My goal was to culture jam in such a way that young people who had MTV on their radar would also know about #SayHerName if they didn’t already, as well as find out about the Black Girls Lead conference. Nailed it.

My amazing editor Shana asked me to write about this topic and I was able to include – along with celebrities who don’t necessarily need more fame – some amazing activists who inspire me every day. Nailed it.

I don’t know about you, but I love Lucy Lawless and vampires in equal measure. I got to preview the “Salem” trailer and go full fangirl. Nailed it.

This post is a promise to myself that since I apparently have time to write for pay, I’m going to (gasp!) start blogging on The Lair every day, no matter what. I think I’ve attempted to do this a few times since 2007, but paid work and life have always been obstacles. Despite my legitimate excuses for not writing consistently, I’m going to start taking advantage of this website I pay for and share more of my own creative writing with the world. Wish me luck.

Let me be clear: in this post that you are reading right now, I’m talking to white people (and POC) who identify as “organizers,” “activists” and “healers” in online spaces. I’m talking to people who tie their identity into others perceiving them as “radical” or “influential.” If you don’t identify in this way, you can either stop reading now or continue to read this with an open mind. I dislike that I have to preface this piece with that disclaimer, but I have shared this post in other forms in the past and – without fail - white people comment on the thread assuming I am attacking them personally, or assuming that I have no knowledge about the many ways that white people have been allies to POC in the past.

Bottom line: if this piece speaks to something within you, getting mad at me for writing it is a waste of your time. So, here we go …

If you, as a white person (or POC) identifying as an organizer/activist/healer (who doesn’t have mobility or health issues), spend more time posting on the Internet about POC injustice than actually tangibly helping other people of color ON YOUR OWN BLOCK/in your own neighborhood, you are simply fetishizing our struggle for your news feed.

You are not helping. “Spreading awareness” isn’t enough. It was never enough and it’s not going to be enough in 2015. You are not some one person equivalent of the social media tactics used to support the Arab Spring, sorry. I’ve worked in social media and communications for over ten years; there’s a difference between leveraging social media to support real-world actions and just forwarding a link so you can feel like you’re involved somehow without actually doing anything.

Your commentary alone on/about our struggle isn’t needed and doesn’t change anything in the long run.

Struggle porn for white people (and many POC!) can be a real addiction because it helps people delude themselves into thinking that a click of a button is going to help that person or some faceless mass of oppressed people out there in the world. It’s instant gratification; someone comments on your shared post and you can both go “yeah! this stinks! I don’t agree with this!” and then move on with your day without taking an actual tangible step in your real life to affect change. It’s insidious and addictive. It’s wrong. Break the cycle before you actually convince yourself that you are doing something useful.

Stop simply sharing statistics, i.e. the latest story about a black person being shot; if you really want to make a difference and show that you care, support (WITH IN REAL LIFE ACTION) a local organization or collective of color with your time, resources, $ (if you can spare any), etc. If you claim to be part of a collective or organizing body, participate in accountability processes.

Again, I’m talking to people who identify as organizers/activists/healers: if you are resistant to checking yourself on your struggle porn sharing, you are demonstrating your lack of capacity to support truly effective organizing and community building. If you think being an activist (who doesn’t have mobility or health issues) simply means calling yourself an activist and sharing links online, it’s time to give yourself a reality check.

“But Daniela, I don’t just share links! I do things in my community when I have time! You’re being really judgmental right now!”

Yes, you are right. I am being judgmental, and rightfully so. Many of the same people sharing struggle porn about POC aren’t doing a damn thing to make sure that POC in their own communities know about their events. Too often the same people crying “destroy white supremacy” on their Facebook feed are the same people who don’t notice that their event in a primarily POC neighborhood was attended by mostly white people. What is that about?

I’ll tell you: it’s about apathy. It’s about lack of experience and skills and the resistance to improving both. It’s about being reactive instead of proactive and just “hoping” everything will somehow turn out great without any real effort beyond finding a venue and promoting within the usual channels. It’s about burn-out; it’s about lack of support from you own network of friends/peers and denial about who is really in your corner. It’s about not knowing what friendship really means in practice and struggling with setting boundaries. It’s a lot of things, and it can feel overwhelming, but running from it all won’t fix anything.

But this culture of denial within radical communities needs to stop. As a woman of color, I refuse to play the denial game with “radical” white folks and POC just to be included in things. I want nothing to do with fake, messy bullshit.

Where to begin? To start, make your “social justice” and “healing” events more accessible. There’s so much energy put into organizing events under this nebulous, problematic notion of community — what sort of community are you supporting that ignores what POC are already doing to empower themselves on their own block? Challenge yourself to see how your own privileged realities keep you locked in an ignorant bubble. Yes, it does mean something that you’re calling yourself an anti-racist organizer but your events are mostly attended by white people. I notice it. Other people notice it. I’m sure this might be even embarrassing for you but ignoring the problem won’t make it go away.

If I had a dollar for every time I asked a white person (and even POC!) if they reached out to a local organization of color to support POC inclusion at their events and they replied with “no” or “we thought of that but never did it” … I would have a huge fucking pile of dollars.

Yes, I have a very high standard. I expect “radical” people to take 3-5 minutes out of the hours they spend organizing an event to send an email to a local org/collective of color to start a conversation about a community partnership. Yes, that is my standard—I will never apologize for that. If you have time to make a pretty poster for your event, you have time to reach out to local POC to learn how to tangibly be in collaboration. Your priorities are broadcasted through everything you do and don’t do. It doesn’t make you a piece of shit when you make mistakes. It does make you a piece of shit when you refuse to change anything about your process because it would mean having to admit you make mistakes.

As a person of color, I don’t care that you as a white (or POC!), self-proclaimed organizer/activist/healer are “outraged” by racial injustice. Feeling your feelings and sharing them online – alone – isn’t going to change anything. If you enjoy publicly identifying as an organizer/activist/healer, then prove it by not perpetuating colonizing and oppressive behaviors and actually doing something that tangibly supports people of color within the collective you claim an affinity with, as well as ON YOUR OWN BLOCK/in your own city/region/etc.

If you have the privilege of being able to get out and move and engage with people, and like to tell yourself you care about changing the world and eradicating institutional racism, do more than just post links.

Do more than just throwing together an event and hoping POC will show up. Make an effort. I dare you. Don’t repeat the mistakes of your feminist/radical/riot grrrl idols who assumed the revolution was accessible to everyone as long as they made a zine about it. Do better.

Yet Another Disclaimer: If you have health or mobility issues, only you know what you are capable of doing. For some, the only thing they can do is post links. That’s OK. This blog post isn’t about you, trust me.

OK, back to the “organizers/activists/healers”:

Here’s a fact about fighting racial injustice: it’s 99% of the time not “easy” or “fun.” It has never been easy or fun for people of color to deal with white supremacy or institutional racism. Part of white privilege is thinking that everything has to be “fun” in order for you to participate in anti-oppression activities. No, you’re wrong. Being the person who stays to clean or lock up a community space isn’t always fun. Answering emails or canvassing isn’t always fun. Wiping your own ass or eating your vegetables isn’t always fun, but it’s (hopefully) part of a self-care practice, just as sometimes doing “not fun” things is part of being a functional, reliable organizer/healer/activist.

For example: if it’s too “hard” or “inconvenient” to be a part of accountability processes designed to make the collective you claim to be a part of (or in support of more accessible), and/or to tangibly support people of color in your own area, then you should stop calling yourself an organizer, anti-racist, an activist or a healer because you are none of those things.

That’s right: you’re not a real organizer, anti-racist, activist or healer when you resist opportunities to grow and to decolonize. It’s a fluid state of being; you can always work on yourself but at least be honest about that process. No one is expecting you to be perfect – at least, I’m definitely not expecting you to be. But I do expect anyone I organize with (white or POC) to be honest with themselves about their role in things and to be part of (safe) accountability processes.

I totally get not wanting to participate in loaded, harmful interactions under the guise of “accountability” – I’ve rejected interactions like these in the past. But consider how easy it is to read harm into anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Sometimes uncomfortable experiences are good for you. As children, it’s hard to wrap our minds around this. But as adults, it’s vital to our growth to understand that growth opportunities are rarely “fun.”

