and drag just so happens to be one of the most extra ways to do so.

In 2019 there is no scarcity of businesses that are LGBTQ friendly, but back in 1972 when those businesses were a little harder to come by, a little place called Hamburger Mary's opened its doors in San Francisco.

Hamburger Mary's, which brands itself as an “open-air bar and grille for open-minded people," is still living and breathing in many states all over the country and has established itself as a staple in drag culture.

With every location having its own quirky decor and different weekly event catered around drag, no matter which one you visit you are in for a great night. Most events are 18+ which helps to cater to the younger LGBTQ community, something that is extremely important.

At a young age, many will already have a feeling that they are

All photos by Julissa Villalobos

Wings Spring 2019 19

same-sex oriented. In Los Angeles, where the majority is heterosexual it is easy for a child to feel as if they do not belong.

Being able to be exposed to people who break out of the norm and have found the scene where they feel welcome is so crucial for these young kids to see.

The Hamburger Mary’s staff is super friendly and are eager to serve you a drink like "The Bossy Bottom" that will have you cheering extra hard.

At the Long Beach location of Hamburger Mary's, Wednesday nights are known as Wild Wednesdays, where they invite queens from RuPaul's Drag Race to perform. Fans reserve special VIP tables up front and cash out their big bills for singles.

The vibe is like no other when the lights dim down and the DJ plays the first track that signals the beginning of the show.

On March 13, Hamburger Mary’s hosted their Wild Wednesdays Drag Show and their first queen who performed is Silky Ganache from season 11 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Performing in rotation with Silky is Jaidyn Fierce from season 7 and Kylie Sonique Love.

Silky delivered an entire fantasy from the top of her wig to the bottom of her gown and worked the entire room, showcasing the reason why she was chosen for this season of Drag Race.

Jaidyn Fierce paid homage to iconic female artists in her own iconic costumes she handmade herself. She performed to Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, serving every song with such high energy.

The tender and delicate Sonique was the most graceful queen that night, delivering sultry and sexy numbers all night. Her body was her weapon and she had the crowd's jaws dropping.

The crowd was excited to be there. Every queen performed their act with every ounce of their heart and the audience felt that. There were couples enjoying a night out and families, as Hamburger Mary's is family-friendly.

Celebrating birthdays and groups of friends just enjoying is part of the Hamburger Mary’s experience.

2019 is the golden age of drag, with RuPaul’s Drag Race in season 11 and the abundance of gay clubs and bars, we have a steady flow of sickening drag queens each with their own unique way of expressing themselves.

RuPaul’s Drag Race has a great display of talent and drama each season, but also features many heartwarming moments. Many queens confess to having just come out to their mothers as drag queens right before the show and queens let the viewer in on rough patches where they struggled with their sexualities.

There is something so beautiful and so touching to see and meet someone who is 100 percent themselves. Someone who has no fear of the sideways glances or passive aggressive comments.

Someone who has gone to hell and back to become so unafraid to be the person they were always destined to be. May these people, these drag queens, be our inspiration.

20 Wings Spring 2019

Paranormal In The Midst of LA

By Marilyn Parra, Tiara White and Guadalupe Zaragoza

A

lthough known for mastering motion pictures that captivate the world, Los Angeles is more than the financial, cultural and commercial center of Southern California. Digging deeper pushes individuals to further learn and understand the historical background of the city, specifically the world of paranormal.

From abandoned towns to the myths told of hotels with sinister pasts, LA has encountered several sights that succeed the phenomena.

Resting within the deep seas of the Long Beach Harbor, people can approach a significant installation of great horror. Although it is used to showcase tourism, the Queen Mary continues to be one of many of LA’s horrific places that highlights a chilling experience.

Amid the entrance of the ship, stomachs tighten when taking into account the various narratives portrayed. Whether believable or not, the truth is made apparent throughout each of its decks.

In the midst, the foretold story of how luxury travel ceased for

the wealthy and quickly turned into a troopship during World War II, the malevolent “Grey Ghost” emerged.

It comes to no surprise that the mysterious spirits of its vivid past continue to roam the hallways and rooms, not to mention the terrors of war undergone, and let’s not forget the 49 deaths reported at the site.

However, the hotbed of paranormal activity is the notorious engine room located 50 feet below water level where the legendary “Door 13” crushed two men in 1966, the engine room is the prime location where spirits are said to appear.

