Igniting the flame.

Shima 0 comments 08.06.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s WCW title belongs to Christina Nakano, who’s love for children lead her to become a passionate preschool teacher in the South Bay.

Nakano, 29, was born and raised in the South Bay. Nakano says that she always knew she wanted to be a teacher. “There was no other option in my mind. When I was young, I would set up school in my backyard and teach whoever would listen,” she says.

However, when she was in the fifth grade, her teacher, Mr. Barker, really solidified her dream to teach. “He made learning interactive and fun. It was in his class, that I decided that I wanted to teach and make it as fun as possible,” she says.

Today, she is currently working for the Redondo Beach Unified School District as a Preschool Teacher at the Lincoln Child Development Center. Her room is comprised of 19 energetic, open-minded, hilarious 3 and 4 year olds.

She says that the best part of teaching children this age is witnessing their sense of awe on a daily basis.  “Each and every day they are being exposed to new ideas and discovering new things about the world around them,” she says.

The most challenging thing she has found is dealing with the expectations people have for young children and education today. She says that many of the children she teaches have never been in a school setting with unfamiliar adults and children around and on top of that Mom and Dad are at work.

She imagines that it is overwhelming to a child. She sees that parents and administration expect the children to get used to a school setting; learn their alphabet and how to function in society as a respectable human being.

“It’s bananas. As an adult, I would probably lose it. Yet, so much focus is on these standards that we have to meet and hopefully each child can keep up,” she says. What upsets her the most is that she believes it isn’t fair, so she tries to focus on letting her students be children first and foremost.

When Nakano is not juggling 19 energetic kids at school, she is juggling her own two children and being a wife. She says, “Oh man, being a full time teacher, a mother of two and a wife is CRAZY. It’s the hardest and most rewarding part of my life.”

However, because work is fun for her, she doesn’t consider it “work,” and says that makes all the difference. In addition to truly loving what she does, she feels very lucky in the fact that her daughter is able to attend the preschool she works at. Nakano says, “She is in another room, but we are able to spend time together during my work day that I might otherwise miss out on.”

Nakano pays it forward to the community by teaching her students about recycling, gardening and how to care for our Earth. Each year, her class collects recyclables and sort them.  They also have a preschool garden where they use it to teach the children about plants and healthy eating.

Throughout the year, she and her students go on neighborhood walks and pick up any trash they see.  She says, “If I can start healthy eating habits young and make sure the children care for their home and community, then I’ve planted a seed that will only flourish with time.”

When she is not working, she enjoys relaxing at home with her family or going to the beach. On top of being a full-time teacher, mother and wife, she also had managed to include studying on her very busy schedule and is currently finishing her BA through Vanguard University online.

She would like anyone who’s thinking of becoming a preschool teacher to know, “You MUST have patience. Each day is very different and I never fail to smile and laugh at work but when 16+ children want your attention at any given time you can easily get frustrated.”

Nakano loves the South Bay simply because, “We literally have it all.” She says, “We have amazing weather. I can wake up and head to the mountains if I want to, or to the beach or BOTH. We have great restaurants, great night life, amazing parks and the freeway is around every corner it seems like. We are very lucky to live in such a well-rounded community.”

Thank you, Mrs. Nakano, for being a positive light in our future generation’s life and teaching them to be more than just a great student in class, but a greater person outside. You are an asset to the South Bay community.

 “As long as a child has an interest in learning, they will learn. Burn them out and that flame

will have to work 5x as hard to be reignited.”

– Christina Nakano

Leaving no one behind.

Shima 0 comments 05.06.2016

Every Monday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s MCM title belongs to Reginald Jones who has committed any extra time outside of his busy academic schedule to help the elderly, homeless in Skid Row, and assist the mentally disabled.

 Reginald, 23, was born and raised in Long Beach, CA. Today he attends school in Carson, CA, working towards getting his BS Degree in Sociology.