The more you delude yourself into thinking that you don’t have anything to work on - that your “work” is problem-free - the more harm you are doing to POC around you. That’s real.

Actually living (versus debating/discussing) the identity of an organizer/activist/healer involves struggle and constantly challenging yourself to do better – to live more authentically and with accountability.

That’s why it’s so much “easier” for many people to lie to themselves that they are actually making a difference for POC by expressing their white “outrage” over racism online. You don’t always get “likes,” cookies, public accolades or badges for doing the right thing.

True “solidarity” doesn’t work that way. If that’s what you need to care about POC struggles, your narcissism and cluelessness is not welcome in 2015, so please work on that. If you as a white person judge your “activism” for POC rights based primarily on how “good” it makes YOU “feel,” you are doing it wrong. Sometimes doing the right thing is completely thankless and doesn’t put you in the spotlight.

Does any of this post bother you? Too fucking bad, I will not coddle you by hiding the truth. No, your white Internet “outrage” and POC struggle porn link sharing isn’t changing anything -if that’s all you’re doing.

Get over it and make a different choice.

If you, as a white person (and POC!) publicly identifying as an organizer/activist/healer, can’t commit to actually doing something for people of color in your neighborhood in real life, at the very least, stop participating in sharing struggle porn with your white friends while you stroke each other’s egos about how progressive you are. It’s sickening.

The disconnect is loathsome; when self-proclaimed organizers, activists and healers pat themselves on the back on the Internet while not even lifting a finger to support POC doing the hard work in their communities, you are perpetuating harmful systems of oppression.

Are you attending and supporting events organized by POC in your area?  Do you share THEIR links? No?

Then fuck you. You are wearing a mask of solidarity, but behind it you are still the status quo, your hypocrisy rising from you, transmitting through ones and zeros and polluting my screen with apathy.

This post was not written to comfort you. It was written to share hard truths. Take it the way you want to - I will not be replying to comments, especially those of the “you get more flies with honey” variety. I don’t want fucking flies, I want humans who ID as organizers/activists/healers to stop lying to themselves about the work they are doing and how effective it actually is.

I’m not asking you to completely stop sharing links that share information about POC/marginalized community struggles. I’m challenging you to think about how much space you make in your life to actually do something real for POC in your own area – and if those actions are even effective.

Evaluate how much energy you put into criticizing specific people online out of some misguided desire to appear “fierce” by “calling out” someone you have never met in real life. I see way too much re-blogging of shade at specific people and not enough follow through on real-world actions that actually make a difference.

Because if it has just become easier to share links and your “outrage” online instead of addressing your real-world choices that impact POC (or your lack of action), you are most definitely doing it wrong and it’s time to stop and reboot your process.

As far as how this plays out in my life:

• I refuse to organize with people who take more than they give and who only offer help when it involves being in the spotlight
• I refuse to organize with people who project their issues and trauma onto me and are in denial about how this plays out in harmful ways
• I refuse to organize with people who aren’t capable of discussing complex topics in real life or (at the very least) by phone with others before they go online or into real-world communities and participate in slander
• I don’t seek affirmation or acceptance from people who I don’t trust or respect just so I can be included in an article, event or viral video

Some might think that making these choices would limit my opportunities or shut me out from community. Nope! It has been the opposite experience for me; by removing toxic people from my personal & organizing networks, my life has improved dramatically and I’m able to more effectively organize:

• I attract people who aren’t afraid to work on themselves
• I attract people who support my self-care in tangible ways
• I attract people who operate from a basis of good intentions and trust, who don’t define their self-worth through attempting to tear others down
• I attract people who left “cool kids” exclusionary bullshit back on the playground and are interested in authentic relationships

I set a high standard and I’m better off because of it.

Ever since I founded POCZP in 2010, I’ve always made an effort to not be “the face” of the work. The project was never about promoting myself – it started as a way to share and curate information about zinesters of color. I was always very uncomfortable with being the literal face of POCZP (I talk about why in an interview here) and would avoid interviews and public appearances that intended to center me as a spokesperson. I would pass on opportunities to other POC or include them in opportunities so I wasn’t the only person standing in front of a crowd functioning as a “representative” of POC zinesters (there isn’t one person who can represent all people of color).

After five years of resisting my face/identity being the representation of POCZP, I’m no longer afraid of anyone’s potential misunderstandings or assumptions. I’m taking opportunities tied to POC Zine Project’s work that support my own self-care process and my creative goals. I’m now OK with being the literal face of POC Zine Project in strategic ways that support the sustainability of the project and contribute to my own healing process.

The residency at the Ace Hotel New York is an opportunity for me to give 100 percent of my time and energy for one night into creating zines that help me to reflect on the past four years of running POCZP. I will be sharing these zines in print and online later this year and I look forward to all feedback. The Ace Hotel New York will also be adding the zines to their permanent collection of art.

My upcoming residency at the Ace Hotel New York isn’t my first artist residency. In 2010, I co-organized a 30 day artist residency in Paris with AM, a friend and collaborator. This residency in 2015 will be my first solo residency and I’m looking forward to seeing what I’m capable of creating in one night.

______________________________

SUPPORT POC ZINE PROJECT

Weâ€ve been working on ways to remain sustainable in the long term while individually practicing self-care. In the meantime, you can support the cause by sending us a gift of any amount. All funds go to ongoing advocacy costs, the Legacy Series and the poverty zine series. If everyone in our community gave $10, we would more than meet our fundraising goals for 2015.

DONATE link via PayPal: http://bit.ly/SHdmyh

Ms. Hightower shared valuable information about understanding your credit score and how to improve it overall — and to meet specific goals (homeownership, business loan approval, paying off student loans, etc.).

Here are my notes from the session (including additional research I did at home):

 Understanding Credit Scores & Credit Reports

Ms. Hightower shared that credit scores commonly range from 300 to 850. Most lenders prefer FICO scores above 640. This is usually the case if you want to purchase a home. 620 is sometimes accepted but 640 and up is better. Lenders believe that the higher your credit score, the lower the risk.

Credit Score Breakdown*

Excellent credit score: 720 and Up

Credit scores in this range will open up the best interest rates and repayment terms for loans. If you want to make major purchases, such as an investment property, this credit score range is where you want to be.

Good credit score: 680 to 719

A credit report score in the 680-and-up range is good news for you. You can still get decent terms from lenders, although not as nice as those offered to borrowers with truly excellent credit scores. If you’re shopping for a first home, a score in this range is certainly considered to be a good credit score, and it will get you an acceptable mortgage. You’ll likely also be able to refinance your mortgage for better terms on an existing payment structure.

Average credit score: 620 to 679

This is the absolute minimum credit score you can carry and still get fair mortgage terms. Smaller-ticket items that require financing are doable in this range, which is several notches below a good credit score. However, you’ll be better served by reviewing your credit history report and taking steps to improve your credit score.

Poor credit score: 580 to 619

Although you won’t necessarily have any problems getting loans with a credit report score in the high-500 to low-600 range, you’ll get those loans on lenders’ terms. Be ready for higher interest rates, and expect finance charges that will hit you right in the wallet. The good news is that you can build your credit score from here by monitoring your credit reports and by being responsible with your finances. Note that this range is also the lowest workable credit score range if you’re shopping for auto financing.

Bad credit score: 500 to 579

If your credit falls somewhere in this credit score range, financing terms will cost you big-time. For long-term loans, such as a 30-year mortgage, expect to see interest rates that are at least three percent higher than interest rates awarded to borrowers with good credit. For shorter-term loans, like a 36-month auto loan, the effects of your bad credit score are even more pronounced. Expect interest rates almost double those offered to consumers with good credit scores.

Miserable credit score: Less than 500

At this point, your credit score is so bad that getting any type of financing is almost impossible. If you can get loans, they’ll carry nearly punitive interest rates. If your credit report score is below 500, it’s time for action. Get a copy of your credit history report, and make an appointment with a credit counselor.

