I Bring My Most Human Self To The Workplace
Life@GWN with Sally Familia
Life@GWN introduces our inclusive community of #storykeepers, #storytellers, #storygrowers, & #storyseekers. Rounding out our staff pair interview series, meet Fellow Sally Familia explaining their commitment to bringing their most human self to work each day...and where the music that defines them originated. As told to and written by Jeanine Marie Russaw 👩🏽🏫.
Tell Us About Your Life@GWN.
My life as a Girls Write Now fellow has been filled with immense professional and personal growth. This position has challenged my security in what I have to offer to the world, has stretched me as a communicator, and shown me where my passions truly lie. Fostering and nurturing community is what I value most about my life at Girls Write Now.
What Gets You Up In the Morning?
As an immigrant raised in an underserved community, I know the value of a program like Girls Write Now. I applied to be a mentee as a Junior in high school, but was waitlisted. I kept this organization in mind, and kept tabs on it after I graduated from State University of New York at Oswego. Almost ten years later, I bring the gifts I once needed to young writers from communities like mine.
What is it About Working at Girls Write Now Work That You Find So Special?
I appreciate Girls Write Now's willingness to listen. There is an understanding that we all learn from each other. This environment where opinions are encouraged and challenges welcomed is very unique and definitely special.
What’s Your Superpower? How Does that Inform the Work you do at Girls Write Now?
My superpower is my energy. I bring my most authentic self to any table or any room. This means that I bring my most human self to the workplace, trusting that if I have aligned myself with the right organization, I will not meet any resistance to be who I am. If there is resistance, I am not in alignment. This understanding is what led me to Girls Write Now and what informs what I do. As a fellow, I have advocated for what I expect from this opportunity, ensuring that my strengths are properly utilized and my weaknesses fortified.
What's the One Thing that Instantly Makes Your Day Better?
A nature walk. I love hugging trees and staring at the clouds.
I love acting like I’m a bird watcher. As I continue building spiritual practices that work for me, I have found that nature is crucial. My long term plan includes leaving New York City, purchasing land, and frolicking in my garden with my farm animals.
What is Your Favorite Tool for Creating, Pencil, Pen, Keyboard, App?
I love writing in a notebook with a pencil— plain and simple. I love collaborating with tools that were once part of our environment. This helps me connect with the proper channels that allow me to birth my work most holistically.
Aside from Necessities, What One Thing Could You NOT Go a Day Without?
Music. Listening to music is a huge chunk of my day. My father was a touring artist in the Dominican Republic. I spent the first six years of my life there watching him compose music and write songs, accompanying him to recording studios, and attending shows.
I have spent the rest of my years watching my brother do the same. I also turned to music— singing for my school’s jazz band, attending music improv camps as a vocalist, and performing in musicals until I graduated high school.
Now that I no longer perform, I channel my love for music by creating playlists on my own time and for Girls Write Now workshops. After noticing that people were really enjoying my playlists during workshops, I offered to create writing playlists and prompts all summer long. You can get Sounds of Summer: Writing Playlists & Prompts sent directly to you by signing up for the Girls Write Now Monday Memo!
Can you speak more than one language?
Yes! My first language is Spanish. I also speak a variation of any “base” language by replacing vowels with “I’s”. I grew up speaking like this amongst my family. The only situation that ever called for this language was talking about someone that is in the room with you. Beside that, the language isn't very useful.