Reginald is the youngest of five brothers and sisters, all raised by a single mother. He says, “Believe it or not, I was the BIG surprise child; my parents are older- mom, 63, and my father recently just passed this February at the age of 93.”

 Reginald say that his father instilled hard work in him and he thrives to be as great of a man as him. Thus, he works at a Senior Assisted Living Facility in Long Beach called, "Vista Del Mar Senior Living".

 He has worked there for the past three years and has grown with the company. He says he started off as the receptionist and is now the Activities Director. He truly feels blessed to have advanced in the company.

 In addition, he works at the Weingart Center in DTLA Skid Row. He says it is a true humbling experience and he enjoys working at the shelter every day. “I love working with the community and the shelter allows me to view another part of the community that is sometimes misunderstood,” he says.

 In addition to working at the senior assisted living and working with the shelter, he participates in many events with his facility such as Alzheimer’s walks, Hosting Community events at the facility, and also getting the residents out of the facility by going on various outings to keep them feeling in tuned with the community. He also works with Giant Steps Program for Mentally Disabled Adults. He says that at this position, he assists the clients in everyday duties such as shopping, cooking, educating them on safe ways to clean and operate cleaning materials, and etc. “Anything that sometimes come easy to a person without any mental disabilities, I assist to help build their confidence in which one day they can possibly do it alone,” he says.

Reginald always knew he wanted to have a career in which he could give back to the community and says it’s crazy how God will place certain things and obstacles in your path to help you find your Niche. Because he grew up with a senior citizen as his father, he assumes it was destined for him.

 He enjoys working with the elderly mostly because he gets to watch them smile at all the little things that happen in life because their wisdom has allowed them to take joy in small things. “It inspires to me to be more grateful for everything I have and to be proud that my elders went through the trenches to allow me to live in the society we are in today,” he says.

 He faces challenges everyday working with seniors. Some of them may have Dementia or Alzheimer’s, some have suffered from strokes, etc. Therefore, he has to make sure he is aware of their differences so they can receive the best care and enjoy all the activities the community has to offer without compromising their lives.

Reginald says one can help by coming to the community and filling out a Volunteer App. Upon completion, one will be screened and the organization will determine which community is best for you.

When he is not working, he loves traveling. He says that whenever he can get a week off and he is not concerned with tuition, school or work, he goes to Michigan to visit family or just travel to other states to see something new and have a story to tell. “To be wise I feel you must see life from every aspect, which is why I love to travel,” he sayss

He loves the South Bay mostly for the community and how “real” it is. “You meet different people from various backgrounds and it makes it possible to be educated on life in different ways,” he says.

 Thank you, Reginald, for being a wonderful, inspirational and devoted member of the South Bay community thriving to make our society a greater place! Your father would be immensely proud.

“You truly must have a passion to work with the elderly, mentally disabled, of Homeless community and in which I LOVE WHAT I DO; and I thrive every day to grow so I can be a bigger source in my community. I plan to one day open a Board & Care for seniors and a Facility for AT RISK YOUTH. I feel without the knowledge of the elderly we can never grow into a bigger better society, and also for the youth; if we don’t help them or show them other ways of being successful even through their many circumstances our community won’t grow.”

-Reginald Jones

Influencing Behavior

Shima 0 comments 01.06.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s WCW title belongs to South Bay native, Jamie Kelly, who joined the army reserve in 2007 as Psychological Operations Specialist.

Kelly, 27, was born and raised in Torrance, CA. In 2007, upon graduating from North High school, she joined the army reserve and deployed the following year in 2008.

As a Psychological Operations Specialist, Kelly’s duties are to influence behavior of foreign populations via media and face to face communication.

When asked what she would tell someone who may be interested in enlisting, she says, “The military can help you grow up and give you valuable life skills that you won't be able to obtain elsewhere.”
She values the friends she has made and “being a part of something bigger than yourself.” However, she says the challenging aspects are reintegrating back into civilian life after deployment.