To lenders, unfortunately, all your other positive qualities (including work history and professional references) mean very little if you have a low credit score. However, no score says whether a specific individual will be a “good” or “bad” customer. There is no single “cutoff score” used by all lenders and there are many additional factors that lenders use to determine your actual interest rates. But to cover your bases, itâ€s always best to play it safe and strive to attain and maintain the highest credit score you can (tips on how to do this are further down in my notes).

Credit scores are often called FICO scores because most credit bureau scores used in the U.S. are produced from software developed by FICO (Fair Isaac and Company). But itâ€s important to understand that not every credit score you can buy online is a true FICO score. A FICO score is the most widely used credit score, created by Fair Isaac Corporation. Lenders use the FICO score to help them make billions of credit decisions every year. Fair Isaac calculates the FICO score based solely on information in consumer credit reports maintained at the credit reporting agencies.

Keep in mind that your credit score does not factor in things like paying your rent and utilities on time. It will, however, factor in if your utility providers send you to collections for outstanding balances (same if the rental company or your landlord reports to credit agencies that you are late on your rent payments). Your FICO Score considers both positive and negative information in your credit report. Late payments will lower your FICO score, but establishing or re-establishing a good track record of making payments on time will raise your score.

A credit score is a numerical expression derived from a statistical analysis of a person’s credit files. A credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of that person, which is the likelihood that the person will pay his or her debts in a timely manner. A credit score is primarily based on credit report information which is typically sourced from credit bureaus / credit reference agencies. Higher scores are considered better.

This system was developed by lenders, such as banks and credit card companies who use credit scores to evaluate the potential risk posed by lending money to people and to mitigate losses due to bad debt. Lenders use credit scores to determine who qualifies for a loan, at what interest rate, and what credit limits. Other organizations, such as mobile phone companies, insurance companies, employers, and government departments have begun to employ the same techniques.

A credit report contains all of the detailed information in person’s credit file maintained by a Credit Bureau. Think of it as an accumulation of information about how you pay your bills and repay loans, how much credit you have available and what your monthly debts are that could be provided by the Credit Bureau in a consumer report to a third party, such as a credit card company or a lender. The data in a credit report is interpreted through a complex mathematical process to determine a credit score, which is a single number.

When lenders order your credit report, they can also buy a credit score thatâ€s based on the information in the report. A credit score helps lenders evaluate your credit report because it is a number that summarizes your credit risk, based on a snapshot of your credit report at a particular point in time.

Your credit score influences the credit thatâ€s available to you and the terms (interest rate, etc.) that lenders offer you. Itâ€s a vital part of your credit health. When you apply for credit – whether for a credit card, a car loan, or a mortgage – lenders want to know what risk they’d take by loaning money to you.

Your credit score is calculated from your credit report. However, lenders look at many things when making a credit decision including your income, how long you have worked at your present job and the kind of credit you are requesting.

The Ten Biggest Credit Mistakes

Ms. Hightower shared ten common mistakes that negatively impact your credit score, making it difficult to for you to gain employment (most companies run credit checks on potential employees these days), secure a personal or business loan, establish a line of credit, purchase a home or vehicle and more. Some of these mistakes are probably already on your radar, but a few were things I never considered before …

1. Missing Payments

Credit Scores are based on your credit history. Past and current accounts are reviewed in order to predict how likely you are to miss payments in the future. Missing payments will hurt your credit score.

2. Closing Credit Card Accounts

A common misconception is that closing credit card accounts will increase your credit score. There are many reasons you should not close credit cards that you no longer use. Some consumers think that closing a credit card that is past due will make the delinquency go away, which is not the case.

3. Settling debt on a past due Account

“Settling” means accepting less than the amount you owe on an account. Some lenders may negotiate with consumers for a fee that is less than what the consumer owes but are willing to accept it in lieu of getting nothing at all. While this may seem like a good idea, be aware that the lender will report the remaining amount to the credit bureaus as a negative balance.

 A deficiency balance is considered just as negatively by credit scoring models as other severe late payments. However, settling a debt is better than ignoring the debt and not making any payments at all.

4. Incurring High Balance too Close to your Limit

Thirty percent of the FICO score looks at the amount owed compared to the amount of available credit. Having high balances on your credit cards will inevitably cause your credit scores to decrease dramatically.

5. Excessively Shopping for Credit

Applying for credit causes a hard inquiry on your credit report. An inquiry is a record of who pulled your credit report and on what date. Consumers who have more inquiries are higher credit risks than consumers with fewer inquiries.

6. Thinking that all credit scores are the same …

A common misconception is that there is only one credit score. In reality there are many different credit scores used by lenders. There are even some check approval services that develop risk models and scoring that are based on check writing patterns, in order to predict the risk of a particular check being returned.

7. Thinking that all Credit Scores Predict the Same Thing

There are many different models that predict things other than general credit risk. Scoring models have been built to predict many things.

8. Not Knowing Your Rights Under The Fair Credit Report Act

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a federal law that regulates collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including consumer credit information. You have rights under the FCRA that you should familiarize yourself with, and are available on the Federal Trade Commission web site, www.ftc.gov.

For example, it is your right to get one free credit report per year. You can access your credit score today at https://www.creditkarma.com/. Credit Karma provides users with their TransRisk New Account Score, VantageScore, and Auto Insurance Score as supplied by TransUnion. Credit Karma is not a credit bureau or credit reporting agency. They do not maintain or calculate your score. They simply act as your agent in retrieving your score from a Credit Bureau. Inquires made on your behalf will not be shown to creditors and will not affect your credit score.

The TransRisk score is calculated by TransUnion using their proprietary scoring model and is the original credit score provided on Credit Karma.

The VantageScore is calculated by TransUnion using the VantageScore model, developed jointly by all three major credit bureaus. This model introduces the first, consistent scoring methodology shared by all three bureaus. The Auto Insurance Score is a numerical measurement of the risk a consumer may pose to an insurance company. This score is calculated from data derived from a consumer’s credit report.

At www.annualcreditreport.com, you can get your credit reports from all three bureaus at once. By law, you have the right to access one free credit report per year, per agency. Donâ€t use an old credit report to assess your credit. Credit reports don’t always have your credit score, but they do have your credit history. I recommend you check both annualcreditreport.com and creditkarma.com to get the complete picture.

9. Not Knowing That You Have Three Credit Reports & Three Credit Scores

Many consumers do not know that they have three credit reports compiled and maintained by three separate & competing companies called credit reporting agencies. These companies are essentially warehouses that store your credit history and sell it to lenders who may or may not grant you credit.

If you want to be extra thorough, you can individually contact each of the three major credit bureaus and get a credit report from each of them, but usually your free Credit Karma report is enough to get you started on your path to improving your credit score.

The Three Major Credit Bureaus

Here’s how to contact the three major credit bureaus to ask about or obtain your credit report or credit score, alert creditors to a possible fraud using your name, or for any other reason:

Equifax: 800-685-1111 (general) or 800-525-6285 (fraud); P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374; www.equifax.com

Experian: 888-397-3742 (general and fraud); PO Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013, www.experian.com.

TransUnion: 800-888-4213 (general) or 800-680-7289 (fraud); P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022; www.transunion.com.

The FICO score has a different name at each of the credit reporting agencies. All of these scores, however, are developed using the same methods by Fair Isaac.

Each bureau is required by law to give you one free credit report per year. Keep in mind that your credit score isn’t usually included on the free reports — you can pay extra for that, or just check it for free on creditkarma.com. But you need both your credit report(s) and credit score to effectively evaluate how to pay down all your debts and improve your credit score.

10. Not Having Credit

If a credit file does not have enough information to generate a credit score, it is often called a “thin file.” Using credit responsibly is the best way to ensure a solid credit score. In some cases, you can have someone (like a parent, legal guardian, or trusted friend/family member) co-sign on a card with you to help you build your credit (make sure they are trustworthy!).

Taking Control Of Your Credit: Ten Things To Consider

You CAN improve your credit score by learning how to understand your credit report, creating a plan of action and sticking to it. Some people can dramatically improve their credit score within a year, so be patient and access as many resources as you can to stay on track.

