A Little About Me...the Photographer
I am a second-generation Puerto Rican, born and raised in New York City. As a single mother of two incredible children, my journey has been shaped by challenges that have tested and strengthened me. I've navigated language barriers, experienced homelessness, dealt with unemployment, and pursued my education as an adult learner—all while raising my kids. Through it all, my roots, family, and traditions have given me the resilience and strength I never knew I had.
Today, I am both an educator and a part-time photographer, using my experiences to inspire others and capture stories of resilience and pride. I’ve found that telling these stories, both my own and those of others, helps remind us of the power we hold within ourselves and the importance of honoring our cultures.
In my role in higher education, competing for promotions has come with its own set of difficulties. Beyond the lack of a true sense of community and support, there’s the constant challenge of meeting the "right" level of education, having the "right" kind of experience, and dealing with barriers related to ethnicity and age. Then there’s nepotism, where positions seem to be handed out to those with family connections, and the frustration of waiting for opportunities that seem out of reach because someone who will never retire is already in the role. I hold close to my favorite quote, "We rise by lifting others," because it speaks to what I believe true mentorship should be. Genuine mentorship lifts people up, fostering growth rather than focusing on self-promotion or publications. Sadly, I’ve found that kind of support to be rare, and it has made my journey more challenging.
But through it all, my faith and the lessons I learned as a child from mi mama y abula, rich with cultural traditions, are what drive my passion for creating spaces where people feel seen and valued. Whether in the classroom or behind the camera, I want to celebrate resilience, cultural pride, and the stories that define who we are. As Gloria Estefan sings in one of my favorite songs, “Hablemos el mismo idioma, aunque con diferente acento… Es importante seguir adelante con fuerza y con fé hemos nuevos caminos, en la unión hay, un gran poder. Orgullosos de ser latinos no importa de donde, Todo podemos vencer.”—we may speak with different accents, but when we share the same heart and soul, we are united. That’s the spirit I carry with me in all that I do.