When she is not working, she enjoys taking her kids to the park, retail therapy, and traveling.  Kelly plans to continue paying it forward by going back to school to someday become a nutritionist or personal trainer.

She wants to focus on health and help people surpass their goals.

Today, Kelly is living in Utah with her husband and children. She says she misses the South Bay mostly for, “The weather, lots of sunny days, legit Mexican and Asian food.”

Thank you, Kelly, for devoting your time and efforts to our military and making our country a greater place

Hear him out.

Shima 0 comments 30.05.2016

Every Monday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s MCM title belongs to Edward Robert Sochia, who’s love for music has inspired him to release several CD’s in hopes of sharing his thoughts, feelings and beliefs to connect with others who've gone through similar experiences.

Edward, better known as EJ, 27, grew up in Torrance, CA. While at North High school, he began writing poetry and songs. He says, “Never really thought I would do anything with it in the future, mostly just a cool little hobby."

However, when he went to El Camino College, he met a producer and says they just clicked and started making music every day. “We made a couple CD's, but never really pushed it. It was still a "hobby" but it was a "hobby" that we were getting better and better at,” he says.

He took a break from music and kind of just started doing other things but still wrote here and there on the side. One night, his cousin took him to a studio and E.J. recorded for the first time in about a year.

He says, “I knew at that point I had to start taking it more serious. This was about a year or so ago. I saved money and released my CD "Lost and Found," which pretty much gives an insight of my life and what I was going through.”

He was most inspired to write by his own life experiences and all the things he has gone through. “Sounds a bit cliché, but my life has been a roller coaster. I'm an emotional person so my outlet to expressing my emotions was just to write it out,” he says.

E.J. says many artists inspire him. “In fact, I like all genres of music. I'm labeled as a "rap artist," but I will be releasing a R&B type CD this June and I feel like it's my best work I have ever done. A few artists that inspired me to make music are Notorious BIG, Usher, all types of oldies, Eminem for sure, and lastly a gospel singer by the name of Ernie Toppin. That man can sing,” he says.

He has found that he writes music in the weirdest places. “My whole last CD was 80% written at my job. I work early around 6 am so coffee and instrumentals is what gets my day started,” he says. E.J. has even written a song walking around the block, and even a few while he was doing laundry.

He says that one time he was so excited about a song he was writing, he left his clothes in the dryer and went home and totally forgot about them. “I record with the well-known engineer Geo the Chef and I’ll book studio time and do 5 hour sessions and just hammer a bunch of stuff out. The vibe is always great and it puts me at peace. Recording is my Yoga for the brain,” he says.

He can't really describe his style, but says he is very versatile and that separates him from other artist. “I can make a club banger then turn around and hit you with a R&B love song. That's why music is so cool. You can do what you want with it,” he says.

When he is not creating music, he is usually working. He says the music stuff gets expensive when you do it right. He says, “You’ve got to spend money to make money.”

 He also likes to work out and play sports, which kind of gets his mind off all the other things he has going on in his life.

E.J. likes the South Bay mostly because everyone is diverse. “Different cultures, backgrounds, all that stuff. but also, we are kind of one big family. Everyone knows everyone for the most part. It's kind of cool honestly,” he says.

Thank you, E.J., for reminding others it’s never too late to follow your hobbies and make it happen…even on top of working to pay the bills. You are an inspiration to those seeking to find the balance between doing what they love and work.

“If something big happens, cool, but I really just want everyone to hear me out. People always say, ‘when you make it big,’ when in reality that's not even the main focus. I feel like my music speaks for itself. So hear me out!”

– Edward Robert Sochia

You can find him on the following platforms:

Instagram: EJTHEPROJECT

Twitter: EJTHEPROJECT

YouTube: EJTHEPROJECT

SOUNDCLOUD.COM: EJ SOCHIA

Voice for children.