Although both first and second class swimming pools are no longer accessible, be aware of the spirits of women in 1930s-style swimsuits who stroll near them. Reports from guests include the sounds of splashing and wet footprints found among the deck’s changing room.

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If goosebumps still haven’t arisen, the Queen’s Salon is a place to check out. In the shadows of the room’s corner there is a young woman in a white evening gown who’s been caught dancing alone.

Yet more of these bizarre occurrences have taken place in a number of first-class staterooms, whether it’s the water running, lights flickering in the middle of the night or just ringing of phones with no one on the other side of the line.

With an assortment of blood-curdling stories, such as the cry of a baby who died shortly after his birth among the third-class children’s room, these events will forever be memorable.

From the odd aromas of smells long past and high pitched shrieks to the sounds of distinct knocks and drastic temperature changes, there is no looking back on this once in a lifetime adventure.

But there is more to LA’s paranormal world to set forth if one is in search of mischievous terror.

Built in 1912, the Colorado State Bridge located in Pasadena is notable for its high arch, lights, railings and cameos in many sitcoms and movies. Shortly after its construction it became known as “Suicide Bridge” after many took their life by jumping off the bridge in the early 19th century.

At first glance, it doesn’t give visitors any paranormal vibes until viewing the eery items left behind by locals and seeing marked words on the railings that read, “I jumped.”

There are many stories about the spirits who are in limbo that still walk the bridge such as the woman who threw her baby down the bridge and proceeded to jump.

Chained fences on the bottom of the bridge do not stop paranormal investigators from exploring the grounds.

Parapsychologist Jean-Pierre Giagnoli, Cerritos College alumni and founder of Southern California Paranormal Detectives, has studied and experienced paranormal activity at a young age.

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While attending Cerritos College Giagnoli decided to check out the bridge with his brother and team and encountered an intense moment when rocks were thrown by an unidentified figure.

“We had night vision cameras and we couldn't see anyone and it looked [as if ] they were walking on water, but they should not have been able to by the way it was moving,” said Giagnoli when asked about his first visit to the bridge.

Giagnoli recalls the second time he took a trip to the bridge where he and friends viewed figures jumping off the bridge, “My brother was talking to a female spirit who took her own life and he was physically pushed; something pushed him so hard that I had to use my full force to hold him up.”

Finding a way to get under the bridge is a lengthy and tricky walk down the streets of Pasadena, but it is a great way to relax while walking down.

There is no official sign to let visitors know they’ve reached the bottom nor open trails heading down towards the bottom of the bridge.

Due to the many people who have jumped, the police department decided to set up 10foot anti-suicide barriers in 2016. The temporary barrier only block the opening to look further down the bridge.

Two years later in 2018, four more people died by suicide. To prevent the chain of suicides, the police department then decided to cover the entire bridge span.

On both sides of the bridge, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is posted on a bright blue sign in bold.

Now 34 years old, Giagnoli, with 20 years of experience and a doctorate in parapsychology under his belt, has thrust his knowledge into physical experiences and making a career out of it.

He explains the study of parapsychology as a “subdivision of psychology that deals with the human mind being extraordinary.

Extraordinary in the sense that [people] are able to perceive things that not everybody can sense.”

His became interested in the paranormal at the age of 5 when he vividly saw his late grandfather in the doorway of his room. The event led him to question the other paranormal possibilities that can be discovered.

Giagnoli's most unpleasant interaction with the paranormal world was when he took a trip with his team to San Diego to investigate the chilling case of a young mute girl who was presumed to be possessed.

The entity that had taken over her body and showed signs that the girl was no longer herself, the main indication being that she could now speak.

While still in the house to investigate, Giagnoli had an out-ofbody experience showing him the murder of a mistress and death of a young boy.

“I was [thrust] into the little boy as he watched the husband and mistress struggle with a knife, as they were struggling the little boy got knocked down the stairs, as soon as I hit the stairs, I woke back up in my body…. I experienced someone’s death and it was one of the worst feelings in my life.”

Only a few days after, the boy came back to him in a dream with a powerful message: “I didn’t get a chance to live, so don’t mess this up. Live your life to the fullest.”

