ANDREA

I met Andrea at an audition for Co-Op Theatre East a few years ago. We've been working on projects together since and I'm happy that she was willing to be part of this one. She is a regular in GirlPower (as both a performer and director) and is now a sophomore at Pace University where she's studying theatre. Andrea has a very bright future ahead of her. I look forward to seeing where life takes her.

Who Are You?

Andrea , 19 years old, college sophomore, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, listener and observer.

What do you believe in?

I believe in individuality, respect for each being and appreciation towards each other and the world we live in.

What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?

I would like to see more human politeness and understanding of the differences of others. I would like my niece to not grow up being concerned about being herself and worrying if she will be accepted for her looks, interests or otherwise. I see myself taking my ideas one step at a time, right now I am at a standstill. I am observing, listening, recording and testing the people that surround me everyday, taking whole heartedly into consideration the things people say and do.

If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?

I don't have any specific artist in mind but definitely just tones and instruments mixed together forming funky rhythms, sounds, and beats.

If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?

Attending school or traveling somewhere I have never been and learning from it.

I Can't Live Without...

Honestly, peanut butter and the internet.

What are you craving right now?

Now that I mentioned peanut butter what do you think?

Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...

I am currently reading a novel called, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann and I am not even half way through it and within the first 20 pages I had to stop and call my parents to thank them for the life they have given me.

What motivates you to do what you do?

When I am inspired by something I have seen, read or been apart of. I want to give someone else that feeling and help them notice or see something they didn't know before.

If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?

I recently watched the film Milk and I was blown away by the confidence, certainty, bravery and beauty of Mr. Harvey Milk. I would want to be his best friend and stand up for something important.

If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?

This is a bit of a silly answer, but I would like to be in the movie Mean Girls(2004). I would like to be the sarcastic, dry and Janeane Garofalo-esk character. I would like to be intertwined with the story line as the voice of reason always telling the obnoxious characters how it is.

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?

A defining moment for me was this past summer when I got to show my parents some of the work I have done and things I have learned. "EMERGENYC" at The Hemispheric Institute @ NYU introduced me to a whole new world I had never known. I got to spend a month out my summer vacation learning, creating and bonding with 20 other artists who are just as passionate as I. When we had our end of the program presentation I got to express my feelings and experience through a spoken word piece I had developed throughout the process. It meant a lot to have my parents be there and to finally share with others the work I had done.

Talk about the best day ever.

I do not have a specific day in mind, but I do know that when I am having a great day it is because I have accomplished something, begun something, learned something or interacted with someone. When I can go to sleep feeling like I have put myself to use, that is the best day ever.

Who is/are your hero(es)?

I am in the process of studying and learning not only academically but about myself. I cannot say who my heroes are because I find it difficult to clarify who I am and what I stand for. I do know what I feel in my heart and that I am often inspired by many people, specifically Anna Deavere Smith. I read two of her books over the summer and she makes me feel that I am right in expressing myself in the way that I do and that it is worth something.

See more of Andrea: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/19/

ZACHARY CRUZ

What can I tell you about Zach? He is a fantastic teacher, beautiful dancer and most importantly, a great friend. Very few people are as loyal and genuine as he. Zach has become one of my favorite people to photograph (you'll see why below). Last year, we did a shoot where we went throughout Williamsburg in the 20 degree weather (you would never know)

Links from last year's photos: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/17/ and http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/18/zach-cont.html . During our last shoot, Zach brought along his girl Marissa, who you'll see below and a few of his other dancer friends. In a few weeks we'll be doing a dancer photo shoot at the theater that Marissa works at. I hope you enjoy the time we spent together and can guarantee that there will be many more Zach photos.

Who Are You?
A city slicking Newyorican from the lower east side Manhattan.

What do you believe in?

That a man creates his own destiny.

What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?

Making a positive influence in a young persons life in creating new future.

If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?

‘Wouldn’t change a thing’ by Coke Escobedo.

If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?

What I’m doing right now or traveling around the world with my skate board in my hand.

I Can't Live Without...

NYC pizza!

What are you craving right now?

The waves in Hawaii under my surf board.

Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...

George Balanchine’s “Prodigal son ballet”

What motivates you to do what you do?

The NYC under ground dance scene, my students that come back all grown up, my friend, family and mentors that all inspire me.

If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?

If I could, I would befriend the Zulu nation. The Universal Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed and headed by hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa.[1]:101 Originally known simply as the Organization, it arose in the 1970s as reformed New York City gang members began to organize cultural events for youths, combining local dance and music movements into what would become known as the various elements of hip hop culture. By the 1980s, hip hop had spread globally, and the Zulu Nation has since established (autonomous) branches in Japan, France, the UK, Australia, Poland and South Korea.

If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?

“Peter pan” young spirited and always searching for a new adventure.

