Growing up in Washington Heights allowed me to live in a space as a first-generation American where I could have big dreams. Where I could see people that looked like me carve a path to a new life. A path to the life our parents sacrificed everything for us.

However, when I stepped out of my Mami’s 3-bedroom apartment the world didn’t see me as Latina, they saw me as Black. Navigating those two worlds was tough but I kept most of it to myself. Observing, learning, and experiencing my reality as an Afro-Latina would eventually manifest itself into this blog, my workshops, and interviews. When I later moved to the deep South with my white husband, that struggle became harder to navigate but I persevered. So, as the Black Lives Matter movement is amplified so is the voice of the Afro-Latinx community. We too have experienced racial trauma that comes with us on interviews, to the bodega, and beyond.

That is why when #WeAllGrow shared their new initiatives to promote Afro-Latinas and make us more visible I was so proud and sad that the world is just now starting to understand what we have been living. For those that don’t know, #WeAllGrow was founded by Latinas in 2010. Their mission is to empower Latinx to use their collective social influence to help each other grow.

This is a brand I first connected with when my bestie Melissa and I went to the LEAD conference at Harvard University. I joined in their mission right away. Unfortunately, the longer I hung around in circles and experienced their important work, I also felt like I wasn’t fully represented. That changed this week! #WeAllGrow shared that after deep listening and understanding they are aware now and ready to share their commitment to the Afro-Latinx community. Their first initiative was to make us visible.

I am happy to share that this week I was featured along with 11 other Afro-Latinas on the #WeAllGrow IG story and newsletter. Additionally, I was added to the first-ever #WeAllGrow Afro-Latinx Small Business Directory. If you would like to submit your Afro-Latinx business check out the #WeAllGrow submission form.

The world is changing, and I am glad to be living in a time where I am educated, prepared, and available to be part of the conversation and then follow it up with action. I hope you are too!