Giagnoli took this powerful message and used it to reignite his devotion. He emphasizes that the terminology within the paranormal world derives from religion, such as “spirits” is associated to energy that used to be alive, or has a soul, whereas “entity” can be referred to as unknown energy, automatically given a bad connotation.

Giagnoli states that it’s important to get out of the strictlyconfined rules and norms religion has led us to believe that all ghosts are “evil.”

“People have a one-sided view of things and need to open up their minds. A wise quote I live by is 'A smart person thinks they know everything, while a wise person thinks they know nothing,'” he states.

Wings Spring 2019 23

If You Look to Your Right!

By Bianca Hull, Kianna Znika and Quinae Austin

L

os Angeles is one of the most diverse, iconic cities in the world, making it no surprise that it’s one of the most visited cities in the United States. The city is rich in culture, entertainment and everyday amusement.

What better place to take a tour of than the City of Angels?

The tourism industry has one of the highest economic impacts in LA. In just 2017 alone, 48.5 million tourists visited the city and spent $22.7 billion dollars.

Well-known buildings and locations, such as the Los Angeles Convention Center, play a big role in attracting these guests.

LA tours are the third most popular activity on a traveler’s list when heading into the city.

Some of the most popular tours offered are the Celebrity Homes Tour and the Hop-On/Hop-Off Bus Tour, in the heart of LA near Sunset and Hollywood.

If seeing a famous face was on a tourist’s bucket-list, they’d have

24 Wings Spring 2019

more luck booking the TMZ Hollywood Celebrity Tour where they’ll be taken to celebrity hot-spots all across the city.

Jared Ross, a tour guide with TMZ, said, “It’s strange, but really our viewers from the show are really the only people who book tours, and since the show is in the UK too, the tourists stop here as well.”

If seeing iconic venues was desired, a tourist will want to book with agencies such as Starline Tours or LA City Tours.

Starline Tours has been entertaining tourists since 1935, making them one of Hollywood’s oldest tour company. They offer the world-famous hop-on/hopoff bus tours with pre-recorded tapes, and then deluxe tours for those who wish for a live tour guide.

LA City Tours has been in service for 39 years. With LA City Tours, a tourist has the ability to choose from a variety of different tour routes such as the Hollywood Grand City Tour and the LAX Layover Tour where the bus can pick up tourists straight

from the airport, give them a 6-hour tour of the city and return them back to the airport or hotel that they’re staying at.

The point of any tour is to entertain tourists all while teaching them all the great aspects of the city.

Marshawn Rush, 40, a recent tourist from Nebraska, explained that because of her tour, she had “the best day ever.”

“I’ve seen so much on this tour that I feel like I can go home now,” she joked. “The Hollywood Sign was amazing, and my husband loved the Staples Center. It’s great because you see it on TV all the time.”

Zachary Johnson, 20, from New York explained that touring through Downtown LA was his favorite part because “you see all the businesses, different shops and different people; just feel like you’re a part of it all.”

Behind every great tour, are the people that made the experience possible: tour guides.

The industry supports about 5,000 jobs, giving California the highest employment rate for tour guides than any other state. Most of them are based in Los Angeles.

Denise Tucker, 56, is an LA-based tour guide that has been with Starline Tours for 5 years. Before that, she had been driving for Metro and various school buses since 1989.

“I love my job,” Tucker states, “I love people and I love talking about my city.”

Wings Spring 2019 25

Tucker, just like many tour guides, starts her shift sometimes as early as 5 a.m. and goes to multiple hotels to pick up her assigned group of tourists. From that point on, everything is done together: eating, visiting scenic views and bonding over the horror that is LA traffic.

However, there are many tour guides that aren’t city-based; in fact, many tour guides were once tourists themselves that came from a diverse number of countries such as Mexico and Croatia.

Being bilingual gives them an advantage, as the industry is always in need of tour guides that are able to speak the language of the tourists.

Shaheen Bader, 52, has been a tour guide in LA for 7 years and came to the states from Pakistan about 25 years ago. Other than English, Bader is able to speak some Spanish, Urdu, which he describes as a mixture of Persian, Arabic and some Latin, and Bangladesh.

“I learned because of the people I met in the tour company,” he explains, “It helps because I’m able to communicate to those people.”