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you Take away from it?

Mom getting sick and having to dance to support are family...

Talk about the best day ever.

9am community service with the kids at coy & girls club of Santa Barbra. 11am surfing at the point, 1pm having $! Beers And $2 tacos with the drummer of the butt whole surfers, 2pm skate to the beach, 5pm clime a mountain, 6pm skinny dip, 6:30 chill with a sea lion,11pm last call at the bar while dancing with some random women.12:30am past the fu#k out.. (True story)

Who is/are your hero(es)?

People who make a positive influence without sweating it.

For more pictures of Zach (and Marissa) check out: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/10/people-who-want-change-zachary-cruz.html

JENNIFER GARVEY

I first met Jennifer Garvey in undergrad at Pace University and she immediately made a strong impression on me for many reasons. She is one of a kind who is not afraid to speak her mind (hah! that rhymes...) This girl oozes passion for feminism and social change. As a women's studies and sociology/anthropology double major, she certainly made the most of her time at Pace and now she applies those skills to her work outside of the academy. When I found out that Jenn was interested in being part of this project I was excited because I'd get to engage with her in the fifteen questions below. I know you'll find her as fascinating and inspiring as I do.


Who Are You?
Jennifer Garvey, Dog lover, Feminist Activist, 22 year old college graduate student living in Brooklyn with no money.

What do you believe in?
Equality.

What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?
I want to see lots of change, but the change I am most passionate about is to achieve equality between women and men. I hope to help achieve this by supporting and taking part in early education for children. We need to stop gendering children at a young age. We need to teach boys and girls to treat one another with respect. To go further, I want to change college rape culture. I have worked hard to help my college, Pace University, adopt a better sexual assault policy, but I feel activists need to go into colleges across the nation to educate students how to fight against sexual assualt. To go back to early education, I feel that we need to teach young boys not to sexually harass, assault, or rape women. I feel that many times adults don't just say, "don't rape women," so there is this blurry line of what is acceptable and that line needs to be clarified for adolescents so that we can lower (and hopefully stop) the occurences of rape and sexual assault.

If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?
Billie Holiday, Neko Case, Langhorne Slim, Pablo Casals, Sufjan Stevens, Tenacious D, Bon Iver, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou, and Rufus Wainwright.

If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?
I would love to be going to graduate school for a master's in Women's Studies (I will be in fall 2010!), as well as own and run an animal rescue. Feminism is my passion, but my heart goes out to all the homeless, unwanted, and battered animals across the country. I foster animals as much as I can, but wish I could run one on my own.

I Can't Live Without...
Sunshine, French Fries, Baking, My French Bulldog, Scout, and my fabulous and supportive partner, Matt.

What are you craving right now?
Well, because I just said french fries, I want some from Pommes Frites in Astor Place with mango sauce, please.

Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...
The, Global Feminisms, exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum changed my life because it helped inspire me to do my own feminist art in my painting and sculpture class at Pace. I made a video that I was very proud of where I took an exacto knife and red food coloring and wrote words that people told me they think of when they hear "feminist." I wrote words such as "bitch," "bra-burner," "slut," "radical," "man-hater," and more. Then after I write all over my stomach, I wiped it off and wrote with a sharpie "FEMINIST" across my red stained stomach, and this all went along to the song "That's Not My Name" by the Ting Tings.

What motivates you to do what you do?
The reactions I get when I go into classrooms to teach younger students about sexual assault and rape. Sometimes the classes would not be very active in the conversation, but then other times the students would almost take the presentation from me and start teaching each other. To know that what I am teaching is making a difference in just one student's college career makes me invigorated to continue to give presentations. I always go in nervous, but when the students are excited, I get excited!

If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?
This is really hard. So I have to choose more than one.
Helen Keller- would love to see her strength in person.
Simone de Beauvoir- so that we could talk feminism.
Sojourner Truth- so I could witness her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech.
Jessica Valenti- because she. is. awesome.



If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
I would totally be in The Goonies. I would just be myself when I was that age, because I was a total tomboy and come from a working class family as well. To be honest it's an awesome movie, and I have just always wanted to ride the water slide in that friggin movie.

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
This is kind of a depressing moment but when I was 15 I finally came out about sexual abuse I endured when I was around 10 years old. Once I came out about it, I felt as if air was being blown into my lungs for the first time in a long time. I didn't have to hide behind the shame anymore because with therapy I realized it wasn't my fault. It also fueled my passion to help fight against sexual assault and rape.

