Page 2 - May/June HER 2020

2 MAY HER
MEET THE TEAM
Grace Brown
Associate Editor
Grace is a Hot Springs native and an alumna
of Hot Springs High School, Lyon College,
and Chi Omicron sorority. She enjoys spending her free time in her roller skates or taking photos.
Grace is a member of a local roller derby league and loves community theater.
Cassidy Kendall
Cassidy is a UCA alumna, originally from southern Arkansas. She can often be found with her headphones in listening to music, stand-up comedy or one of her sisters. In her free time, she enjoys traveling in her van with a good nonfiction book and a good dog named Murphey.
Rebeca Rector
Rebeca is a California native who calls the city of Hot Springs her home. She is a Gospel Light Christian School grad and a National Park College and UALR alumna. When she isn't writing, Rebeca loves traveling, spending time with her family and their dog, biking, exploring and taking care of her family's land and horses.
Jami Smith
Associate Design Editor
Jami is a Henderson State University alumna with a degree in Digital Art and Design. In her free time she can be found outside mountain biking, hiking, or canoeing with her dog Jensen.
Brittany Weaver
Associate Design Editor
Brittany is a Henderson State University and Alpha Sigma Tau alumna. She's lived in Hot Springs since graduating HSU in 2016. In her free time, Brittany enjoys playing video games with her husband and re-reading the Harry Potter series.
Felisha Butler
Originally from Chicago, Felisha has lived in Hot Springs most of her life. She is a graduate of National Park College and UA Little Rock with a degree in Mass Communications with a journalism emphasis. In her free time, you can find her traveling for concerts while continuing the quest of becoming an extraordinary videogamer.
PUBLISHER
After an extensive 15-minute search on the internet spanning over four different websites and two Google searches, it is safe to say that few, if any, of the pop-culture artists of the past were clever enough to imagine a pandemic would be what shook the notorious, futuristic decade of the 2020s many chose as their setting. The top contenders for predicted chaos this decade, based on general popularity, include cyborgs and discovering a race of hyper-intelligent apes. While the jury is still out on the robots, especially Alexa, it is safe to say we are not on the verge of an ape uprising.
Although the shops are now open, many people are still wary of going out and about to enjoy their normal activities, especially when those activities involve shared equipment. Fortunately, fitness does not require a gym membership, although it is helpful. Local fitness instructor and creator of the fitness boot camp Flex Camp Miranda Goff became our go-to gal recently once the cabin fever set in and we had to get moving. Before the quarantine, Goff set out to start her own online fitness program. After the pandemic shut down gyms and fitness centers, it launched her into the world of online fitness coaching and group workouts on Zoom full force. She sat down with us recently to talk about how she has navigated this new normal and to share a few quick tips for at-home workouts. Remember, it is all about your form!
Artists of all kinds are drastically impacted by the quarantine period, including those of a literary nature. Local author Stephanie Storey should be on a book tour for the release of her second novel, “Raphael, Painter in Rome” currently. However, she is spending time in Hot Springs with her family, while learning to navigate the promo- tional demands of her novel’s release. The New York Times reviewed novelist shared how she has persisted in her pursuit of making a living as a writer and the unique stories she loves to tell. If you are a fan of historical fiction, she’s the novelist for you.
Of all the groups locally affected by the pandemic, graduating seniors of the Class of 2020 have had a significantly difficult time. Mexico native and Hot Springs resident Lorena Fitzpatrick is a senior at the University of Central Arkansas. She plans to become a teacher after she graduates, a dream she has held for many years. As a nontraditional student, Fitzpatrick has a unique perspective concerning her experience, one that leans on the side of gratitude. Although it is unknown if she will get to experience a traditional graduation ceremony, Fitzpatrick is still excited to achieve her goal and to share her unique story.
As always, we hope our readers enjoy the stories about compel- ling women in our community. Each article featured in this month’s issue of HER Magazine was either suggested or submitted. Garland County is home to a plethora of talented, inspiring women who have unique stories to share, and, as always, we encourage our readers to reach out with story ideas and suggestions. If you have a story you would like to see in HER Magazine, please contact the associate editor at gbrown@hotsr.com. Stay safe out there and make sure to keep washing your hands,
the HERstaff
2 May/June 2020 ¯ HER MAGAZINE
Harry Porter
EDITOR
Mark Gregory
MANAGING EDITOR
Steven Mross
ADVERTISING DESIGNERS
Amanda Howell MerryLee Meeker CONTACT US gbrown@hotsr.com