Shima 0 comments 24.05.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

Today’s WCW title belongs to longtime South Bay native, Jessica LaBray, who is working as an Applied Behavior Analysis therapist, helping children with autism reduce behaviors like aggression and self-injury.

LaBray, 27, was born and raised in Torrance, CA. In 2007, she graduated from North High school and says it is where she first became interested in psychology.

Upon graduating, she attended Cal State University of Dominguez Hills and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in sociology, in 2012. After taking a year off of school to work and pursue a career in behavioral therapy, she was accepted into Hawaii Pacific University’s school of social work graduate program.

 In 2014, she moved to Oahu, Hawaii to attend Hawaii Pacific University and fulfill her dream of living on the islands. Her grandfather worked for Delta airlines for over 40 years so her family was fortunate enough to be able to travel to Hawaii every year for vacation and I was blessed with the opportunity to tag along, visiting so many beautiful places. I fell in love with the islands of Maui and Kauai at a young age and have wanted to live here for as far back as I can remember.

She is currently about half-way through the program in hopes of receiving a master’s degree in social work. She does not recall a specific time where she realized she had an interest in psychology or social work, however, always knew she wanted to be a social worker and work for CPS (Child Protective Services).

Today, LaBray is working in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy. She says, “I had some knowledge about it but had only taken one behavior modification course during my undergrad program.” It wasn’t until she saw openings on craigslist that she decided to apply, and once she was given the privilege of working with children that have special needs and learning the field of ABA, she fell in love.

Her current position as an ABA therapist teaches replacement behaviors to children with autism to reduce harmful behaviors like aggression and self-injury. In short, they also teach vocal language, sign language, self-care and independent living skills, and social skills.

She says this  is important because these skills can improve their quality of life and open up a wider range of opportunities available to them, as well as lower their risk for incarceration or homelessness as adults. “These kids are my world!” she says.

In five years, she hopes to have her MSW and work with CPS, adoptions, or as a court-appointed child advocate. She says her current job as a behavior therapist is absolutely amazing and the company she currently works for, Easter Seals, has given her the best position she has ever had.

Unfortunately, advancement in her field requires that she becomes a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and since she is already invested in the social work program, she has decided not to pursue that certification quite yet.

Despite loving her major, she says challenges in her study include not having enough time to not only complete assignments, but read and actually learn the material. “Most of the time it feels like I’m just rushing to turn something in or quickly cram for an exam. I work full time from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, so I don’t feel like I’m getting my money’s worth of the program, as I can barely make it to class on time.”

Some of the challenges she faces at work include not having enough energy to keep the kids motivated and happy. “It’s hard to keep a big smile or goofy character voice when you’re exhausted from lack of sleep or anxious about a paper that’s due after work. Personally, those are my biggest challenges,” she says.

LaBray feels grateful to have grown up in the South Bay for its diversity. She says, “In all of the cities I have lived in, I have never had to grow up in a place where everyone looked the same. I love that I was exposed to so many different cultures (and food!) at such a young age. I also love the unity and close-knit ties that friends and families maintained over generations.”

She says that almost everyone has each other’s back. “From being students at NHS and losing our dear friend Hyatt, to national tragedies like the shooting at Sandy Hook, the community came together to support one another,” she says.

She misses many of friends, including those from North High. She says she didn’t realize how valuable friendships were until everyone grew up, moved away and had children.

LaBray hopes that one day the academic system will teach unbiased and historically accurate material and to be accessible (not just free) for everyone. She also hopes that teachers will be paid more in the future.

Thank you, Jessica, for continuing to be a wonderful member of the South Bay, even while away pursuing your academic goals to help others.

“I want to be an advocate, or a voice, for children in dangerous situations. I’ve been in a lot of complicated situations involving my own family throughout my life so I think I can bring the understanding and awareness needed in that field.”

-Jessica LaBray

Doing more than just treating.

Shima 0 comments 17.05.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.