Talk about the best day ever.
Oh my. I'm not sure if it is the best day ever that has happened, or make up the best day ever. I'm going to make it up because that is more fun for me. I would wake up, take my dog to the park and then go with my partner, Matt, to a coffee shop for some breakfast. I would get a text saying a woman won the race for President of the United States. Then, I'd go to the farmers market for some fresh fruits, vegetables, and a bouquet of flowers. All the dogs and cats in shelters everywhere would find their forever homes. Matt would tell me he is not allergic to cats, and we would adopt one (my dog Scout would be very happy about this). I'd teach a women's studies class. Meet up with my best friend at Pommes Frites for lunch. Go to the beach. I would learn how to surf, knit, and horseback ride. Get a massage, take a nap in the park, book a trip to travel around Europe with Matt. Go home, make dinner, bake cookies and fall asleep to the TV show, The Office.

Create a Mandatory Reading List for the World...

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Who Is/Are Your Hero(es)?

My Mother.

Check out more of Jenn Garvey's pictures at: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/06/

LAUREN McCULLOUGH

I'm thrilled that the first person to be put up on the "PWWC" blog is one of my favorite people (now alumni) from the theatre department at Pace University, Lauren McCullough. She graduated with me in 2007 with a BFA in Acting and minor in psychology. Currently Lauren works as a voice over artist in NYC and aspires to be a drama therapist. She is a talented performer and wonderful person. To learn more about Lauren, visit her website at http://laurenmccullough.com/Home.html .



Who Are You?
Lauren McCullough



What do you believe in?
I believe in love, and energy that connects us to each other and the earth.

What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?
I want people to work more from an empathic and sympathetic about the world around them.

If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?
Specifically...Is This Love - Bob Marley, Pretty the World - Matt Nathanson, Unknown Thought - Pearl Jam, That I Would be Good - Alanis Morisette, In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel.

If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it?
Go live in a house, with lots of land and trees. Record voiceovers from a home studio and work with kids using drama therapy.

I Can't Live Without...
Love and Laughter.

What are you craving right now?
Warmth and Sunshine.

Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...
Reading Romeo and Juliet for the first time. My entire life I have believed love is the most important thing in life. When I read Romeo and Juliet for the first time and saw the tragedy of the 2 dueling families instilled in me an eternal heartbreak for these universal misunderstandings that have occurred throughout time. And if people could just project love rather than hate there would be a lot less pain and suffering in the world. Our inability to love everyone destroys the world around us. And Romeo and Juliet is a perfect example of that. Even though these two young, naive lovers realize that love is the most important thing the world's inability to accept love forces them to do things that wouldn't need to happen
if their families would stop feeling hate.


What motivates you to do what you do?
Success, gratitude from others, knowing that I am doing something that effects the world around me.

If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?
I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr lived his life in a way that goes hand in hand with how I would like the world to live and treat others. I would love to have been able to be a part of the work that he did. And passed it on to more people.


If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
This is a really difficult question. We often project ourselves as a SPECIFIC character that ALREADY exists, so to be a new character that needs to be interwined within the story makes it extremely hard to figure out a place and purpose for myself. I think that if I were going to fit into a series I would choose La Femme Nikita, which is a show about a woman you works for a government agency that fights terrorism (almost like a female jack bauer but she's doing it against her will) I would also be an agent and would be her friend in the show. The one person she could confide in because one of the show's constant story lines is how Nikita can't trust anyone. She has no real friends (and certainly not female).

Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?
When my Mom was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. It forced everything in my life to stop, and I had to stop thinking in terms of the future and the past. I could only live in the moment. Each day is a new day. And each day is a gift. I also realized that the one thing I have always
thought was most important, Love, had stopped being a priority in my life. I had stopped living my life to love and be loved. I am grateful for realizing this and being given another chance to live my life the way I want to. To make it count. Because our time is limited.

Talk about the best day ever.
It hasn't happened yet. But I know that it will.

Who is/are your hero(es)?
My Parents, My Grandmother

For more pictures of Lauren, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/01/

COMING SOON!

About People Who Want Change:

* People Who Want Change *
Blog/Photo Project

How It Goes: We spend about 2 hours together at any location (your suggestions welcomed). Location should be chosen based on the first of the 14 questions listed below. I shoot on digital and/or film camera. You will be given copies of all your digital pictures. If you want your photo taken you must agree to answer the 14 questions (below) and have your best photos posted on the blog. http://www.peoplewhowantchange.blogspot.com/.

Um... so... What's the Point? I don't quite know yet what the outcome will be. I'm doing this because I know A LOT of very fascinating socially engaged people doing exceptional work and I want to document it in some way/shape/form. I'm sure this may manifest itself into something different as time goes on.

QUESTIONS:

1. Who Are You?
2. What do you believe in?
3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?
4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?
5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?
6. I Can't Live Without...
7. What are you craving right now?
8. Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...
9. What motivates you to do what you do?
10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?
11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?
12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it? 13.Talk about the best day ever.
14. Who is/are your hero(es)?

Wanna play? E-mail ashleymarinaccio@gmail.com .