Obviously if you donâ€t have a job or any money, improving your credit score is the least of your concerns (although unfortunately a low credit score can prevent you from being hired at many companies, renting an apartment, etc.). These notes assume that you have at least some income and at least $100 additional dollars a month to set aside toward paying down your debt(s). There are nonprofits dedicated to helping people take control of their credit scores, so even if you are unemployed or financially struggling, itâ€s worth it to see what your options are.

As you prepare your plan of action, consider these points:

1. The first thing any lender wants to know is whether you’ve paid past credit accounts on time. This is one of the most important factors in a FICO score. Make it a priority to negotiate your payment plan to a solution that results in you being able to send each payment ON TIME. This may not be possible with every outstanding balance, but it doesnâ€t hurt to try.

2. In general, a longer credit history will increase your FICO score. This means your credit score will improve over time, so be sure to use a credit card on a regular basis in a FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE way: make small purchases every month that you pay off on time (gas for your car, groceries, etc.). If you can, also use your credit card for larger purchases (that you pay off on time), but youâ€d be surprised how much you can improve your credit score by paying off those regular small purchases (on time every month). However, even people who haven’t been using credit long may have a high FICO score, depending on how the rest of the credit report looks.

3. If you donâ€t have a credit score yet or have a decent to great credit score and want to improve it in order to meet a lending goal (like being eligible for a home loan), establish at least three types/lines of credit and make sure to pay your balances on time. This can be a credit card, a retail account like a Macyâ€s card, installment loans with a bank (like a car note), a mortgage, etc. BUT BEWARE: research shows that opening several credit accounts in a short period of time represents a greater risk – especially for people who don’t have a long credit history.

So if youâ€re just starting to build your credit, donâ€t go overboard and suddenly apply for every credit line you can. Pace yourself.

4. Ultimately, reducing your debt won’t work if you don’t create a spending plan that allows you to live within your means and pay down your debt at the same time. A spending plan or budget is a critical to improving your credit score.

5. There are two primary forms of debt: secured debt (e.g., mortgage debt or car loans) and unsecured debt (e.g., credit card debt). A good credit counselor will review your secured debt and your unsecured debt. The goal will be to first stabilize your financial life at home and make sure you can eat, keep the lights on and pay your rent or mortgage. Then, your counselor will look at how to best deal with your credit card debt.

6. A DMP is a payment plan negotiated with the credit card company by a nonprofit consumer counseling company to help you get out of debt. In most cases, the DMP will do the following:

• It will give you a five-year plan to get your debt paid off completely.

• It will lower your interest rate on your credit card debt (or unsecured debt)—usually to less than 10 percent. In many cases, companies will lower the rate to 0 percent interest, provided you pay the bills on time.

• It will end the over-the-limit fees and annual credit card fees you are being hit with.

• It may waive your late fees on credit cards.

• The nonprofit organization will pay your bills for you (once you send the money to them), and they will show you proof of your debt being paid down.

• The credit card company may or may not report your account as being on a DMP to the credit bureaus, and it can affect your credit score.

• You may be asked to sign a DMP agreement making the payment plan terms official. Read this in detail before you sign it.

 7. Find a nonprofit credit counseling organization that is affiliated with one of two major credit counseling membership organizations. These two member organizations will refer you to a credit counselor in your area that you can work with. Both organizations worked with millions of people last year, so trust me, they have seen it all.

National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)

• DebtAdvice.org

• Toll-free: 800-388-2227

Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies

• AICCCA.org

• 866-703-8787

8. Any nonprofit credit counselor who is honest and worth trusting won’t do the following:

• They won’t pressure you to sign up.

• They won’t charge you a huge sign-up fee. In most cases, the sign-up cost for a nonprofit credit counseling organization is $75 (and maybe less).

• They won’t charge you a huge fee each month. In most cases, the monthly fee for a nonprofit consumer counselor is $50 or less.

• They won’t tell you to stop paying your credit card debt or other debt so he can negotiate a better deal for you.

• They won’t tell you he can sue the credit card company on your behalf.

• They won’t recommend a DMP first, before he really looks at your overall financial picture.

9. IMPORTANT: Although the Fair Credit Reporting Act states that each consumer is eligible for one free credit report from each credit bureau per year, this does not include tri-merge reports. A tri-merge credit report is a report that contains the data from all three of your credit reports combined into one. You can purchase a tri-merge credit report from any of the three credit bureaus– Experian, Equifax or TransUnion.

Keep in mind that the credit scores provided with any tri-merge credit report you purchase are only “educational” scores. They are not the same scores used by lenders (so make sure you know what your true score is before you approach a lender for big purchases like a car or home). You may purchase your actual Equifax and TransUnion scores from myFICO.com. Experian no longer sells scores to individuals.

What you get from a free source like Credit Karma is NOT a tri-merge report but is enough for you to assess the general state of your credit and take steps to improve your score.

10. Use a monthly spending plan worksheet and calculator to create a budget that you can stick to—and save with—every paycheck. Hereâ€s an example.

Want To Purchase A Home? Donâ€t Forget These Three Tips

1. Make sure that during the time that your credit is being pulled by potential lenders, that you are using 50% or less on each of your credit line limits. 30% or less is ideal, in general.

2. Use your older credit cards and pay them off first.

3. Limit the amount of credit inquiries to as little as possible (donâ€t start applying for new lines of credit if you can help it).

These three tips are useful to anyone looking to improve their credit, but are essential to would-be homebuyers.

Improve Your Credit Score: A Sample Plan

1. Get your credit score from the past year (ex: creditkarma.com). Their dashboard shows you some details from your credit report, but it’s best to get the actual reports from the bureaus themselves.

By law, you have the right to access one free credit report per year from each bureau (but they don’t include your credit score – you can pay extra to have them included if you want, or just reference the score on creditkarma.com). Donâ€t use an old credit report to assess your credit history. At annualcreditreport.com you can get reports from the three major national credit bureaus at once, for free (once a year).

Remember that knowing your credit score alone won’t help you figure out how to improve the score — you need your credit report(s) too.

2. Review that the information in your credit report(s) is accurate and address any errors or issues. Verify that things like your social security number, date of birth, home addresses from the past 7-10 years, credit accounts, inquiries and more are accurate. Reviewing these things are essential and can help you determine if your identity has been stolen.

3. Pay down your balances. Access a credit counseling service to help you with things like creating a budget and action plan, consolidating your payments and more.

4. Dispute any incorrect information on your credit report. This is not optional; the longer you wait, the more this can potentially harm/lower your credit score.

5. Reduce your installment loans to less than 10 months remaining. This will demonstrate to lenders that you are reliable.

6. Use your credit card to buy low priced items and pay them off every month (gas, groceries, etc.).

7. Reduce (as much as possible) your outstanding long term debts (ex: car payment).

8. Commit to making your loan or outstanding balance payments on time. Set alerts on your phone and create a calendar of payments. Set up automatic withdrawals from your checking account, if you can. Donâ€t forget to make payments on time; this is critical to improving your credit score.

9. Do not borrow more than 50% on each credit card at a time. You donâ€t want it to appear to lenders that you are living beyond your means. You also, in general, should try not to spend more each month than you actually make in income.

10. If you have no credit or bad credit and canâ€t get a regular credit card, apply for a secured credit card and start building your credit with that.

A secured credit card requires you to make a deposit against the card’s credit limit. Your credit limit will usually be a percentage of your security deposit or it may be the same as your deposit (ex: you put in a $500 deposit and then your secured credit limit is $500). Many banks place your deposit into an interest-bearing savings account where it stays until you close your account, upgrade to an unsecured credit card, or default on your credit card balance.

Secured credit cards act just like regular credit cards. Purchases reduce your available credit and you’re required to make monthly minimum payments on your balance. If your secured credit card has a grace period, you can avoid paying finance charges by paying your balance in full each month. Late payments and over-the-limit transactions are penalized with a fee.