Before being an official tour guide, Bader worked in the office of VIP Tours, helping with coordinating the tours and sending out the discharges. This changed when his boss suddenly asked if he’d like to go ahead and do the Celebrity Homes tour.

“I hate driving, but the thing I love is that I meet people from different parts of the world,” he said, “I learn something new every day.”

Celebrating many cultures and diversity, Los Angeles welcomes many visitors and loves people from all walks of life. It truly is the city of dreams for all who come in.

26 Wings Spring 2019

Stepping Onto The Pitch LAFC

Created by Susannanova from the Noun Project

“W

Created by Gregor Cresnar from the Noun Project

By Randy Tejeda

e faced a unique challenge to create absolutely everything from scratch,” Tom Penn said with a grin.

“So we engaged our most passionate fans and supporters and involved them in each step of the journey.”

Penn’s gamble, however, seemingly paid off as the former NBA executive is now the president and co-owner of the Los Angeles Football Club.

Penn talked about his new venture in an ESPN documentary entitled “We Are LAFC” released in February.

Los Angeles Football Club is now LA’s newest American professional soccer franchise, competing in the Major League Soccer as a member of the Western Conference. LAFC plays its home games at the stateof-the-art Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park.

MLS awarded the new expansion team to Los Angeles on Oct. 30, 2014, filling the vacancy in the market created by the dissolution of Chivas USA three days earlier.

On May 17, 2015, the team chose the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena site to build a 22,000-seat state-of-the-art stadium for the MLS in Exposition Park, costing $250 million.

"We're fully funded,” said Penn shortly after the announcement.

“We've got all the money we need to build it, which you don't

ranserC rogerG yb detaerC tcejorP nuoN eht morf

often hear said in these kind of civic projects. So we'll build something for our fan base, for all of our constituents, that really could be timeless.

“We're looking for something somewhere special that's going to mean something to this community," Penn explained to SB Nation.

LAFC soon announced a 15-year, $100 million naming rights deal with Banc of California. Demolition of the Sports Arena began after groundbreaking of the stadium and was completed in October 2016.

The group estimated the project would create 1,800 full-time jobs and generate $2.5 million in annual tax revenue.

The environmental impact report, arena demolition and stadium construction, however, took three years and delayed the team's debut to 2018.

The club’s colors and logo were unveiled at Union Station on Jan. 7, 2016. The nickname is in a black and gold font which are the club's primary colors.

The Art Deco-inspired logo has a winged “LA” monogram with the words “Los Angeles” and “Football Club” in Neutraface. The crest was designed by popular sports designer Matthew Wolff.

In July 2017, Bob Bradley was announced the head coach of LAFC while John Thorrington became the general director to search for players. Mexican midfielder Carlos Vela was signed as

Wings Spring 2019 27

the first designated player on Aug. 11, 2017.

“I’m honored to be here and to begin my new adventure playing for the people of Los Angeles,” said Vela in a statement at the time.

The Cancun, Mexico native had been a key contributor to the Mexican National Team, playing in the 2010 World Cup and appearing in 55 career games for Mexico, scoring 11 goals.

“Carlos is an exciting attacking player capable of scoring and setting up goals,” coach Bradley said. “He has played in big matches with Mexico, in the Premiership and La Liga, and will help establish the style and tempo that we want to build at LAFC.” The new team played its first game in March against Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Designated player Diego Rossi scored in the 11th minute to give the Black and Gold the 1-0 win.

On March 31, 2018, LAFC lost its first game against LA Galaxy at StubHub Center in Carson. LAFC gave up a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 to their LA rival in Zlatan Ibrahimović's debut in MLS. LAFC shares the Los Angeles market with the LA Galaxy; the rivalry is nicknamed El Trafico or The Traffic in Spanish.

By October 2018, LAFC clinched their playoff spot after a 3-0 win against Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

LAFC accomplished the best regular season for an MLS expansion team, earning 57 points. LAFC placed third in the Western Conference, however, in its first playoff match the black and gold was eliminated by Real Salt Lake losing 3-2 at Banc of California Stadium.

Despite the loss, the atmosphere inside Banc of California Stadium was electric as supporters cheered non-stop for their new team.

"The atmosphere in here every night is awesome," said Bradley in a post-defeat interview. "They stand and sing from the beginning until the end. We have the best situation in the league."

