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All Hail the Queen: Gabrielle Wilson is the 54th Miss Black America

March 19, 2024 by Playa Vista Magazine Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Gabrielle Kaye Wilson is a self-proclaimed nerd. The Marina del Rey resident earned top honors when she studied political science and business economics at Loyola Marymount University. She also obtained a certificate in computer science and data analytics from Mission College. She parlayed her degrees into a position in mergers and acquisitions […]

Filed Under: Featured Story, People

Life with a Landcloud: From dog videos to mental health advocacy

March 18, 2024 by Playa Vista Magazine Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

By Ashley Meza Charishma Cohen didn’t intend to become an influencer. However, the success of her “Life with a Landcloud” content has granted her the opportunity to become a strong mental health advocate in her community. What started off as fun videos of her dog Boomer to make followers smile turned into a successful career […]

Filed Under: Featured Story, People, Pets

Sterling Silver: Local Girl Scout earns award for traffic safety research

October 3, 2023 by Playa Vista Magazine Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Gabriela Tsimanis was fed up with drivers recklessly navigating their way near Playa Vista Elementary School. So, the member of Girl Scout Troop 2155 researched the problem for her Girl Scout Silver Award project. The Silver Award requires a 50-hour commitment. She found that drivers speed and do not halt at stop […]

Filed Under: Community, Featured Story, People

Bettering the World: PDR’s Ali Patton studies conservation in Mongolia

October 3, 2023 by Playa Vista Magazine Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Ali Patton doesn’t take being a marine biologist lightly. The Playa del Rey resident is diversifying her educational pursuits by studying terrestrial and marine animals — all in the name of becoming a great scientist. She’s earning her master’s degree through Miami University and its Project Dragonfly, which allowed her to study […]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Featured Story, People

Walk for Talk: Playa Vista resident honored for advocacy

October 3, 2023 by Playa Vista Magazine Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

By Laura Latzko Toni Gold has long suffered from spasmodic dysphonia, but, frustratingly, the rare disorder is often mistaken for laryngitis or drunkenness. To raise awareness and donations for research for the voice disorder, Gold will participate in Walk for Talk, which is set for October 12 to October 15. During the event, participants around […]

Filed Under: Community, Featured Story, People

Playa del Rey mom is fighting back with Westside Activists

March 29, 2023 by Playa Vista Direct Editorial Staff 2 Comments

By Srianthi Perera When Ahmanise Sanati was looking for a career change in 2006, a relative introduced her to a hospital social worker. The organization’s code of ethics contained the words “challenge social injustice.” It felt like a calling. “There was no turning back,” recalls Sanati, who currently counsels youth affected by foster care, homelessness, […]

Filed Under: Featured Story, People

Building Businesses

September 29, 2022 by Playa Vista Direct Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Playa Vista entrepreneur finds success with multiple ventures By Bridgette M. Redman The entrepreneurial blood runs thick in Geoff Shames’ veins. From selling marked up candy to classmates to co-founding two marketing-related agencies, the Playa Vista entrepreneur has made a career of building businesses that cater to his passions and talents. It all started in the […]

Filed Under: Featured Story, People Tagged With: Crowd Control, entrepreneur, Geoff Shames, Upper Echelon Studios

Championing Diversity

July 21, 2022 by Playa Vista Direct Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

  Adrian Blake Mitchell opens access for local ballet dancers of color By Bridgette M. Redman (Courtesy photo) Adrian Blake Mitchell is determined to see that other young people—especially youth of color—are able to have the same access to ballet that he did. Mitchell and his partner, Andrea Lassakova, recently fled Russia after Ukraine was […]

Filed Under: People Tagged With: Adrian Blake Mitchell, ballet, dancing, diversity, Westside Ballet

Transforming People’s Health and the Planet

May 26, 2022 by Playa Vista Direct Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

‘Master Chef’ contestant Alejandra Schrader makes plant-based eating sustainable By Marin Heinritz Former “Master Chef” contestant Alejandra Schrader got signed to work on her first book the same weekend she found out she was pregnant for the first time. At 46 it was the best possible news, a longtime dream come true for the Playa […]

Filed Under: Featured Story, People Tagged With: Alejandra Schrader, cookbook, healthy food, plant-based, sustainability

Resolving Grief

May 26, 2022 by Playa Vista Direct Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Author and painter Terre Reed shares her journey through loss By Bridgette M. Redman Grief is a multilayered experience and there are many ways to explore, process and live through it. Terre Reed, who lives in both Playa Vista and Santa Fe, shared her grief in a book called “The Wind Blows and the Flowers […]

Filed Under: Featured Story, People Tagged With: author, painter, playa vista, Santa Fe, Terre Reed

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