The editorial team has a special attachment to our new series, The Trailblazers: Rewriting the Narrative, because so many of us feel that media portrayals of women have been too one dimensional. Today, women are doing incredible things in all fields – from science and technology to finance, law, business, athletics and more. With the Trailblazers series, we hope to highlight and celebrate female role models, encourage more equal and just representation in the media, and help foster a more tight-knit community locally helping women find mentors, business partners, friends and more.
Below, you’ll find some incredible trailblazers from in and around Fenway, Symphony, and Jamaica Plain that we hope you will check out, follow and support.
Celina Colby
The other half of my professional life, journalism, began much earlier. I wanted to be a writer from day one. As a child it was my responsibility to guide around my blind abuelo, a lifelong painter, and describe everything for him. Read more>>
Shayla Sandoval
Anyone can learn to style and take care of their natural hair with practice, but the change against the societal norm of what is “professional” or “acceptable” is something that requires confidence, strength, and support. Read more>>
Avery Russell
I’ve always been interested in flowers and in 2014, I decided to go to floral design school locally, in Watertown. With new knowledge and a certification in retail floristry, I delved into supermarket floral for a year. Read more>>
Imani Valentine
Growing up, I battled numerous insecurities that lingered into adulthood. Modeling has been the only thing that has helped me overcome those challenges. I’m not a professional at all, but I sincerely enjoy it. Read more>>
Melinda Mathurin
Through out my adolescence and teen years, I did hair whenever I could for family and friends. I had a passion for hair but easily put it on the back burner as I continued to further my education. I graduated high school in 2013 and went straight to college. Read more>>
Alexia Jay
Majority of my work is bold and colorful which in turn lead me to work a lot in fashion and editorial work for designers and stylists. Like many artists, I started off by collaborating with other artists to gain experience and create freely. Read more>>
Shell Hofstadter
I have always loved taking pictures of people, because I love capturing the expressions and emotions of them. These are the things that are unique to human beings. Read more>>
Leslie Ynfante
Every since I was a little girl I knew God had big plans for me. I strongly believe that what is from within is what makes you beautiful because I am all about learning about peoples background, their story and their values; Read more>>
Mel Ramirez-Gomez
I found my passion and dedication to my clients was sadly being screwed by the owners double benefit!! And so.. 2017 I had the courage and with the help of family and friends to create Studio M new hair new life, where creativity meets happiness! My happy place. Read more>>
Sarah Beaulieu
I spent the first decade of my professional journey in fundraising and communications for higher education and nonprofits. As a new college graduate, I started my career running the 50th reunion fundraising campaign at my alma mater, Brown University. Read more>>
Andrea McDonnell
I found that, no matter what else was going on in my life, I still wanted very much to read and write and I was doing so during my free time. I was probably the most active inter-library loan requester at my local library! For me, the not-knowing was an important step towards figuring out what my goals were. Read more>>