LAFC supporters are known as “The 3252,” a reference to the number of seats in the safe standing supporters section at Banc of California Stadium, as well as adding up to 12, a reference to the supporters being the team's 12th man.

All LAFC matches that are not televised nationally are televised locally in Spanish on UniMás KFTR 46. Also YouTube TV carries LAFC matches in English. LAFC is the first U.S. sports team to have broadcasting rights through an online streaming service as opposed to a traditional television broadcaster. Max Bretos is the play-by-play announcer.

Regular local radio coverage of all LAFC matches is provided in English by KSPN (ESPNLA 710). Dave Denholm is the playby-play announcer. Spanish radio broadcasts are provided by KFWB (980).

When star player Carlos Vela was interviewed he explained the differences between the LAFC rivalry with LA Galaxy and other rivalries he has been a part of.

He said, "You live each rivalry in a different way.

We are just starting to build a rivalry.

"However, I think we have seen a lot of goals, a lot of emotions.

That's why I believe everything is going well, and we are well on our way to have a lot to talk about every time we both face each other, so our supporters can truly enjoy it."

John Thorrington, who oversees the search for new players, talked about the transfer of Rodolfo Zelaya from Alianza in El Salvador to LAFC this off-season.

Zelaya, who holds a green card and will not occupy an international slot, will be added to LAFC’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC). LAFC signed forward Zelaya to a two-year contract.

“Rodolfo is a proven goalscorer, both at the club and international levels, and he will add another dimension to our attack,” Thorrington said. “Along with our supporters, we are excited to welcome him to Los Angeles and integrating him to the group as soon as possible.”

“The atmosphere in here every night is awesome.

We have the best situation in the league.”

Photos by Carlos Ruiz and Jevone Moore

28 Wings Spring 2019

The Iron Suit That Holds the Heart of a Woman

By Jasmine Martinez, Carmelita Islas Mendez and Alison Hernandez ‘But what nobody realized was that everybody’s ‘superman’ was not really a man at all,’ said Nuralain Khoury, a transgender Muslim woman. She shares her journey of finding self-acceptance and love through Islam.

F

or 10 years, I lived as a [presenting] female,” Nuralain Khoury said, “It was incredible. That was truly the best time of my life… my biggest transition was my de-transition.”

Khoury, 40, transitioned from male presenting to female and then de-transitioned to present as a male once again.

Khoury, who wished to not use her real name for safety reasons, said she identifies as female although she had to, unfortunately, de-transition a few years ago for security purposes—dealing with physical and verbal attacks and harassment.

About 40 years ago, a Lebanese “boy” was born into a low-income Muslim family and grew up in a religious community. Little did the family know, they had a daughter who had zero understanding of being “male,” since she was about 5 years old.

“Presenting to the world as a guy, I was a very big, tall guy, 6-foot-4, I can [look] very intimidating,” she said, “Like my therapist seems to tell me, I always have that ‘iron man’ suit that I’m in. This ‘iron man’ suit that does everything, takes care of everything.”

Growing up in a place where being gay is not only considered taboo but nonexistent, Khoury had no knowledge of what it meant to be gay or transgender, she had never heard the word before in her life.

Khoury said, “It was never an option in any sort of way to be [gay or transgender], it’s a much easier thing [to think] I have cancer in my brain or [that] there’s something wrong with me [rather] than thinking that there’s anything about my sexuality or my gender.”

Khoury doesn’t consider herself to be religious because of past experiences but believes in God and found peace with Islam, which she describes as an incredibly spiritual and healing exercise.

Samia Bano, 37, LA resident and operations manager for the Women’s Mosques of America, considers herself a “border crosser” or “bridge builder” between conservative and liberal Muslims.

Illustration by Magalee Frometa

Wings Spring 2019 29

She said, “In many ways, my lifestyle is very traditional which is why many people think that I am traditional, but once we start to look into the issues, it's harder to categorize me. When it comes to issues like LGBTQ issues and environmental consciousness, I lean very progressive.”

Bano is also an active member of Muslims for Progressive Values, a non-profit organization that advocates for human rights, social justice and inclusion.

One of MPV’s principle goals is including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex individuals and say they are committed to ending discrimination in society and in the Muslim community and endorse their human and civil rights.

During puberty, Khoury said she developed more like a female and even grew breasts, explaining that her doctor thinks she is actually intersex. Intersex is a general term used to describe people who can’t be classified as typically male or female.