Some secured credit cards review your account after a certain amount of time, e.g. 12 months, and upgrade you to an unsecured credit card if you qualify. You can improve your chances of qualifying for an unsecured credit card by making your payments on time and keeping your credit card balance low. Even if your secured credit card issuer doesn’t upgrade you to an unsecured credit card, you may qualify for an unsecured credit card with another credit card issuer after six to twelve months. That’s assuming your secured credit card has reported your credit history to one of the major credit bureaus.

11. Address any charge offs (when a creditor sells your debt to a collection agency), judgements (public record items usually tied to property), collections (delinquent balances) and liens (usually tied to unpaid bills pertaining to property you own) on your credit report ASAP. Those are the biggest red flags that lenders and potential employers look at.

12. Donâ€t stop paying down a debt to demonstrate hardship. This is one of the mistakes that MANY people make. To settle (paying a smaller sum at once than the true balance) is even better than to have a debt just sitting there for more than 30 days. Do whatever you can to start making any kind of payment at all on all your debts, especially those on your oldest lines of credit or bills that have gone to collections.

13. Document your payment arrangements EVERY TIME. In fact, document all pertinent details every time you call a collection agency/creditor. Track the date and time of the call, the name of the person you spoke with, your payment agreement, etc. Make a paper trail. If you can get an email address and/or a summary of the agreement emailed to you, even better. You will need these details to address issues on your credit report.

14. Track down and get copies of all your paid in full letters. Sometimes creditors donâ€t report to the credit bureaus when you have paid off a debt, or they will report it many months later.

You have the power to update your credit report if you have a copy of your paid in full letter. Whenever you have an account paid in full, send a copy of the paid in full letter to each of the three bureaus; they must update your credit report in 30 days, by law.

15. Maintain three credit accounts (ex: credit card, care note, student loan) if you plan on ever purchasing a home or large equivalent purchase.

16. Accurately report your debts on any credit applications or job applications. This information is readily accessible so lying about it may just cause you more problems.

17. Donâ€t apply for any new credit cards while attempting to purchase any large items on credit.

18. Keep in mind that medical bill collections are not looked at when applying for an FHA loan, but do try to address any medical bills as much as you can because they affect your credit score as well.

There isnâ€t a one-size-fits-all credit-building solution that will work for everyone, but hopefully my notes help you figure out what makes sense for you.

You can improve your credit score in as few as three to six months (or even more quickly, if you discover that some of the errors being reported aren’t really your own). Many folks can bump their credit score into the good to great range within a year. Generally speaking, your actions will begin to positively affect your score in 30 to 60 days.

I really enjoyed my first financial literacy seminar through ULGNOYP. Ms. Patricia Hightower was an excellent speaker and I appreciated her thoroughness. She made the process of understanding my credit report and the options I have for improving my credit score clear and accessible.

Iâ€m looking forward to the next financial literacy seminar in the series and will again share my notes.

ABOUT ULGNOYP

ULGNOYP is an Urban League of Greater New Orleans auxiliary of young professionals committed to promoting and supporting the ideas and goals of the Urban League movement throughout the New Orleans area through community outreach, fundraising and membership development.

Their monthly financial workshop series is free and open to the public.

http://www.ulgnoyp.org

facebook.com/ulgnoyp

@ULGNOYP

*Freescore.com

By Daniela Capistrano / @dcap

“The single most important thing you can do [to break into the industry] is to make games – even if itâ€s a mod of a game that you love. Get together with other people and build a game.”—Amy Jo Kim, CEO at ShuffleBrain and Game Designer, Author and Educator

So, youâ€re a girl and you love video games: twenty years ago this would have been unusual but today almost everyone in the U.S. is a gamer: a 2011 survey indicated that 72 percent of households play video games and the number is growing. A 2013 study revealed that women comprise 45% of the gamer population. Women 18 or older represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (31%) than boys age 17 or younger (19%).

The struggle: why few women go from gamer to creator

Unfortunately the video game industry is remarkably less diverse; The Boston Globe reports that women account for only 11 percent of game designers and 3 percent of programmers. Gender discrimination still exists both in how games are made and who gets to make them. Not only do we need more female characters in video games, we need more women and girls to create games.

Women still struggle with making a living and being respected in the video game industry. A 2012 Twitter discussion among women working in games (#1reasonwhy) pointed out that sexist practices, workplace harassment and unequal pay for men and women was common. 

There is, after all, a reason that #1reasonwhy is still a relevant hashtag.

— Robin Burks (@sunriserobin) March 5, 2014

There’s a 27 percent gap in average incomes, with women making $68,062 versus men at $86,418, according to Game Developer Magazine’s 2011 annual salary survey.

More roles for women in games

Men historically have had more influence within the industry, but the culture is changing. Female programmers are in demand and more women are taking advantage of video game design programs at universities across the nation. Reuters reports that the number of women hired by game companies has tripled since 2009, according to recruiting firm VonChurch.

To find out what it takes to succeed in the video game industry, Daniela Capistrano spoke with some of the leading women in video games. The result is this mini guide for girls and women of all ages who want a career making and contributing to gaming culture.

If you’re a guy and you stumbled across this, welcome! There’s plenty of relevant information here for you too.

DISCLOSURE: Despite its length, this article full of industry tips and online resources is called a mini guide because it only represents a third of what Daniela uncovered. To unhide all the goodies hidden within this guide, click the “show/hide” buttons.

The beginning: prepare yourself for a job in the industry

Women of all backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive in the video game industry while changing the way that women and people of color are represented in games – but they need the skills, personal habits and networks that will support their career goals.

Students: Do not believe the myth that boys are better than girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) – itâ€s not true. While STEM skills are helpful in the video game industry and female programmers are needed, you donâ€t need to know how to code to work in video games (but consider learning anyway!).

If you want to make video games, start doing it now and teach yourself about the video game industry. Find ways to make learning fun and practice your developing talents. The path to a successful career in video games (regardless of gender) is similar to whatâ€s required in most industries: being self-motivated, asking questions, learning/applying the necessary skills and finding peers and working professionals willing to offer guidance and mentorship.

Weâ€ll explore how to do all these things further in this mini guide.

College grads and women in other industries: Donâ€t be discouraged if you didnâ€t excel at STEM in school, donâ€t know how to code or donâ€t have a degree in Computer Science. If you are passionate about video games and want to work in the industry, there are many opportunities for you to apply the skills youâ€ve attained through other work experiences.

If a kid can make games, so can you (watch this inspiring clip of Globaloria students)!

Some video game positions require more advanced technical skills than others, but all require the commitment to understanding how the industry works, where itâ€s headed and what youâ€re best suited to do to support the creation of video games.

“As an industry weâ€re very male centric but that is changing … Iâ€ve heard people make arguments against why itâ€s important to have women in the industry. I counter with this: why would diversity make the industry worse? Different perspectives within games – and within actual game creation – is nothing but a good thing.” – Shana T. Bryant, Senior Associate Producer at Capcom

Not sure where to start? Get inspired!

Learn more about what your options are by studying the people who are already excelling in the industry. Here are three women with impressive careers in video games who are leading innovation:

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Six tips to help you attain your dream job

Designer. Programmer. Developer. Producer. Artist. You might be familiar with these roles. but if they donâ€t appeal to you, it doesnâ€t mean that you can’t have a career in video games.