In honor of Nurse's Week last week, this week's WCW title belongs to South Bay resident, Jessica Darling, who has been working actively in the South Bay across several medical departments to improve the lives of many as a Nurse Practitioner.

Darling, 31, grew up in Lomita, CA. Early on, she knew exactly what she wanted to do as her mother and grandmother are both Registered Nurses. In result, she immediately began her educational studies at Harbor College in Wilmington which took a total of four years.

Upon completion, she began working at Torrance Memorial Hospital and while there, decided to go back to school to get her BSN from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. She spent 2 ½ years at CSUDH before transferring to CSULB for another three years, where she received her MSN.

In total, Darling completed nearly 10 years of academics. She says she is often asked why she didn’t just become a doctor. She says she simply wanted to contribute to a field close to her heart, and believes in the nursing model and the science of medicine. As a Nurse Practitioner, she is able to blend both.

Darling worked at Torrance Memorial for eight years in several departments including: Telemetry (1 1/2 yrs), ICU (1 yr), Cardiac ICU (4 years), Case management (1 yr), and OR recovery (1 yr). She moved around as much as she could, and once she felt she learned enough, she’d request to move to another department. Despite exploring many departments, she knew her real passion was critical care, specifically the cardiac ICU.

Throughout the years, she has found the most enjoyable part of her career to be her patients. “I see mostly geriatric patients; they are to me the most fascinating people. I really get excited when I get to hear their stories,” she says. Just a few days before, she had a patient yesterday who was in the battle of the bulge and she says that they have all seen so much & most love to share.

Today, she is not directly saving lives anymore like she helped to do in the ICU but she is improving the quality of life for people in her community working as a Nurse Practitioner. Most of her patients who come to see her are in a lot of pain, so she tries to get a strong history on all her patients.

Darling does not just list their illness & medication history like some do, instead, she asks them about their family, hobbies and goals. “Together, we come up with a plan to palliate their discomfort & get them back to living,” she says.

Transitioning from an RN to a NP was a huge change for Darling since she no longer works in the hospital. Instead, she works alone and no longer has a team of nurses that she sees weekly. She also no longer has MD orders to follow, but if she needs labs, an x-ray, medication orders- it is all on her. That difference alone was a huge adjustmentfor her.

The most difficult part for her has been balancing work with her personal life and remembering to take time out for herself. She says that because medicine is always evolving, it can be a lot to keep up with-- especially for her because she has moved through lots of different specialties through the years (Icu, primary care, rheumatology etc) while most MDs pick one in school & stick with it for life.

In five years, Darling sees herself continuing working as a NP, mastering salsa dancing, running a half marathon as she hates running, vacationing more, and possibly purchasing another home. She also recently began volunteering with a Medical Mission Clinic that meets at various churches in the South Bay. She says they meet together once every six weeks and will be meeting next on June 18 at Calvary church in Lomita.

She says that they begin at 8 a.m. and it is on a first come, first serve. Basis. “I encourage anyone who needs dental or medical services and who does not have insurance to come,” she says.
Darling also teach geriatrics as an adjunct clinical instructor at Harbor College for a few weeks out of the year.

Darling loves living in the South Bay for its proximity to the ocean.  “Like most of us who grew up here, it is a special place for me. It's a place I go to run off the day, mediate, & sometimes just bask in the sun while wearing my spf 80 of course,” she says.

She also loves the small town feel of the South Bay and says there is nowhere she’s gone without running into someone she knows and loves being able to see old friends.

Darling would like others who are struggling to find a career path to know that nursing is an amazing profession to be a part of with limitless opportunities all over the world. “There is still a huge need for nurses-- at the same time I believe it is not a job, it really is a calling. Many people get into it for the money or the 3 days a week schedule. You can tell very quickly & so can patients,” she says.

She says that if you feel your calling is to care for others & you live in the South Bay, she recommends checking out Harbor College or El Camino- since both are affordable, local, and tough, but excellent programs. She says that you can work with your associates degree, but would also make sure that getting your bachelors afterwards is part of your career plan since more and more hospitals are now requiring it.