She was prohibited from speaking to the doctor about her condition and asking questions as a child.

When Khoury developed breasts, her thoughts and situation couldn’t remain hidden, it was right in front of her eyes. Even then, she was made to believe it was a disease in her brain.

Illustration by Sofia Gallegos

30 Wings Spring 2019

She would wear two or three shirts to cover herself and would glue her chest with superglue to the point of dealing with infections, all for the sake of hiding.

“You’re very lonely, you know? You’re very, very lonely,” she said somberly, “So, I feel like that’s probably my earliest parts of dissociation or starting to feel that ‘okay I have to keep myself safe somewhere else and I have to present to society as someone different.’”

Bano says that she had never even heard of the word homosexual or what that referred to while growing up in India and Pakistan and only heard and discussed LGBTQ issues while in college in the United States.

Also, she said that discussing controversial issues with older family members is difficult due to their beliefs.

She said, “They tend to have that attitude of ‘no, it’s just wrong’ and that’s it and ‘don’t even think more about it because you are going to get lead astray,” Bano laughed, “It’s usually followed by questions like ‘have you been led astray?’”

Khoury left Lebanon at 17 years old and arrived in Los Angeles, not knowing where she was, with $5 in her pocket and never having a job outside of semi-professional sports or having used a phone or car.

From arriving with nothing, not knowing anyone and living on the streets for the better part of a year, Khoury put on the ‘iron man’ suit and went from “zero to ending up joining corporate America” and working in finance in Long Beach.

She put her six brothers and sisters through school, paid for weddings and whatever else her family needed. She said other fathers back home would put her on a pedestal, encouraging their eldest sons to strive towards a similar success.

Khoury is divorced and has three children, who see her as “mom.”

Although she lives in mainly-conservative Orange County, Khoury views LA as more open and feels more comfortable and at home when visiting.

Around the age of 27, she remembers starting therapy in regard to gender, which helped Khoury better understand herself.

Gradually, she began to present herself as a woman in public starting with “little things” like painting her nails and dressing more feminine. “The word transition wasn’t a part of my life anymore, I was just me,” she said, “I transitioned at work, I was female everywhere and I still did amazing.”

She began to speak at universities about her experiences, leaving no detail out and having nothing to hide, in an effort to reach out and connect with other Middle Eastern folks with similar backgrounds and who felt stuck and as if there were no others to relate to.

“In fact, what helped me during my transition was truly “Where do you get that support? Your family disowns you, Islam, you know, more than anything else. It gave me your friends disappear, you go to the community and then confidence, it gave me love when I couldn’t find love,” you have to belong to one thing or the other or else you're she said. judged there. So, it was tough,” she said.

Frustrated, Khoury emphasized that the Sometime after she was “exposed to a sexual atQuran does not say negative things about tack,” which she wasn’t in the least bit prepared for, gay or transgender people, misinterpretations Khoury made the decision to de-transition. tend to come from men in positions of power The most “horrible decision” of her life was having that interpret it for others. to revert back to that ‘iron man’ suit, the only thing “It specifically says in the Quran it’s she’s known how to do 30 years of her life. nobody's job to tell anybody that they're Khoury fears she has done too much “damage” going to hell. Everybody forgets that,” on her body to go back to her “normal self.” To her, Khoury stressed, “I promise you, if [the life wouldn’t be worth it if she cannot be herself. prophets] were here, they’d be hanging with She thinks even though some people might think the LGBT community, they’d be with it is shallow, she wants to be able to feel good people who need help and representation.” about her body and the way she presents.

Bano agreed and said, “[I started] to learn “I want to go shopping again in the nice clothes and discover what it means when somebody section for a change,” she laughed, “I don't want to has that orientation and that we cannot use those disgusting bathrooms anymore. I cried blame, judge or shame them in any way for a week the first time I went back to the men’s because that is how God has made them. bathroom and some guy was there and I just We have to love them like we would love felt so wrong.” anyone else.”

Khoury said that although she has every reason to With Khoury’s transition came with the say she hates her life, every day is terrible and she consequence of her family disowning her can’t look in the mirror, she is choosing to think “in a heartbeat,” saying they wished she had it’s just another part of her puzzle and she doesn’t died rather than come out. know what the big picture really looks like.

