1. Could you please tell us about yourself and introduce GenZ Girl Gang?
My name is Sequoia Smith, and I’m the Directory of Advocacy and Communications at GenZ Girl Gang. I graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles, California. I majored in Political Science and minored in Pre-law in the hope of going to law school and becoming a criminal defense attorney.
GenZ Girl Gang is a bold experiment in the way we use social media as a community-building tool. We challenge the basic features of Instagram to build deeper connections and provide resources to our community members on how they can support each other and redefine sisterhood in the age of social media and infinite connection.
2. You mentioned that GGG is a bold experiment with a mission to redefine sisterhood. What does the “bold” mean to you? What does “sisterhood” mean to you?
To us bold means not being afraid of stepping out of the boundaries that society places us in. GenZ Girl Gang uses a whole new framework of how we connect to our audience and build community with them.
Sisterhood to us means community. Your community are the people who show up for you no matter what, cheer you on and support you in your endeavors but at the same time hold you accountable when you mess up.
3. In your opinion, what are the biggest issues Generation Z girls face today?
I think our generation is struggling with many issues whether that be affordable housing, student debt, a living wage, gun violence, etc. but I think the biggest issue is climate change. If we do not take swift action to slow climate change down, it will not matter if we have affordable housing or end gun violence since there will be no planet to live on.
4. How do you see sisterhood being misrepresented? Why is it important to redefine sisterhood?
Its not that sisterhood is misrepresented, GenZ Girl Gang wanted to redefine sisterhood by rooting it in community-building. We think it’s important to root sisterhood in community because community is the lifeline for every strong woman and femme.
5. Why do you think it is important to empower women through community building?
At GenZ Girl Gang, we believe community building is the best way to empower women because it fosters an environment of collaboration over competition. We strongly believe that it is important for women and femmes to work together instead of working against each other. When women treat each other as collaborators instead of competition innovation is allowed to take hold.
6. Tell us about the past campaigns at Genz Girl Gang. How has it helped bridge generational gaps and create a network of sisterhood? What resources do they offer to girls?
This past year, GenZ Girl Gang’s three seasonal campaigns; Demand and Disrupt, College Access for All, and Pitch, Please! have served our members directly. The Demand and Disruptcampaign taught community members skills to advocate for their needs and disrupt traditional views of professionalism in the workplace, resulting in this Teen Vogue feature. GenZ Girl Gang’s College Access for All campaign used Instagram’s chat feature to connect ninety high school juniors and seniors to mentorship from current college students and brought to life an in-person event n inclusivity in higher education in partnership with Samsung 837. Most recently, GenZ Girl Gang has been exploring how to celebrate platonic love, hype up ourselves and our friends, and build power in our personal networks through the Pitch, Please campaign.
7. I know that your organization is leading a coalition, What does GGG hope to achieve from the GGG community coalition?
We created our community coalition to share resources, uplift other organizations, and embrace collaboration over competition.
8. How can people get involved in this campaign?
Our coalition is full at the moment.
9. What vision does GenZ Girl Gang have for sisterhood in the future?
Our vision at GenZ Girl Gang is to build the next generation of leaders through sisterhood. So often, women and femmes are taught there can only be one seat at the table that we must compete with each other for, but our generation won't settle for a seat at the table. We are creating our own. We’re taking steps today to build a future where congresswomen, astronauts, entrepreneurs, those who will hold jobs that we cannot even imagine yet are connected in interdisciplinary personal networks. It’s this relationship-building that will empower us to take on the challenges of tomorrow with a deeper understanding and from new perspectives.
10. What advice do you have for girls who want to become a self-advocate?
I don’t know if I have any specific advice for that because I’m still very much learning how to advocate for myself, but what I will say is do not be afraid to tell people what you need from them to be successful. If you need help with something, ask. The majority of people want to help you even if you do not know them.
11. With all the injustice that has been happening in our current social climate, how has GenZ Girl Gang been raising awareness of systematic racism in this country and actively creating space for black women and girls?
We have paused all of our normal content and have shifted to a more racial justice focus. We have been putting our protest safety guides, amplifying black voices, and educating people on their constitutional rights.
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