THE ORIGIN BEHIND OUR NAME: "HERd"
The name "HERd" has many different hidden messages that truly showcase what our team strives for: empowering and promoting the inclusivity of the girls and women of our Los Angeles community.
We wanted to choose a name that emphasized the idea of a group/union that walks simultaneously towards a shared goal: a herd. Our shared goal is to create a haven for the ladies in our community to know they have someone they could reach out to for help.
The word "herd" and "heard" are homophones. The word HEARD holds such great value because it lets us know that OUR VOICES will be HEARD and treated as equal to our male counterparts.
We capitalized the first three letters ("her"; the female pronoun) and Girls Build an all-girls initiative.
WE ARE: HERd from Larchmont Charter School
Site Counselor
Faculty Advisor
STACEY MAJOR
Leader of HERd
Project Manager and Leader of the Empowerment Project
TAMMY LEE
GRADE: 11th
ROLE: Website Sub-Committee Head.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: As I grew older, I slowly learned of the difficult life my grandmother and mother faced. It was the female's role to manage the household affairs, be a bride and mother who gave unconditional love no matter the circumstance and give up their dreams. My mother wanted to be something bigger in life, but being chained by marriage in a foreign land, she was expected to give up her life goals. After separating from my father, she started her own nail salon business with her own money, all while not knowing a single word in English. Although my mom had a hectic life managing a business seven days a week for 12 hours, she never failed to give me unconditional love. My mother is my inspiration. She is the reason why I joined Girls Build LA. I want to spread this unconditional love that my mother gave me to the less fortunate girls and women and empower them as my mother empowers me. I want to learn and gain more insight into my community to help everyone to the absolute best of my ability. I want to be a part of the mechanism that makes a change.
Leader of HERd
Co-Chair of Self Defense Keychain Committee
ZAHIN HOSSANE
GRADE: 11th
ROLE: Outreach/Networking Sub-Committee Head.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: About a year ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I joined and helped re-found GBLA at my school, LFP, to support two of my upperclassman friends (now former leaders). By being a part of such a group, I was able to build new friendships, expand my leadership skills, and be more knowledgeable about the world and the people around me. Some of the projects I helped conduct were providing homeless people with essential toiletry items and registering people to vote. By doing these small acts, I was able to produce a positive impact on my community. For this exact reason, I decided to help re-establish GBLA at my school again!
Leader of HERd
Co-Chair of Self Defense Keychain Committee
MARLA HAMAYA
GRADE: 11th
ROLE: Photography Sub-Committee Head.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: I joined GBLA because I was asked to, I thought why not and went to the first meeting. I wasn’t expecting to stay but I soon realized how much I would love it. GBLA has made me realize that although there are many problems that we face we can always come together and fix them. We can inspire and get others to help make a difference. GBLA had helped me look at the problems in our world and think of ways to fix them instead of just ignoring them. I am so grateful that I was invited to go to that first meeting. And I am so grateful that I can get others to join this amazing program as well.
Leader of HERd
Co-Chair of Self Defense Classes Committee
MIA GIAMBALVO
GRADE: 11th
ROLE: Social Media/Graphic Designer Sub-Committee Head.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: My name is Mia Giambalvo and I decided to become a leader of GBLA because of the great example Leah and Emma set last year. They really showed me how valuable the chapter is to our community and how to be a strong young woman in a position of power.
Leader of HERd
Co-Chair of Self Defense Classes Committee
MARJORIE LUZURIAGA
GRADE: 10th
ROLE: Videography Sub-Committee Head.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: GBLA is an amazing way to improve my leadership skills. I want to get to help out the community as much as I can. I would also love to get to know the perspectives of different people. GBLA is an amazing opportunity for me to get to know my fellow peers. I love joining in any volunteer activities, and I love talking with anyone. GBLA will really help me for the future, and I would give my 110% to help out in this amazing program.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Classes Committee
PENELOPE GOLDIN
GRADE: 12th
ROLE: Outreach/Networking Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: Well, I was a member of GBLA in Freshman year, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We worked with girls in younger grades at Larchmont, aiming to empower young women in STEM fields, with a particular emphasis on math. GBLA was a great space then, and I would assume to be now, to focus on female-centric issues of social inequity, and bring about some positive communal change. Making an impact to any degree or size feels good.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Keychain Committee
AZUCENA HERNANDEZ
GRADE: 11th
ROLE: Website Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: The reason that I joined this club is because I want to make a difference in this generation and would like to inform more people on important topics. In addition, I would like to help people in our community who are struggling.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Keychain Committee
AVERY HIPOLITO
GRADE: 10th
ROLE: Outreach/Networking Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: I am thoroughly interested in Girls Build LA. For me, I am interested in aiding my Los Angeles community. As well as being part of a community of young women who impact their area and help grow and support other women around them. I'm an intersectional feminist and enjoy planning and pursuing projects to better my community. I really wanted to join last year but I don't believe it was an option for me. This year I would really love to be apart of this chapter.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Keychain Committee
ERIN JANG
GRADE: 10th
ROLE: Videography Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: As soon as this was announced in the assembly, I took interest right away. This world can be quite scary and I would like to take action and help the community in any way possible.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Classes Committee
RACHEL KANG
GRADE: 9th
ROLE: Social Media/Graphic Designer Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: I want to join Girls Build LA because I want to be part of the change we need. I believe I can help in making an impact not just within our school but in our community. This topic is something I'm very passionate and care deeply about and I would love to be part of something I believe I can contribute on.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Classes Committee
KATHERINE PIERCE
GRADE: 11th
ROLE: Videography Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: I would love to get more involved with the community and to help women out. I feel it is super important that we do things to help the community like this group has already done. I would really love to get involved and help out other women as well and help spreading more positive help.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Keychain Committee
NAZIAH RABBANI
GRADE: 9th
ROLE: Website Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: This is my first year of high school, and I believe I want to start off and continue my high school career with doing something impactful for my community, and could also help it as well.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Keychain Committee
SALLY SHAPIRO
GRADE: 11th
ROLE: Photography Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: I joined GBLA because I like mobilizing young women to help and create projects, which can only lead to wonderful things. It feels really empowering to be surrounded by such smart and capable women, it's really a great community to be a part of.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Classes Committee
LAUREN PARK
GRADE: 10th
ROLE: Social Media/Graphic Designer Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: I would like to join GBLA to work with other women in my community. It would be a great way and place to talk to other girls that may be going through the same issues as me, then helping to solve that problem! I want to help change the community for the better.
GBLA HERd Member
Self Defense Classes Committee
MELIS PAZ SOLDAN
GRADE: 10th
ROLE: Photography Sub-Committee Member.
WHY DID I JOIN GBLA?: I want to join GBLA because I want to start making changes to my community. I feel like I'm on the sideline a lot of the time or made to feel invalid. Joining this program would help me project my voice more and actually lead me down a path of further development. Not just for myself but for my community as well. I've always been very interested in trying to better LA because it's my home and I love it with all my heart. I also want to have a greater and more impactful leadership role because I feel that have great leadership skills and could really be able to carry out a meaningful project. I never shy away from a challenge. Being apart of a group of aspiring powerful women wouldn't hurt either.