1. Be curious and optimize your distractions.

“I always let myself be curious – even get distracted – when something moves me. I follow blogs on strange photography, infinity and fractals, bizarre fashion trends; things that foster different emotions. When I design, I always start with emotions, sensations, revelations – what do I want players to feel, see, learn? I love paradox and juxtaposition, anything that forces your brain to think in a new way or make unexpected connections. I love going out to quiet places: parks and natural settings. Whenever my throat gets tight – something literally takes my breath away – then I know I should capture or try to understand it. Good game design revolves around creating evocative experiences.“ – Chelsea Howe, Director of Design at SuperBetter Labs

More thoughts on how curiosity informs skill-building:

“I still constantly play games and evaluate all the new platforms. I started on the Apple II and the latest platforms are social networks, ios devices and tablets – intellectual curiosity. I remember when I first started playing Facebook games in 2007 and 2008, being fascinated with asynchronistic gameplay with people. It was really intellectually fascinating to me, this new demographic.” – Brenda Garno Brathwaite, Loot Drop co-founder and award-winning game designer and author

“There was no career path laid out, no game design major or a graphical interface for the Internet when I started. I just kept asking questions and finding resources. One of the things you can use social media for is to learn something. Donâ€t just use it for chatting with friends. If you want to find game designers, look them up online or on Facebook, send them an email. They are surprisingly open to helping people who have a passion for something, who are asking questions and reaching out.” – Shannon Sullivan, VP, Programs and Production at World Wide Workshop

Here are five more tips for breaking into the video game industry and thriving:

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Resources and advice for next steps

All the women interviewed for this article agreed that newcomers should start – right now – by creating or contributing to video game projects through game jam events or other independent collaborations, as a method to build skills and to network.

If you just thought “but I don’t think coding is for me,” don’t let that deter you; there are still plenty of opportunities to volunteer on game projects as a community manager, marketing lead, music composer, artist, project manager, QA tester, or any number of important roles.

Meanwhile, assess what you already enjoy doing in your life and what youâ€re good at – those skills do apply within the industry. Simultaneously, research roles to figure out what is a good fit for you and take steps to make yourself qualified for the job.

Oh yes, and be sure to play lots of games!

We know what some of you are thinking: “I don’t have time to work for free” and/or “my work and home obligations don’t leave me much time to play games.” Don’t let these reasons keep you from your goals.

Several women in the industry suggested that an entry level QA (Quality Assurance) testing position is a great option for anyone to learn about aspects of creating a game while being paid to do it. Bex Bradley at Microsoft Game Studios was kind enough to provide us with some guidance:

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Additional resources (real-life and online)

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Follow video game industry news

Find sites that focus on industry trends, game previews, profiles and culture. Destinations like Kotaku, 1UP, Joystiq, GirlGamer, Gamasutra, IndieGames, Destructoid, Giant Bomb,  and PopMatters†Moving Pixels blog should be just some of your news sources.

Be sure to also follow the critical conversation around video games. Here is a roundup of games criticism sites. If you want to take it a step further, support Play and Games Criticism publishers and writers! Hereâ€s a list of persistent funding pages for games critics, compiled by Mattie Brice:

Aevee Bee – ZEAL (Game Reviews)
Amy Dentata – Articles and Games
Anjin Anhut – Tutorials & Essays about Games and Popculture
Anna Kreider – Go Make Me a Sandwich (Feminism and Games Blog)
Cameron Kunzelman – Videogames and Media Criticism
Cara Ellison – Transmetropololitan Game Criticism
Christopher Franklin – Errant Signal (Video Essay Things about Video Games)
Elizabeth Simins – Art Things
Kris Ligman – A History — And Future — For Writing About Games (Critical Distance)
Lana Polansky – Games, Game Criticism, and Granola
Laura Kate – Gaming Equality Critique
Liz Ryerson – Music, Criticism, Art, Videogames
Lulu Blue – Video Games
Mattie Brice – Games Criticism
Merritt Kopas – Forest Ambassador (Game Curator)
Mike Joffe – Games about Ecology, Nature, and People
Scott Nichols – Video Game Writing
Stephen Beirne – Words about Videogames
Zoe Quinn – Tidbytes, Games, Articles, and Videos

Follow as many sources as you can and be sure to support video game journalists!

Here are some methods to keep up with so much news:

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Ways to level up your skills at your own pace

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List of women interviewed for this mini guide

To ensure we drew from a wide range of experiences, we reached out to many people in the industry. This list reflects only some of the inspiring women working in video games who also shared their thoughts with Daniela Capistrano:

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Weâ€re closing this mini-guide with a treat:

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Did you find this guide helpful? Share your thoughts on Twitter with this hashtag so I can respond to your questions and feedback: #WomenInVideoGames

The women I interviewed shared a wealth of information. Are you interested in reading a part two of this mini guide? Let me know at daniela@dcapmedia.com and if 100 people request it, I’ll make it happen!

If you found this mini guide helpful, please don’t steal my work. Feel free to post an excerpt anywhere but be sure to link back to this article and credit me as the source. Thank you!

*Daniela Capistrano republished the 2012 version on this site on March 10, 2014, with edits to include additional resources and data sources. She will be following up with more women in video games to add more quotes and resources directly from women in the industry. If you have suggestions for other resources to add, share them: daniela@dcapmedia.com.

I’ve been singing every day but I keep forgetting to publish the clip here—oops. ^_^ I’ve been … busy. Anyway.

I’m experimenting with different styles. I sang this while sitting down and without a proper warm up. I put filters over all my videos because I don’t want people focusing on what I look like. For a while, I simply want to make the videos with filters on them in Photobooth, upload them and not edit them at all.

 “I wrote it (Landslide) for Lindsey – for him, about him. It’s dear to both of us because it’s about us. We’re out there singing about our lives.”

~Stevie Nicks Q Magazine, January 2004

Sometimes I won’t sing the entire song, but I will make my best effort. This is an experiment in stress relief and building up my voice for a creative goal.

I often observe young people at events (concerts, conferences, parties, etc.) documenting their experience while they are experiencing it—they create photo collages for Instagram, rapidly publish multiple albums in succession to their Facebook page, tweet images, etc. This is now part of the natural rhythm for many people who use technology to share their experiences in real-time. However, often these images & related text live in different places on the web, and if you don’t follow that person on all their accounts, you won’t see everything they made during that event (in one place).

This made me think about the possibility of real-time (or as close to real-time) zine-making directly from your phone:

What if—while processing an idea or enjoying an event—you could fairly quickly & easily make a zine about what you were experiencing on your phone and then share it that same day?

This zine experiment was inspired by real-time news gathering practices and young people. It didn’t work out exactly as I had planned, but it was exciting to explore different possibilities. In part one of this series, I’ll share one of three methods I uncovered:

Here is the experimental perzine I made using my mobile device called “Cat Genie Vol. 2: Chola Fruitz“ 

Chola Fruitz is a dream-like reflection on group travel, subverting Chola identity tropes, Queer Chicana identity and the evolution of self. I made it in an hour while sitting on my couch, using images I edited within my phone and two mobile apps.

DISCLOSURE: I did make this experimental zine entirely on my phone. However, there wasn’t an easy (or free) way to then publish it from my phone in a format that is easy to read/flip through on the web or in someone’s mobile browser. So, in making this zine, it was actually a two-step process:

1) Creating the zine using mobile apps on my phone

2) Transferring files from within my phone to cloud storage (Dropbox), then downloading those files from my desktop computer to combine into a .pdf file (using PDF Combine), which I then uploaded to Issuu.com from my desktop computer.

Issuu does have a mobile app, but that app only allows you to read and download zines from your phone. Unfortunately you can’t upload any files from your phone to Issuu.com using the Issuu mobile app. As soon as Issuu makes this feature possible, it will make creating and publishing zines from your own phone much easier and faster.

I like using Issuu.com to host the digital versions of zines because of how easy it is to use, the functionality (you can flip through pages like a magazine) and sharing tools (it’s easy to embed zines on blogs, in newsletters, etc.). You can even opt in to allow people to download your zine and print it. So this experiment’s focus was “how do I quickly & creatively make a zine on my phone and then get it on Issuu.com?”

Here’s what you will need to try this experiment for yourself:

• A mobile device (I used a Samsung Galaxy Note II smartphone)
• Free Mobile Apps: FotoRus, Aviary, Dropbox (or Google Drive)
• PDF Combine for your desktop/laptop (free)
• Free desktop/laptop browser based platforms: Issuu, Dropbox (or Google Drive)

DISCLOSURE: Now that I’ve explored multiple options and workarounds, I will preface these instructions by saying that there is definitely more than one way to make a zine (for free) on your phone. I am showing you one method for doing this and then will show you two more options in parts 2 and 3 of this series. Enjoy!

