About

OUR VALUES.

Independence

Empathy

Vulnerability

Community

Representation

THE TEAM.

Sara Ghassemzadeh

Sara is a queer Persian artist in Pasadena. She is studying Sociology with the intention of pursuing social work. With a background in mental illness and substance abuse recovery, she believes that art can be used as a form of therapy. Sara is passionate about authentic human connection and community organization which she has been able to foster through TRASH MAG. Sara is committed to creating a platform for all experiences to be seen and heard. When she's not curating content, you can find her reading tarot with her black cat, Noir.

Ally Lardner

Ally is a Korean-American writer and stage manager based in Los Angeles. Formerly social media manager for TRASH MAG, she currently heads up the editorial side as Editor in Chief. After graduating from Boston College with a degree in Applied Psychology and Human Development, Ally began working as script coordinator for ABC Daytime’s “General Hospital,” and freelance stage managing in the LA metropolitan area. She is passionate about using the arts to explore relationships and self-perception over time, with a focus on young female BIPOC voices. In her free time, she can often be found talking about New Jersey or Taylor Swift.

CJ Martires

CJ is a Filipina Sagittarius artist of many mediums studying illustration and creative writing in Southern California. On her days off when she's not in the art studio or her local coffee shops sipping on her iced matcha oat milk latte, she likes to plan outfits for events months in advance, make jewelry with friends, and read poetry. CJ is a great advocate for some of TRASHMAG's core values of representation and vulnerability in the creative space, as she ties these themes in her own art. Themes surrounding mental health, AAPI representation, and grief, CJ's goal in her work is to create art for audiences that she wishes her younger self had as a child. You can catch her posting too many mirror selfies @cjmartires or on her poetry and art account, @blankmelodies

Emma Oddo

Emma Oddo is a middle child (and yes, the forgotten child) who grew up in New York with an admiration for community, connection, and collective healing. She’s had a knack for writing since she was a youngin, and even though she doesn’t have the Microsoft Office documents of her short novels that would have definitely been rated for mature audiences only on hand, she couldn’t stop herself from chasing after her passion for writing. She is currently a junior at the Fashion Institute of Technology studying Advertising and Communications.

Wendy Davila

Wendy is a Latina journalist and creative from Orange County. She recently graduated from California State University, Long Beach with her Bachelor’s in Journalism. When she isn’t writing articles, you can find her either at her local yoga studio, having a paint and wine night at the beach or learning about how she can do her part in saving the environment. Wendy focuses on all things sustainability, fashion, health and wellness and women’s rights. She has been writing for the past four years at many publications and loves the thrill she gets when she knows that she is making a difference in her community.

Christina Hara

Christina is a Japanese-American graphic designer and photographer who recently graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Media Studies and Studio Art. In addition to TRASH MAG, she is also the Assistant Art Director at No Kill Magazine, a sustainable and ethical fashion magazine. Passionate about all things pop culture, fashion and art, Christina wants to uplift marginalized/minority voices in different creative communities. When she’s not creating, she loves baking to destress and crossing new movies and TV shows off her watch-list.

Julia Collins

Julia Collins has been a reader and writer since she memorized her library card’s barcode numbers at 10 years old. As an accidental reformed snowbird who is from New Jersey but attended college at the University of Florida, she loves experiencing new things and writing the shit out of them. More like Rory Gilmore than Andy Sachs, Julia studied Journalism in undergrad and Mass Communication in grad school. Julia’s ideal afternoon includes an iced vanilla latte, a warm breeze and her laptop to write about whatever shenanigans the world is getting up to next.

Bergen Flom

Bergen is an artist and creative from Minneapolis living in NYC. She recently graduated with a self-designed bachelor’s degree in Design & Social Entrepreneurship and minor in Gender Studies. Now, she works at ad agency, Carmichael Lynch, as a brand strategist. Bergen is passionate about representation in the media and empathetic community building. When she isn’t putting her heart and soul into her baby, TRASH MAG, she’s probably somewhere sniffing a sweet flower or taking a silly little walk for her mental health.

Corinne Davidson

Corinne is an Asian American journalist and photographer based in Boston. She grew up in the California Bay Area and studies journalism at Boston University. Corinne has been involved with journalism since her junior year of high school and has since written for her college newspapers and other news publications. She loves finding stories, going to events, and interviewing people. When she isn't writing or editing stories you can find Corinne out taking photos, going on adventures with her friends, and making oddly specific Spotify playlists. You can find her posting endless pictures of herself and her friends on @abowlofcurry and her photography on @curryphotoalbum on Instagram.

Peter Villafañe

Peter Villafane is a journalist, poet, and double Scorpio based in Los Angeles. He writes about identity and community. His work explores his identity as a queer, transgender, Pilipino immigrant. He is the co-founder and host of Swing Set Open Mic, an inclusive community event that gathers poets and storytellers of all kinds. He seeks to uplift voices and provide a platform to up-and-coming artists. He is currently pursuing a Journalism BA at California State University, Long Beach. With experience in student media, he writes hyperlocal stories about SoCal culture. @villainfane

Alizha Vernon

Alizha is a Black writer and creative based in Chicago. She received her bachelor’s degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Chicago. While she mainly writes short fiction that explores the relationship between Black women and their grief, she became interested in how journalism could explore these same themes. In her free time Alizha likes to help grassroots orgs and volunteer in Chicago. She also loves to collect CDs and enthusiastically explain what makes a good CD booklet.

Anahita Monfared

Anahita Monfared is a genderqueer, Iranian artist based in the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh lands, colonially known as Vancouver, B.C. Fueled by collective care, Anahita is passionate about intentional unearthing and analysis as a means to accessing authenticity and liberation. Anahita is passionate about centering themes of mental illness advocacy, radical self love and sexual liberation in conversations around wellbeing. An actress and writer, Anahita is currently pursuing a degree in Theatre, with a minor in Psychology at New York University. When they aren’t creating new work, you can find her carefully crafting the perfect playlist for every occasion.

Mary Rose Primosch

M Rose is an artist in many capacities. After getting their B.A. in graphic design and psychology in Southern California, MR moved back to the east coast and is currently based in the lovely neighborhood of West Philadelphia. M Rose loves to work with new mediums, both physical and digital and sees art as their way to understand and interpret the world and empower their community. When she’s not buried in her computer, you can find her walking around the city, at zine club, cooking for friends, or going to art markets.