In the workplace, Khoury went from She continued, “There’s something good coming, Illustration by Magalee Frometa having “dibs” on the best clientele to having hopefully. What that is, I don't really know. “cute” ideas and not being taken as seriously as before.

“I just want to get more excited about that. I want to not lose She went from friends fighting over who got to spend time hope, I want to think that something good is coming out with her, to them considering her being “too weird for God of all this.” to love.”

Wings Spring 2019 31

City of

Hope

By Edgar Mendoza

32 Wings Spring 2019

Opinion: Loving LA means breaking the vicious cycles of homelessness, crime and pollution that taint it.

L

os Angeles County is one of beauty, but also one of strife. For every free or low-cost yoga class offered to dozens, there are dozens waiting to be offered food or shelter. For every haunted spot in L.A., there are haunting sights under overpasses and along riverbeds. For every cheer within the Banc of California Stadium, there is a plead for help within our city. It is easy to see our city through a rose-colored lens, but look closer, the shadows hide LA’s pressing crisis.

Countless homeless people roam this city, looking only for food, shelter and a place to sleep, but are met only with sympathetic looks or a fleeting glance of pity. Their struggle is meant with a passing urge to do good, but often times no more. It is difficult to envision what the every-day-man can do in order to make a difference in their lives, but in truth, it is quite simple.

Anthony Ficklin, monitor for Volunteers of America states, “Everyone can contribute to the cause to end homelessness by lending a hand at local shelters, donating food or goods.”

Silvana Caruana, a coordinator for the Los Angeles Homeless Service supports this, stating, “There are so many ways to help.

Volunteer your time in your community with homelessness, when you clean out your closet give away those clothes, donate money to a foundation you believe can help.”

Simple actions such as these, which are by no means costly or too time-consuming, allow every Angelino to live up to the community, the family that LA is so proud to say we are. We are a city with people from all walks of life, but many of us may never walk through a front door into a home of our own.

With no place to call home, no clothing and no food, many are living day-by-day, not knowing if they will be able to make it through the day without collapse. This cycle is never ending, unless we can give the homeless a chance to break it. Often times breaking the cycle allows for something new to blossom, for hope to prosper.

Caruano stated that “my mother was homeless when she was a child. Her parents weren’t available to help. She was on her own from [ages] 5 to 12 all alone on the streets. She instilled in me to help others that were less fortunate.”

This chance at a better life, given to one person, is passed down to next as a gift. It is more valuable than any inheritance but is not everlasting. It is up to the next in line to choose if they will take the better life offered to them and keep it solely for themselves, or if they will use what they have to help others.

Many Angelinos are by no means selfish or ignorant of the crisis, we simply lack the knowledge of how big the problem is and how much we can do with what we have. We know that change is

All photos by Carlos Ruiz

possible but know not how to execute that change in a meaningful way.

Caruana states that the way to change this is “to continue to educate the community on homelessness. To build awareness and to collaborate with other agencies to provide better services.”

Websites for organizations such as The Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority and Volunteers of America provide information that can help spread the word and show individuals that they can be a vessel for change.

Something as meaningful as Pauly’s Project carries with it true dedication towards doing something for the community. Angelinos must take this kind of passion for change and apply it to our lifestyle.

We travel along the freeways, not noticing the people who take shelter underneath them. We spend days trapped behind a desk longing for the outdoors whilst others spend days in the hot sun and piercing rain hoping for the indoors.

Angelinos must channel their passion for the black and gold of the Los Angeles football club into a passion for ending those cold black nights and handing the homeless a golden ticket to a better chance at living.

It has been repeated time and time again by countless without fail because it is true; if every person gives just a little bit, change is possible.

We are a City of Angels, and it’s time we start acting like one, because when you help someone, you help everyone.

Wings Spring 2019 33

Fairfax: The Mecca of Streetwear

By Guadalupe Zaragoza and Cindy Cañas

“From platform shoes and the return of thin shades that were popular in the 90’s to the drop crotch pants, streetwear has no limit.”

-Julian Guzman 34 Wings Spring 2019

L

os Angeles isn’t only the sprawling city of the television and film industries nor the blue reflective waters of Venice beach.

The City of Angels is a place that is pushing forward trends and is making a statement that the fashion culture has flourished.

