From the

If I could save time in a bottle … wait I have, I’ve saved time in print that will last forever.

For everything there is a season. For the last 16 years, I’ve had the honor of publishing El Paso’s lifestyle magazine. This has been my calling – my description if you will. If I had a dollar for every time I heard the introduction, “This is Shelley Mozelle, she owns The City Magazine,” I’d be a wealthy woman. Our relationships, our titles, with the passage of time, rules so much of what we do … they partially describe who we are. I am in a transitional, migratory period in my life, where it feels as though the past, present, and future are colliding and it’s an exciting collision. Examining my past brings the present into focus and I find myself shaping a new future. During this bittersweet season of change, I’m stepping down from the responsibilities of my dream job, passing the heavy torch to my strong son, Chaz Wilson. Chaz has been in training for this important position since he was in junior high, sitting at my office conference table during print deadlines with his sister, Sarah, doing his homework, listening to and watching the works of the magazine. I know his years of preparation, sometimes unknowing preparation, have prepared him to take our brand to a new level. He is no doubt ready and excited for his new position as Associate Publisher, where he will run the day-to-day operations of the magazine. I still pinch myself over the amazing experiences and the incredible people I’ve been honored to rub shoulders with, share a glass of wine and heartfelt emotional moments. I’m immensely proud of how the magazine has navigated through our city and hope we have somehow shifted the way people look and talk about our great city.

I’m taking a turn toward a new path. Those who know me, know that my heart has always been with notfor-profits and my love has always been drawn to children and families. From my early involvement with The Boys and Girls Club, to my 10 years with Make-A-Wish, to my love for the mission of El Paso

Children’s Hospital, and now… to a new love. My heart has drawn me to a new passion that El Paso will soon learn is one of the most exciting concepts to come to our region in the last 15 years. The not-for-profit is called El Paso Children’s Garden, a 60 acre botanical garden with over three miles of pathways through 28 unique gardens nine amazing rental event venues, , many special horticultural featuresand my favorite, a Butterfly House. It will be known throughout our country as the most inspirational, innovative, interactive botanical garden, and a leading example of horticulture and conservation education. And it will be located right here in El Paso. What this garden will do for education, enjoyment, regional tourism, and the basic economy of our region is unimaginable. I realize your head is spinning because there is no way I can fully describe in a few written words the enormity of this amazing non-profit project.

The mission of the magazine is “To Celebrate All the Good Things El Paso has to Offer,” yet instead of writing about these good things, I’ll be knee deep in the flowers.

This is by no way a goodbye because goodbye means going away, and I’m not going anywhere. Goodbye means forgetting, and I won’t let you forget me.

Sometimes in life we take a turn toward another path to complete the path God placed you on, and I’m so incredibly excited about this path.

I hope you continue to be a part of my journey,

@shelleymozelle shelley@thecitymagazineelp.com

There’s never been a time that I didn’t love women’s magazines. Like, love, love, love, love, love them. I remember thumbing through issues of Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Glamour, and any other glossies I could get my hands on as a little girl, desiring to write the stories on the pages and dress like the models in the ads.

How lucky I am that I get to live my dream every day, and am now at the helm with my BFF!

The Romy to my Michelle, I couldn’t be more proud of Chaz for ascending to the role of Associate Publisher -- a scary job --and I couldn’t be more excited for us to continue to work together to celebrate the city.

Welcome to our women’s issue!

Gone are headlines telling women to be more pleasing, lose weight, take up less space -yada, yada, yada. Today, we know that most women’s default mode is fabulous and it’s our job as a magazine to enhance all the best qualities that are already inside of us.

What’s more, we now have shows and other media that showcase facets of women not typically seen on screen. Take Yellowjackets, for example, a series that manages to portray the desperation of the human spirit in crises with teenage naivete (and a really good woman-driven soundtrack) that also promotes the importance of friendship and sisterhood.

When I was putting this issue together, I noticed an overarching theme of fire: Marina’s fiery red hair, the women of the FBI coming under fire on the job, Karla Martinez extinguishing fire (and stigma), Brissia Vega teaching women how to work with fire at her welding academy, and so much more. The women in these pages radiate confidence, perseverance, and pride in their work that has inspired our entire office.

Fittingly, this women’s issue is very rock and roll.

Marina and I both covered rock shows for local publications during our early 20s, and it’s neat to see how much the scene has evolved.

Take Acid Wave, for example.

The all-girl dream pop rock band is embarking on their first tour this May and are already making waves locally. It won’t be long til they’re playing major festivals and laughing about the interview we did at Tinman on Airway way back when.

I’m so excited to have Marina -- El Paso’s ultimate cool girl -- on our cover and continue to admire her.

During our photoshoot with Jordan Licon, we were inspired by Rolling Stone covers of Madonna looking like a badass in the 1980s and 1990s and listened to Bad Bunny, Rosalia, and Megan Thee Stallion to set the mood. Marina is as fun as she is fierce, and I couldn’t agree more with Beto O’Rourke in our cover story, where he discusses the positive impact Marina has made on the community.

And she has so much more great work to do!

Something that always stands out to me about El Paso is the strength of our women.

This issue reflects the hardwork and multitude of skills that women in the community exhibit each day that include empathy, attention to detail, and an attitude that does not allow failure to be an option.

I hope to continue to develop these skills in myself as we move the magazine forward, while always looking for more stories to tell about the special people in our community.

Margaret Atwood asserts that “In time, all girls will be able to grow up believing that there are no avenues closed to them simply because they are girls,” and I am completely committed to making that a reality.

For the women reading this, I ask that you please keep a copy of this issue handy for whenever you or someone you know has moments of doubt or frustration, or need some good girl power news to share.

The women in these pages are proof that women can do and have it all, and so can you.

May we continue to rock and rule.