ONE WAY TO QUICKLY MAKE AN EVENT-BASED ZINE AT THE EVENT—ON YOUR PHONE

It took me one hour to complete all steps, using images I already had on my phone

1. Take photos with your mobile device like you normally would at an event. Edit them with text or other modifications using the Aviary mobile app. I suggest this app because there are so many options for editing, adding text, etc. right within the app. If you need more manual editing controls, first edit in Pixlr Express mobile app and then import into Aviary. Save your edited images as new files (don’t replace the originals in case you need to make adjustments).

2. Open up FotoRus mobile app and pick the “InstaMag” option. From there, you can choose different panels to modify with your edited photos and add additional text if needed.

The “InstaMag” feature is basically a bunch of magazine page templates. Unfortunately you can only create files one at a time, rather than an entire publication at once. You will save each modified template as a new file. So, if you are making a zine that is 7 pages worth of your images, you will save 7 “InstaMag” files.

There are some annoying aspects to the “InstaMag” templates such limitations on modifying layouts and the “Instamag” logo that sometimes appears on the template. If you don’t like that, open up your completed “InstaMag” file in Aviary or another photo editing app and edit that logo out.

3. Export your completed/modified “InstaMag” files to your Dropbox account using the Dropbox app for mobile. You will need to have set up a Dropbox account in advance for this to work (it’s free).

4. From a laptop/desktop, login to your Dropbox account at dropbox.com and download your “InstaMag” files from wherever you saved them to your laptop/desktop. I suggest making a specific folder for this experiment so you can easily fine your files.

5. On your laptop/desktop, open up the PDF Combine application (you will need to have installed it). Drag your “InstaMag” files into PDF Combine and export it as one .pdf file. Make sure your pages are in order (you can sort as you like before exporting).

6. On your laptop/desktop, login to your Issuu.com account (set one up if you don’t have one, it’s free). Upload your PDF Combine export that contains all your “InstaMag” FotoRus files. If you want people to be able to print your zine, make sure you opt into the “download” option so others can download. Now, publish! The zine you made on your phone is now online!

7. Make it sticky: If you didn’t have time to add other images or text you want folks to see, you can annotate your published Issuu.com zine with links to any content you want (a public Facebook gallery, a hashtag search results page, etc.). See examples in my zine, shared above.

I do want to note that there are some definite cons to solely using your phone to make a zine. Here are some standout bummers:

1) If you don’t have a phone that supports multimedia content creation through apps (because of lack of memory, power or storage space), it is faster for you to just make a zine the traditional way with paper, written/printed text, magazine cutouts, a printer and copier, etc.

2) Right now there isn’t a streamlined and free way to both create AND publish an e-zine FROM your phone. If you know of a way, please tell me: daniela@dcapmedia.com. So, my experience so far has been creating the zine on my phone and then publishing it from a desktop/laptop computer. If you don’t have immediate access to a desktop/laptop computer, you may not be able to publish your phone-created zine as quickly as you would have liked to.

3) The Lazy Artist Factor: Part of the fun and empowerment of making a zine by hand (and offline) is that you can explore your creativity and develop your design skills. Experimenting with layouts, collages and other techniques as part of a print zine workflow can be a really satisfying experience. You miss out on that experience by just using the provided templates in apps, to a significant degree. If everyone used the same zine-making templates, all zines would start to look the same, which would be a bummer.

So, I would never suggest that you ONLY make zines with your phone. There are definitely some artistic restrictions by sticking to that workflow. I see it being more beneficial to (while on the go) explore with zine concepts on your phone, flesh out a rough idea and get feedback, then get your hands dirty and make the zine with print/materiality, in the real world. <3

Many folks also take their IRL zine pages, scan then and then further modify them in applications like Photoshop or InDesign, print them out and then create their flats from that. I think that the combination of technology and old school zine-making practices is an exciting third space that will continue to inspire many.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I had a lot of fun exploring different ways for making a zine on your phone and then publishing it to the web the same day. I look forward to sharing additional options through this series.

ZINESTERS: What starts out as an idea you experiment with on your phone could ultimately end up a print zine. Yup, another benefit to making a zine on your phone is that the process itself can help you sort out factors you may still be considering for a print version of the zine; you can pretty much be anywhere and experimenting with how your zine will ultimately look, from your phone. You don’t even have to keep the zine you make on your phone—the process of just making it and sharing it with others from your phone for feedback on the text, imagery and layout can be really helpful (if that is something you are looking for).

JOURNALISTS: You might also find some value in making real-time event-based zines as part of your news gathering process. A blog post that would have held a few images or gallery could instead contain a mini-zine created on your phone, at the event. This zine, made up of 5-10 pages of images, text and video, would contain content that you had already gathered anyway for your own research, that you then shared through an interactive e-zine embedded in your recap post.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this series, where I will give a few options for making text-heavy zines directly from your phone.

Many thanks to Corvida Raven for introducing me to FotoRus.

Daniela Capistrano, self portrait (Nov. 23, 2012)

What you are about to read are the events from 2012 that make me feel good about being alive. What I am taking away from these memories are the following three lessons:

1) It’s really important to make yourself leave your house, even if it’s the last thing you want to do.

2) Channeling your anger into fuel for doing good things in the world is a lot less expensive than drinking a lot.

3) Sometimes you just need to take a self-timeout and have a popsicle before reacting in a harsh manner. Give yourself time to consider your response.

Enjoy the memories! It might make more sense if you scroll to the bottom and read it from January to December instead of December back to January, but, you know … do you

December 2012

12/31: I gave secret gifts and donations to several people and organizations, as a thank-you offering to the universe for all the support I’ve received this year. I then celebrated the New Year at a pizza party with my god daughter and her family.

12/23: I took my dad to the Portland Trail Blazers vs Sacramento Kings game, the first time I ever went to a sporting event with him. I had more fun watching my dad enjoying the game than watching the actual game – it was really boring (for me).

12/20: Went to Cali for the 5th? time in 2012 to be with my mom and family in Sacramento, CA (until 1/1). I had fun at my sister’s engagement brunch and went with her to her first wedding dress fitting. I also spent quality time with my god daughter and her family. My mother cooked heavenly food and we watched funny comedies with my brother. My stepdad took us on a great nature walk and I was able to surprise my family with gifts. I had a wonderful time.

12/18: Gave Jenna Freedman the Mimi Thi Nguyen/POC Zine Project zine donation for Barnard Zine Library in person at Souen, where we had a delicious dinner and caught up.

December was the month I found out I didn’t make it to the final 12 for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, which was tough to accept. However, a friend of mine invited me and another friend to create our own screenwriters workshop in January, and we’re going to hold a reading event in February. My new goal is to submit to and make it into IFP’s Emerging Narratives program!

November 2012

11/19: Flew to Miami, Florida for the first time for a family visit with my <3 over the Thanksgiving break (until 11/27). 11/16: INSPIRATION: Ate at the Square Diner, a restaurant in Tribeca that I used to frequent during one of my first internships in 2004. I had not been back since early 2005, so it was a "full circle" moment. 11/10: I was happy to make the time to go to my cousin's wedding dress fitting in San Jose, CA, despite being really busy. 11/5: INSPIRATION: Had a great dinner at Thai House 530 in the Mission with Liz Mayorga, a talented comic artist who I will build with for POC Zine Project in 2013. 11/4: Flew to SF to assist Current TV's POTUS election coverage (until 11/11). I felt really comfortable returning to supervise 20+ temp employees, which was an accomplishment for me - despite feeling really stressed about Sandy. I received positive feedback about my performance and style directly from those I managed, as well as from my supervisor. This date also marks the moment I finally had the courage to speak to Al Gore in person.

11/1: INSPIRATION: I visited Casa Atabex Ache in the Bronx for the first time and became a member. I am looking forward to building with these women in 2013.

October 2012

10/28: Hurricane Sandy tested me in several ways. Thankfully, in the days that followed, I was able to stay focused on what I needed to do and took the time to volunteer to support relief efforts.

10/26: INSPIRATION: Had drinks and snacks at Ear Inn, a historic bar in NYC, with filmmaker/writer Alex Mar. Our conversation, which took place before she went to do a residency, left me with a lot to think about.