Thank you, Jessica Darling, for being a wonderful member of the South Bay community by doing more than just treating patients, but truly listening, caring and guiding each person as uniquely as possible to the best of their circumstances.

Taking the Plunge.

Shima 0 comments 17.05.2016

Often times I am asked, “Should I consider a home that is a short sale or simply walk away?"

That ultimatum often leads to buyers feeling stuck- debating whether they should take the plunge or not. In order to best understand a short sale, I want to illustrate this as simply as possible

So imagine a man named Mike. Mike purchases a home with the assistance of a loan from Sarah.

After two years, Mike realizes he cannot make payments towards his loan. This results in a lien on the property- giving Sarah a right to keep possession of the property until the debt owed by him is discharged.

Since he is financially unable to pay, Sarah agrees to accept a mortgage payoff from Mike that is LESS than what he initially owed in order to enable the sell of his home.

This is called a short sale.

A bank may or may not approve the short sale since it brings less money than owed, which results in the sale to typically have some contingencies that must be removed prior to beginning escrow.

However, when the home is sold, Mike is not ecstatic like a typical seller would be. This is because he does not walk away with any money, as it goes directly towards paying off his mortgage. 

Also, Mike’s credit is impaired for up to 4 years now and may have difficulty qualifying for another loan for that length of time. A mortgage relief can be classified as taxable as Sarah (the lender) can issue a 1099, writing off her loss.  Mike should consult his tax adviser for possibly doing the same.

Fortunately for the buyer of Mike’s home- they got his property at a reduced price.

If you or your friend need further expertise on this topic, my team and I are very adept in providing solutions. We will advise you of the advantages and disadvantages so you can avoid legal and financial issues when deciding if you should take the leap.

Stars and Stripes

Shima 0 comments 16.05.2016

Every Monday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place.
Today’s MCM title belongs to Sergeant Ng, who is a Military Police Sergeant in the Army Reserves.

Sergeant Ng, 27, was born and raised in Torrance, CA. Upon graduating from North High school in 2007, he joined the army reserves and completed Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO in 2008.

He was deployed to Basra, Iraq as a Specialist in spring of 2010. He was attached to an infantry company with a platoon of Military Police reservist. His job was to conduct combat patrols, counter IED patrols, quick reaction force, train the Iraqi police force, and other various task that was given to him and his team. He left Iraq in the summer of 2011 and later, was promoted to a Sergeant and was assigned as a team leader. In addition, he attained his bachelor’s degree from CSU Northridge after returning to the states.

Today, Sergeant Ng is a Military Police Sergeant in the Army Reserves. He currently is in charge of a 3-man team. His job is to ensure the soldiers are trained physically, mentally, and proficient in their job as a Military Police soldier.
Jeffrey plans to continue serving in the Army Reserves with hopes of one-day retiring. He says he was inspired to enlist after September 11th, 2001.” It wasn't until I met a high school teacher who was in the Army, where my decision was final. I decided to join to help better myself and help out my family,” he says.

When he is not busy working, he likes to spend my time with his girlfriend of 7 years and working out.
Despite his many accomplishments thus far, Jeffrey wanted to serve in both the military and the community. After the military confirmed his decision to give the police academy a shot, he went forward and is currently in the police academy for the Los Angeles Police Department. He says, “Hopefully I can do both as a reservist and a police officer! It's slightly different based on a community policing scale and going to another country/environment in the military. I just hope to make a difference in both lines of work.”

In five years, he hopes to be working in the law enforcement field and still serving in the military. Outside of serving the country, he likes to donate to charities such as, the Help Me See charity, to give children who cannot see well a chance to see again in life.

Sergeant Ng would like anyone who’s thought about joining to know that he encourages it. “If they want to make a difference, better themselves or serve, the experiences people have are not forgettable,” he says.

