“I built a community of friends.”

Alumna Anjuli of Girls Inc. of the Island City shares how Girls Inc. made a difference in her life and career.

What did you learn and how were you helped through the Girls Inc. Experience?

I discovered my love of journalism and learned to embrace my curiosity and passions through a teen ‘zine I worked on at my local Girls Inc. affiliate (shout out to Girls Inc. of the Island City in Alameda, California). I built a community of friends who helped me persevere in my professional and personal goals. During my senior year of high school, I was also awarded a Girls Inc. scholarship that later helped pay for college.

What career updates would you like to share with us?

I’m an NPR radio and podcast producer based in Southern California. I just wrapped a Nieman Journalism Foundation Visiting Fellowship at Harvard University, through which I produced a new audio and video series called Where We Come From. It’s a series telling the stories of immigrant communities of color through a personal and historical lens, and intergenerational conversation. It features food writer Priya Krishna, author and podcast host Luvvie Ajayi Jones, NPR staff, and folks from around the country. I also did my fellowship and produced the series entirely remotely in the COVID-19 pandemic. The series episodes aired across NPR audio and video platforms.

I’ve been at NPR for six years working at It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders and All Things Considered, among other shows. I also co-founded the Marginalized Genders and Intersex People of Color Mentorship Program while at NPR. On the personal front, I’m getting married in October, so very excited about that.

What advice would you give to girls knowing what you know now?

Cherish the time you have as a young person. It may sound cliché, but you only get it once! But it can be a difficult time – so know that challenging times will pass and you will overcome what is going on right now. Also know that you are not alone in what you are going through. Reach out to friends and your community if you need something. Chances are, folks in your community are feeling the same way you are. I wish I internalized that more when I was growing up!

Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Anjuli!