A Eulogy for My Best Friend

Melissa was always thoughtful in her writing and I wanted to honor her and do the same. On April 30th,  I lost my dear friend of many years, Melissa. to put it simply she was dope!  She was loving,  and a straight-shooter, something I deeply admired about her. She was a mighty force to be reckoned with. 

Melissa was a gift to the world. She made it better. She fought cancer for the last two years and we became even closer during these final years and I am forever thankful for that time. 

I have all her voicemails, and emails. I  listen to every word with a deep intense sadness.  I love you dearly mama.

Nunca te olvidare.

Because of COVID and travel restrictions from Florida to New York, I wasn't able to attend her services. Her husband, Matt, and daughter Giana knew how deeply I loved her and asked me to write a eulogy that they would read at her funeral.  

Here are my final words to my friend of a lifetime.

I met Melissa in 2003. We had both been struggling to get pregnant and our mutual friend Madeline thought that we needed each other. Since then we have been inseparable.

Even when we both got pregnant and I miscarried, Melissa walked that tough journey with me. Never letting go even when she was put on bed rest and struggled with her own pregnancy she somehow found a way to be there for me.  

That’s why when cancer came her way I knew I would do for her what she did for me... “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” with her.

Mel wasn’t just loved by me, but my entire family from my cousin Helen, Lilly to all my siblings and parents. Her grace and love made her a rockstar in our book.

There are no words...just tears to describe how hard the future will be without her. I still long to talk to her every day. I listen to voicemails she left me and laugh or cry at what she recorded. There’s no doubt  I will simply be lost without her.

Mel has helped me grow as a professional, woman, mother, and friend. When every friend I had let me down Melissa NEVER did. She called bs on haters and she checked me when I was wrong. For that alone, she is my forever my sister. 

 Her authenticity and love were her guiding force and boy was she a force to be reckoned with! Her absence has been felt deep down in my soul.

 Since adopting Jaden, I have thanked God every day for my infertility because it brought me our son. Today, I thank God for my infertility because it brought me to Melissa. ️

I will forever, forever long to be by her side. That will never change. As I recently told your daughter, Giana this is not something we will ever get over. We will just learn to endure it. 

On our last call, Melissa shared how proud she was of me. I wanted to take this moment to share the same. Melissa’s life was far from easy and somehow she found love, built a home, developed a career she could be proud of and raised an intelligent, bold, and beautiful daughter. I am so proud of her for beating the odds! Every day she inspired me...and still does.

And to Melissa, one last thing...As the years come and go without you I want you to know this ...I will be there for Giana. She will sing again and I know you will watch over her day and night. Like you “G” is brave, beautiful, and bold. Giana also has her own magic to give the world and l know you will be there for it all.

You are gone way too soon and I look forward to the day I will see you again. Rest easy my sweet friend. I love you. You fought so well, you inspired so many, you loved so deeply, you lived so loudly, no one that ever knew you can ever forget you, Melissa, I never will.

Enjoy your rest and bask in Glory.

I’ll see you when I get there.

With a broken heart,

I celebrate your life.

Systematic Change for Children of Color - Adopt US Kids

Adopt Us Kids has been at the forefront of innovation in the field of adoption for decades. That is why It was an honor to be a graduate of the Adopt US Kids Minority Professional Leadership Development Program. Today, another dream came true. I was featured on their website for the transformational adoption work we have done here in Tampa, FL.

Please check out my interview entitled Leading systems-change efforts in Florida. In it, I share how the four strategies we implemented increased the adoption of children of color by 54%.

When asked what was my biggest takeaway during this process I shared “Perhaps one of the biggest lessons that I learned is that you cannot do this work alone! You can’t make changes without partnerships and without engaging every stakeholder and bringing along other people who share your vision.”

I will forever be thankful to AdoptUs Kids, for teaching me that I am a transformational leader who has earned a seat at the table. The Minority Professional Leadership Development (MPLD) Program is a 12-month fellowship for emerging child welfare leaders of color.

Applications for the upcoming MPLD cohort are being accepted now through June 22, 2020.

Pandemic Challenges for Small Business Jefas

The term Jefa refers to a “female boss or leader; a woman in charge.” If you haven’t checked out part one of the series, you are missing out. Such a good read on triumph, adversity, and beating all odds. Jefas are made of tough stock. They are resilient, empowered, and find ways to thrive in the midst of a storm or in this case a pandemic.   In the midst of the Coronavirus, I wanted to take some time and feature dynamic Latina’s running successful small business and chat about how the pandemic has impacted their ability to provide for their family, generate more business and create.  