He enjoys the South Bay and believes it’s a great place to live. “Everything is around in the South Bay like the beach, great food, and there's always something to do,” he says.

Thank you,Sergeant Ng, for being a positive influence in the South Bay community and continuing your legacy as a person who devotes his time to making our country a safer place.

Moving for military families.

Shima 0 comments 12.05.2016

In honor of Armed Forces Day this month, I wanted to share some moving tips for military families.

Military families often struggle with relocating and children need to know that their concerns are heard. They must feel loved and cared for and this can simply be done by listening to their concerns and finding ways to achieve emotional stability. Sit down with your child and give 100% of your attention to their worries, such as making new friends, starting a new school, etc. Sometimes we get caught up in our own struggles that we forget about the most vulnerable ones.

Children want to feel "special." By giving children a special job on moving “out” and moving “in” day, they will feel a valuable part of the process and realize that their role in the family is just as important to adjusting.

Also, reading positive children's books that explain the moving process will ease their concerns. Possibly set aside time each evening for the child to read a book with you. Make sure to discuss after reading what they thought, felt, liked and disliked.

Sometimes parents think that it is best to tell children last when moving. However, it is critical that your children have the enough time to say good-bye to the family members and friends they're leaving behind. You can make the process easier by purchasing a notepad and asking them to collect addresses, phone numbers and email so they can remain pen-pals.

 

Lastly, remember to be understanding, compassionate and thoughtful every step of the way.

Flying high with Gallo + Hen

Shima 0 comments 11.05.2016

Every Wednesday, I will share a resident of the South Bay contributing to making our community a better place. Today’s WCW title belongs to South Bay native, Vanessa Scouton who on top of being a flight attendant for Virgin America, is the owner and creator behind Etsy’s GALLO+HEN products.

Scouton, 30, grew up in Redondo Beach and is currently residing in Oakland. She moved to RB in the 2nd grade and went to Beryl Heights and went to high school at Redondo Union High School.  During her time at RUHS, she was in the Health and Fitness Academy and was on the Surf Team.

She says that she practically lived at the beach as a kid and could always be found surfing at Topaz or hanging with her friends at Ave A. Upon graduating high school, she went to El Camino for two years and studied Fashion Design before transferring to San Francisco State.

During her last year at state, she was enrolled in just a few classes and was seeking a new part-time job. She says, “I never panned on becoming a flight attendant, it sort of just happened.” Her friend was working at SFO (San Francisco Airport) as a gate agent for an international carrier and helped her get a job there to.

Her training consisted of 6 weeks and says that service was the shortest lesson and probably what most people think they go to training for.  They learned to evacuate an aircraft in 90 seconds, how to fight a fire at 35,000 feet, what to do with a bomb, how to handle crazy people, how to help a pregnant women give birth, and more!

She even says that there's a day that they just show you plane crashes, one after the next. After watching, they talk about each one, why did it happen, what new procedures were put into place because of it, what would one have done, etc. “In a way, it teaches you to separate your emotions from your actions,” she says.

Her favorite day of training was when she got to jump down the emergency exit slide.  She says that a lot of people don't make it through the training and that the instructors are very strict. She says that being on time is considered late, they must receive 90% on all tests, 1 redo for evacuation drills and emergency equipment preflight and procedure verbatim.

 Vanessa personally loves red eyes and does 7-8 two day redeyes.  A typical day for her is report to SFO at 10:05pm and a flies sfo-bos at 11:05pm.  She lands at bos around 7:30 a.m., goes to a hotel and sleeps. A van picks up the flight attendants at 5:30pm and the flight from sfo-bos is 7pm.  She arrives at sfo around 10:30pm and goes home.

Although technically only gone 24 hrs, they are still called a 2-day trip.  She prefers this schedule because it allows her to have enough time with her husband, Carlos, and stepson, Vigo , and also allows for her to work on her Etsy shop.

Overall Scouton feels blessed to have had safe, easy flights with an occasional demanding client on board.