10/24: INSPIRATION: Participated in a Samsung launch event in NYC for the Galaxy Note II and stayed at YOTEL, a hotel in midtown. I received my Galaxy Note II phone as a gift for participating, which is now my default phone and a rad productivity tool for me. Thanks again to my <3 for hooking this up! 10/7: Completed the first-ever POC Zine Project: Race Riot! Tour, with a finale event at Death By Audio in Brooklyn! Best night of my life, so far! Traveling through 14 cities in a two week period changed my life. Our university speaking engagement fees and show covers offset the cost of the entire tour, with reimbursements for all members. September 2012

9/29: INSPIRATION: I lived to see my 31st birthday, while on tour with a bunch of amazing women! I had free drinks at Honest John’s Bar & Grill in Detroit at 1AM after an amazing POCZP event at Trumbullplex, and then spent 9/29 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. On my birthday we did a panel and zinemaking workshop at the University of Michigan.

F.O.K.U.S. invited us and they were an incredible group! That night we did another event at The 3rd Death Star, a music & art venue in Ann Arbor. Perfect birthday. I’m not sure how I’m going to top it in 2013, but we’ll see… <3 9/24: POC Zine Project tour through 14 cities begins in Brooklyn at 538 Johnson!!! <3 Dream come true. My first tour experience. Here's the post from our tour finale at Death By Audio - it contains links to all our tour date recaps: http://poczineproject.tumblr.com/post/33721524974/race-riot-tour-brooklyn-finale-2012

9/21: Configured the POC Zine Project mifi device, ensuring that we had reliable Internet access the entire tour.

9/14: Traveled to Wellesley College to lead a POC Zine Project panel. This paid speaking engagement ended up covering most of our tour van costs.

9/9: Went to lunch at Chevy’s on the River in Sacramento, CA with my sister and her boyfriend for the first time, great family bonding experience.

9/1: INSPIRATION: Went to GLBTQ pride event in Oakland, CA with my old friend Kyla, her partner and their daughter.

August 2012

8/27: Flew to SF for work to support debate coverage at Current TV (until 9/10). This was my first time supervising over 18+ people at once. A memorable learning experience!

8/22: INSPIRATION: Went to a session at the Bronx Library Center to learn more about what grants I’m eligible for.

8/12: Went to Baltimore for the first time on a BoltBus and attended the Bmore Feminist BBQ series, where I connected with new POC Zine Project collaborators/allies.

8/11: INSPIRATION: Had brunch with Laura Checkoway at Teany, where we talked about her upcoming film and my goals for 2012 and beyond.

8/07: INSPIRATION: Submitted my feature-length screenplay to the second round of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, just in time for the deadline! Stressful but triumphant day!

8/5: INSPIRATION: Had a memorable bonding experience with FTB’s Kate Wadkins, talking about our activist goals. We had amazing drinks at the Sidewalk Cafe and checked out art at Pocket Utopia.

July 2012

7/31: Participated on a panel at the first-ever Social Curation Summit in NYC, produced by mediabistro. This was my first experience speaking about POC Zine Project at a media industry event.

7/24: INSPIRATION: I received confirmation that the first five pages of my script made it to the second round of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab!

7/11: INSPIRATION: Flew to New Orleans (for the first time!) to participate in the Anarchist People of Color Convergence, aka APOCalypse (stayed until 7/16). A life-changing experience.

June 2012

6/30: Launched the POC Zine Project Tumblr at the Tumblr/Mozilla coding event at DCTV. This was a big step in building community for POCZP. Also, during this time my sister and her teen brother were visiting me in NYC for the first time! <3 I took them to a decadent chocolate dinner at Max Brenner. 6/17: I completed all my foster parent requirements and passed my home study. This was very significant for me, for several reasons, which include a crazy work schedule since 2010 that made it really challenging to attend classes. 6/24: INSPIRATION: Finally saw Alabama Shakes live at The Bandshell - for free! 6/19: Attended the 2012 Games for Change Conference (my second time) and covered it for Current.com. Here are the four articles I wrote as a result of my experience: Digital literacy in the US: 3 ways the Obama administration is fueling the tech revolution

http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93844350_digital-literacy-in-the-us-3-ways-the-obama-administration-is-fueling-the-tech-revolution.htm

‘The Matrix is a system, Neoâ€: Ten reasons coding literacy should be a human right

http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93817194_the-matrix-is-a-system-neo-ten-reasons-coding-literacy-should-be-a-human-right.htm


Women in games: A mini guide to working and thriving in the video game industry

http://current.com/groups/humor-culture-blog/93836904_women-in-games-a-mini-guide-to-working-and-thriving-in-the-video-game-industry.htm

- includes interviews with 18+ women in the industry

Keep calm and play video games: 5 ways to level up your life through gameplay

http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93815645_keep-calm-and-play-video-games-5-ways-to-level-up-your-life-through-gameplay.htm

6/14: First dinner (of many) at Peaches Hothouse in Brooklyn of 2012 <3 POC Zine Project members and I kicked the 2012 Race Riot! Tour planning into high gear. May 2012

5/27: Ate at Sugarhill Supper Club in Brooklyn for the first time – it’s a supper club, BBQ joint and disco!!

5/10: Went with my older half sister and her family to Manuel’s Original El Tepeyac Cafe in L.A. to get the legendary “Manuel Special” (my first time).

5/8: Went to L.A. for the second time in 2012 to support the launch of the “Full Court Press with Bill Press” and “Talking Liberally with Stephanie Miller” show sites, as well as new hire training. Stayed at the lovely Culver Hotel again for the second time in 2012.

5/4: Took Corvida to Ceetay for the first time, a new sushi joint around the corner from my building in the South Bronx.

April 2012

4/24: Had a surgeon look at some scarring from my fall earlier in the year and made the decision to not get cosmetic surgery. I am fine with my scars.

4/6: Overcame my fear of doctors to get a physical and clearance for my foster parent application.

4/4: Took a friend who was going through a hard time to Mermaid Oyster Bar, a first time visit for me and I loved it!!!

March 2012

3/28: Got fingerprinted for foster care clearance at PSI Testing Center.

3/25: Experienced the fastest airport check-in of my entire life: 6 minutes from SMF terminal entrance to my gate!

3/22: Had an awesome sister brunch at the Virgin Sturgeon (my first time at this restaurant) in Sacramento, CA.

3/11: Although still very ill, I traveled from Chicago to SF to continue helping with staff training and covering on The War Room with Jennifer Granholm.

3/9: Flew to Chicago for the Chicago Zine Fest. I came down with the flu and spent the entire time in my wonderful host’s spare room, but still helped to live stream the event and coordinate with other POC Zine Project panelists.

3/3: Finished my second to last foster parent training class at NYC’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

February 2012

Successfully negotiated a new agreement with my employer to work less hours and primarily from home, in order to achieve my creative and activist goals in 2012. As a result, my overall quality of life dramatically increased.

2/23: Fell in a pothole in Union Square and badly sprained my ankle, but still met some deadlines while in severe pain.

2/10: Moderated a panel on the future of radical media at The New School for Paper Tiger Television’s 30th anniversary conference

January 2012

I spent this time preparing to apply to the 2013 Sundance Screenwriters Lab as well, after several years of false starts.

1/23: I fell down icy fire escape stairs behind my building and hurt my back. I’m not proud of injuring myself, but I am proud that even though I hurt myself (a few times this year!), I still was able to get work done and find time to help others.

1/17: My <3 and I had a bittersweet brunch to celebrate gay marriage being legalized in NYC - but not in every state (yet). We also discussed issues affecting LGBTQ communities, and QPOC, and why gay marriage isn't the #1 issue for all LGBTQ. 1/4: First flight of 2012: LAX TO SFO I was there to train the new War Room with Jennifer Granholm digital hires, after spending time in LA covering for The Young Turks digital staff. 1/1: Spent New Years Day going for a walk through the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, then at the Santa Monica Pier for rides and a beach walk at night. *This list only represents my favorite moments I could remember — not all of my 2012 experiences.