But first, why focus on small businesses? According to Vox Media “ Small businesses were responsible for 60 percent of net new jobs created from 2009 to 2013, after the recession. That means a big chunk of employment, taxes, and local services are directly tied to small business. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, Congress along with the President approved the latest coronavirus stimulus package to specifically help small businesses stay afloat. But figuring out exactly how to access it can be somewhat confusing”. Vox Media has a great guide to assist with figuring out what you qualify for and how to navigate this complicated system. 

According to census data, the number of women-owned businesses is on the rise — growing by 26.8 percent from 2007 to 2012, to 9.9 million firms owned by women as of 2012. That is a big deal. This pandemic will have an incredible impact on women, their families, and the economy all across the globe. How Jefas face the hard days ahead matter. 

Proverbs 31 states that women of noble character should be honored “for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” This means women of strong noble character, Jefas, should be honored and praised by those that love & admire the most. I would like to introduce you to Mariana, a Jefa I admire.

Meet Mariana

An award-winning international photographer. Together with her husband, this Jefa owns KISMIS INK an international award-winning photography studio based in Tampa Florida. Mariana's beautiful work has been featured in Bridal Guide Magazine, Inside Weddings Magazine, The Knot, and The Huffington Post to name a few. To see more of her award-winning work check out her portfolio. 

“As a creative and business owner, I’ve been challenged to think differently and remember why I started.”

— Mariana

At first meeting Mariana, you will be swept away by her energetic spirit and her magnetic green eyes. She is a Cubana, who embraces all cultures while proudly sharing her story of immigration, triumph, and love. This is evident in who she calls “her people”. She warns all her potential clients with the same message “ I will hug you when we meet. We’ll talk about your adventures in travel, food, and love- and what makes your relationship one-of-a-kind.” She loves to love people and to me, that’s what makes her stand out most of all.

I had the chance for a virtual sit down with Mariana and asked her a few questions about her business, + how her work fills her creative calling.   

Describe what the word Jefa means to you. When I think of the word jefa, I picture a lighthouse. A guiding light, ready to serve and standing tall while being a safe haven to others. 

Do you consider yourself a Jefa? Yes! In both business and my personal relationships, I strive to guide, serve, and stand tall, inviting others to join me. 

“As a daughter of Cuban immigrants, I've had the privilege of growing up in our society from a different perspective.”

-Mariana

What does it mean to you to be Hispana in your industry? As a daughter of Cuban immigrants, I've had the privilege of growing up in our society from a different perspective. Learning English as a second language gave me compassion for others that struggle with different languages and challenged me to find ways to bring both worlds together to better our community. In the creative industry, as a photographer/business owner, I am always looking for opportunities to share the beauty and power in embracing diversity and our cultural influences. 

How has that shaped your work? This passion has shaped my creative work and business over the last ten years. I've had the honor of documenting multicultural love stories around the world in a way that is unique to my background and life experiences while using my platforms to inspire others beyond their comfort zones. 

How has the Pandemic impacted your work? COVID-19 has impacted small businesses in ways we could never have imagined. In a matter of days, I’ve found myself revising our second quarter plans, navigating cancellations across our calendars, having conversations with clients and prioritizing health and mental wellness over profit and business growth. 

Not knowing how all of this will impact our third quarter and beyond brings a sense of fear, but it also challenges me as an entrepreneur and begs for me to rise up and lift up others in my industry.

As a creative and business owner, I’ve been challenged to think differently and remember why I started. I am embracing this unique season to work ON my business instead of IN, love on my clients, even more, collaborate with fellow industry friends, as there is so much work to be done in the waiting and so much growth as a small business through these obstacles. It’s a time to be generous, show up in different ways and serve others with our talents, we are all in this together.  

After reading Marianna’s thoughts on the screen it reminded me of this quote by Arundhati Roy: 

“Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next. We can choose to walk through it, dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks, and dead ideas, our dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it." I’m glad I know women like Mariana, rethinking their business, imagining a new world and fighting for it every day. 

If you know a phenomenal Latina who runs her own small business please email me I'd love to interview her for a potential feature.