When asked what she’d tell someone who is afraid of flying, she said: “I think the fear of flying really comes from the fear of being in a new space that you don't feel comfortable with and feel out of control.  I have massive control issues!  Before I became a flight attendant, I was super afraid of flying.  My dad and step mom thought I was crazy when I applied.  But, I know I'm in control if something were to happen, I'd be the first to know, and I'm trained to deal with it.  I also go into the flight deck and see the pilots at work and know how professional and serious they are about safety.  Obviously, all flyers won't go through my training.  So, I think the next best thing is to introduce yourself to the gate agent working your flight.  Ask them if they would introduce you to the captain.  My pilots will let you go in the flight deck and show you around a little, help you feel comfortable and give you a little knowledge.  The flight attendants should be your best friend.  Let us know if you'd love an update on weather or turbulence. Getting to know everyone working the flight you are on helps make you feel part of the team and in turn a little bit more in control.”

She says the best part of her job would have to be all the days she gets off and when she does go to work, she feels like she is just hanging out with her friends ...on a plane.  “It’s so nice to not take work home with me.  I might have a bad day, dealt with a crazy person, or bad turbulence... but when I get home, it’s all over!” she says. Scouton also enjoys the time away from home as it helps her not feel caged up.

On top of comforting flyers and being an all-star flight attendant, Scouton is very passionate about her Etsy business.  About four years ago, Vanessa and her then boyfriend moved into their Oakland apartment and had very minimal furniture that did not match.  She says, “We were dead broke and can't afford new stuff.  So, I started refinishing and painting all our things to match.”

Carlos, her husband, loves what she is doing and wants to join.  So, together, they began finding dumped furniture and as a team make them new.  Soon after, people would come over and ask to buy the furniture they were making.  In result, they began creating chests, coffee tables, bars, and a bench.

Scouton says she would paint them bright with fun patterns and would sell them at flea markets or custom orders.  During this time, she also started making pillows and upcycling vintage goods that needed TLC.

What made the beginning of the business so special was that it developed at a time when she was feeling lost and unhappy. “I was starting to be a real bitch to people at work and a total jack ass all around.  Once we started our creative business, my whole attitude changed and a felt a weight lifted off me.  I needed so badly to have something creative for me to enjoy. As much as I enjoy my "day job,” flying wears you out and can feel endless,” she says.

Scouton and her husband named the business GALLO+HEN because she says he walks around like a “giant Mexican Rooster.” (Gallo is Spanish for rooster.  And she is nicknamed Hen, since many years ago she DJed at a few bars as Mama Hen.) You can purchase her products from her website here.

Currently due to their landlord’s request, they put furniture building on hold, however, they have continued selling serape pillow covers.  The pillow colors come in all the different colors and she says they brighten up n living space and add an adventurous vibe.

 Scouton genuinely enjoys waking up on days off and sewing for a few hours.  She also enjoys the process of taking trips to SD to get more blankets and even getting orders packaged and sending emails back and forth with customers.

When Scouton is not flying or sewing pillow covers, she pays it forward by donating clothes her family no longer wears or her step-son Vigo grows out of, all his toys or movies that he becomes to "old" for are donated and never resold.  In addition, her friend Jenette and her are trying to lessen the amount of street cats in their neighborhoods and in the meantime, care and nurture them.

In 5 years, she hopes to continue doing things that make her happy. She sees herself flying, in a home, and doing what she loves.  When Scouton visits the South Bay, she enjoys spending time with many of her life-long friends, going to the beach and enjoying a drink at Old Tony’s.

Thank you, Vanessa, for reminding us that it’s important to chase our passions and make time for those and what matters most.

 

“The fun, annoying, stressful thing about life is you can plan all day long but it doesn't mean shit.  Maybe that's not the mindset of a powerful super successful businessperson, but I'd never envision being that type in a 1,000,000 years.”

-Vanessa Scouton