What are your favorite Latam countries?
My favorite Latin American countries are Puerto Rico and Colombia. I love Puerto Rico because it is home. It is an island with a beautiful culture, amazing people, great food, and so much to see and do. I love Colombia. The people are extremely welcoming, and the food is amazing. I can see myself living in Colombia.
Where does your Latam heritage come from?
I am Puerto Rican. I am a first-generation born in the continental United States.
What impact did your heritage have on your childhood?
I grew up in a two-parent household. The value of family was ingrained in me. Most of my relatives live in the US mainland. Every weekend, we would either visit family members or visit us. The Puerto Rican community in Bridgeport, CT, is pretty significant. That is where I would visit a lot of my family. In a way, spending time with my cousins was like having brothers since I do not have any.
As a native Spanish speaker, I did not learn English until about 8 years old. I only spoke Spanish at home because my mother does not speak English. I was primarily raised on rice, beans, chicken, and other Puerto Rican dishes. Growing up, the two main musical genres that I listened to were merengue and salsa. Occasionally, my father would play some Vicente Fernandez/Juan Gabriel/Ana Gabriel on the weekends. However, groups like Grupo Mania dominated the speakers at home and listened to the radio.
Where do we need to focus our attention in the Latam community? Can you describe Latam experiences that need to be discussed in our community?
Many issues come with navigating the fabric of American society as someone who is not of the dominant culture. Three things need to be addressed: 1) Improved access to financial education; 2) Harnessing the beneficial aspects of Latin American culture (such as family values and sense of community; and 3) Finding better ways to unite (people from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America).
The things you have learned as a Latam living in the United States?
Latin Americans come in different shades and from various cultures, but those are all adaptations to our histories that make us all unique. Our differences should be acknowledged and celebrated. We are all human, and working together will advance our positions, not only in this country but also worldwide.
I have also learned that Latin Americans have some amazing food styles (like Peruvian cuisine), different musical styles, and some good values (family). All of these are things that should be celebrated and should be a source of pride.
I have also learned from my experiences that there is still so much work to do when it comes to representation. Unity is a great option to consider. Latin Americans are significant contributors to art, culture, politics, and economics within this country. Latin Americans make up 19% of the total US population. Politically speaking, Latin Americans comprise 13.5% of the total electorate and are thus the largest voting minority. Latin Americans also contribute a total of $2.3 trillion to the GDP.
Are there any ways the community can help you?
The most impactful way to help out a creator like me (or any creator) is to engage with our content. If we support each other, that will help get our work pushed out to larger audiences. Eventually, someone in positions of power will notice the work that we produce, which may lead to more funding, leading to higher quality content. That higher quality content then becomes more exciting for our audiences. It is a positive feedback loop, and it becomes the gift that keeps on giving. It is all about supporting and uplifting each other.