As an important subculture for skaters, artists, celebrities and trendsetters combined, the current streetwear culture has become a sensation, specifically in the iconic location of Fairfax. The enclave includes big brands such as The Hundreds, Crooks & Castles and Diamond Supply Co. It’s been around for decades, establishing the personas of these hype-beasts, individuals who follow fashion trends for the purpose of making a social statement, and sneakerheads.

Overlooked as one of the infamous shopping destinations in the world, the street shares an assortment of stores that go from wild sneaker shops to selling staggering skateboards and limited edition t-shirts.

Coupled with cheap rent, the first West Coast store on the block, Supreme, began a chain reaction of other brands marking their territories on the street.

The 2000s flagged Fairfax as a popular hangout for kids to make a mess, while for many it was a chance to get in line and wait for hours to purchase the newest sleek trainers or other special product releases.

And Black Friday’s blowout sale kindled those lines that snake down the street.

Flooding the streets with block parties thrown by brands, or just centering as the scenic background for music videos shot on the strip, Fairfax continues to be a place for individuals who shares an interest in skateboarding and streetwear want to be.

As time lapsed, the street exploded with attention as mainstream rap group Odd Future began to often visit the area because of the atmosphere. This increased the recognition of the street even more.

Streetwear fashion has elevated its creativity to a whole other level as it capitalizes the artistic drive for clothes, and Fairfax succeeds the ideal.

Streetwear enthusiast, Sidney Flores, expressed, “From platform shoes and the return of thin shades that were popular in the 90s to the drop crotch pants, streetwear has no limit. Fairfax remarkably made it okay for one to be expressive with their stupendous shops.”

Former E “Dash Doll,” and keyholder of the management team at Dollskill, Caroline Burt, gave her two cents on the overtaking of stylish clothes worn down the streets of Los Angeles.

“Right now Fairfax is a big place for that streetwear district, it’s like the new Melrose.

So let’s say that there is quite a longevity for it,” Burt pointed out, “Regardless, streetwear is gonna have to evolve with that and keep it going.”

Retail is definitely dead, and customers at Golf and Ripndip agreed.They don’t share the same characteristics as those who are prevailing such as Supreme. They’re missing a countering factor, the experience.

When first entering Dollskill, Vanae Garcia mentioned that she was unsure what to expect in terms of the outrageous red meat shield as the entrance into the store.

Once she was in, it felt like she took a turn to somewhere else.

“From the LED lights to the big ass unicorn and the DJ booth that’s above the fitting rooms, this pretty sick store felt like I just walked into a club. All that’s missing

is a bar,” Garcia said.

Ripndip is another example whose dome-shaped store expanded it’s futuristic-theme to the extreme whereas, down the street, Tilf has an ice cream machine.

The once Jewish majority neighborhood with mom-pop shops was transformed into the epicenter of streetwear, and that’s one incredibly significant legacy Fairfax will leave.

Wings Spring 2019 35

magazine staff MAGAZINE STAFF Jasmine Martinez | Editor-in-Chief

Carmelita I. Mendez | Managing Editor

Bianca Hull | Staff Writer

Jah-Tosh Baruti | Staff Writer

Cindy Canas | Staff Writer

Julissa Villalobos | Staff Writer

Christopher Martinez | Staff Writer

Derrick Coleman | Staff Writer

Marilyn Parra | Staff Writer

36 Wings Spring 2019

Bianca Martinez | Staff Writer

Carlos Ruiz | Staff Writer

Keanu Ruffo | Staff Writer

Guadalupe Zaragoza | Staff Writer

Edgar Mendoza | Staff Writer

Eunice Barron | Staff Writer

magazine staff MAGAZINE STAFF Kianna Znika | Staff Writer

Michael Reza | Staff Writer

Oceana Christopher | Staff Writer

Randy Tejeda | Staff Writer

Ayla Aispuro | Graphic Designer

Quinae Austin | Staff Writer

Magalee Frometa | Illustrator

Alicia Edquist | Instructional Technician

Tiara White | Staff Writer

Sofia Gallegos | Illustrator

Elisa Prather | Graphic Designer

Bonnie Barrett | Faculty Adviser

Nizar Milbes | Staff Writer

Alison Hernandez | Staff Writer

Christian Brown | Faculty Adviser

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