What makes you proud of being a woman but also a Latina?
Aside from being the reason why humanity continues, I am proud to be a woman because we give birth to the future. I'm proud to be a woman, because we think with our heart and mind. I’m also proud because, we women, have a resilient loving spirit. Allow me to explain. From the beginning of history, because we were women we were denied basic fundamental human rights. Our place in the world was secondary to men. Dolores Huerta once said, “We will never have peace in the world until feminist take power.” And she is completely and absolutely right, because we all lose when women are not part of the big picture.
Despite the odds and injustices committed against us, we continue. We remain resilient and continue peacefully standing against the ugly in the world. Our ability to love and our strength to give life to the world is part of our resistance and our spirit. Also, I feel we are more inclined to love and that's important because, Love is essential for peace. We are a big part of the solution. Peace can't happen without us.
Is there someone you look up to? Is there someone you look up to?
I look up to many people, historic heroes, immediate family, and people across the globe, but one stands above them all. There’s a Pastor in South Korea that goes by Sungsengneem. Since 1992, he has been fighting for the freedom of people all around the world. I look up to him because he came from nothing and from nowhere. The world has been cruel to him. He's even been incarcerated for a decade. Despite injustices committed against him, he continues to see the good in people.His resistance is inspiring. I feel he has a woman like spirit and I hope to one day be like him. He's unshaken and resilient out of love.
Do you feel Latino culture has had a big impact on who you are?
My culture is exceedingly family oriented and more so because my family comes from a small pueblo called, Ixcuintla, in the state of Nayarit. It's a small town so everybody knows everybody. There's a strong sense of family community. My blood family taught me to love people. I was raised with conscientious habits. I can not help but consider the other person.
Whether someone is a part of the blood family or the global family is irrelevant, because in the end we all benefit when we treat each other with love.
Do you have any current projects you are working on and accomplishments that you would like to talk about?
Yes, I'm my own project. I believe we are not done until we die, so I'm working on being more active, more awesome, mysterious, and beautiful. Until my last days. According to my own personal standards.
Accomplishments? I don't really like to talk about what I've done or what I'm doing. It always makes me laugh when I catch someone boasting about themselves. So, I keep what I do humble and simple. If it's great enough, people will talk about it. If it's not that great, well then it's better off forgotten. (Smile)
Do you have any words of advice and encouragement to future generations of all women?
Yes, stop taking the norm role and DIY yourself. DIY your life! Make a new role in your community and own it. Work together with like-minded people and don't let anyone decide how far you can go. Draw the lines yourself and make everywhere you step a better place.
Take care of your mind, body and spirit. Take care of your life, your family, your school, your community, your state, your country, and ultimately your world. Only then, we will win against the the ugly that has been done to the world.