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OUR SISTER

HOOD

Editor's note

On March 15, 1970, feminist writer and activist Susan

Brownmiller wrote a piece for the New York Times titled,

‘Sisterhood is Powerful.’ In it, she details how a group of

fifteen women gathered every Sunday evening at her house

in New York City or at the house of one or another of the

members. Their ages ranged from early twenties to late

forties and they all worked for a living—some were married,

with kids, and others were not. Each week, they discussed

different aspects of what they thought was systemic

“oppression in a male-controlled society.” They became sort

of famous. Women’s liberation was a hot topic for news

editors at the time, as it was a “radical” movement that

made “good copy." One editor described it as the “Get the

bra burning and the karate up front” movement. A CBS

journalist contacted Brownmiller for a piece about the

group. She declined. Their reporting was sexist. The media

attention was clouding the cause and women interested in

joining the movement could not make a direct contact with

the real side of it.

The solution to the issue, according to Brownmiller, was for

women to form their own small groups. And that’s what

they did. Feminist groups sprung up around the U.S. and the

world, all part of the women’s liberation movement. Many

of the founders were women in their twenties, fresh out of

the civil rights and peace movements of the era. They were

tired of the abuse they suffered while being part of other

movements, where they did “the typing and food fixing

while men did the writing and leading.” Many of the “radical

men,” as Brownmiller calls them, were sexist. Women felt

that “the highly touted ‘alternate lifestyle’ of the radical

movement was working out no better than the “bourgeois”

lifestyle they had rejected.” So they “put forward the idea

that feminism must be a separate movement of its own.”

This is when trailblazing groups got their start: New York

Radical Women, Redstockings, and The Feminists, to name

a few.

Meetings were at first awkward and women were shy, with

no chairwoman or agenda. Then some started suggesting

something: “Let's sit closer together, sisters.” It helped

break the ice. Once women started to see each other as

sisters, no matter who they were, they felt comfortable and

volubility emerged. “We had so much to say,” an early

member told Brownmiller. “Most of us had never said it to

another woman before.”

I only started talking to other women about it in recent

years, and I’m almost forty. And I know of women who died

without ever verbalizing it. Why? It’s been fifty years since

those groups gathered and shared their thoughts in those

living rooms. Why are we still having a hard time talking

about this with our female friends, mothers, sisters,

neighbors? Because we lack spaces and places to talk.

Because to some, feminism is a “bad word” or relates to

“man-hating.” That's not it. Real feminism seeks equality,

not superiority. We want to liberate women from being

oppressed and liberate men from being oppressors. They

should also be allowed to be vulnerable, emotional, and

compassionate.

It’s sad to think that the women’s movement, fifty years

after that piece was written, is still hard to reach for some

women. That’s the barrier we’re trying to break here. We

now have more access and technology to unite. Let Nenas

Magazine be like that living room in New York City. Read

this issue and let's start a conversation about us. You can

email me personally at caribewriter@gmail.com if you want.

I'm here for you.

In these pages, you'll meet pioneering women who share

the causes and movements they support, and the paths that

are available for you, for all of us. I also share their social

media handles so you can connect with them.

We stand on the shoulders of the great women who came

before us. We can follow in their footsteps and then create

new paths that are more inclusive and work for these times.

So sit closer together, sisters. Let's break the ice.

Welcome to the Sisterhood Issue.

Melissa

Melissa Alvarado Sierra

Editor-in-Chief

It. I stopped to think when I read that part. Most of us have

never said it to another woman.

INTERVIEW

T A T I A N A O R D O Ñ E Z

Z U A H A Z A

T a t i a n a O r d o ñ e z i s t h e f o u n d e r a n d c r e a t i v e

d i r e c t o r o f Z u a h a z a , a n e w l i n e o f s u s t a i n a b l e

t e x t i l e s m a d e i n C o l o m b i a b y a g r o u p o f

p a s s i o n a t e a r t i s a n s a n d d e s i g n e r s . T h e y c r a f t

h o m e t e x t i l e s b e t w e e n t h e i r c r e a t i v e l a b i n

B o g o t á a n d a p r o d u c t i o n s t u d i o i n C h a r a l á .

T h e i r m i s s i o n i s " t o c r e a t e s u s t a i n a b l e

e m p l o y m e n t f o r w o m e n a r t i s a n s i n C o l o m b i a b y

r e v i t a l i z i n g t h e c r a f t o f m a k i n g t e x t i l e s a n d

c o l l a b o r a t i n g t o i n n o v a t e i n p r o d u c t a n d

d e s i g n . "

T a t i a n a i s a w e a v e r a n d n a t u r a l d y e r h e r s e l f .

A l o n g w i t h h e r t e a m , s h e w o r k s o n a l l t h e

p r o d u c t i o n a n d d e s i g n p r o c e s s f r o m s t a r t t o

f i n i s h . A f t e r s t a r t i n g t h e b u s i n e s s , s h e h a d t o

t a k e c a r e o f t h e o p e r a t i o n s a n d m a r k e t i n g s i d e

o f t h e b r a n d , l e t t i n g t h e a r t i s a n p a r t n e r s

m a n a g e p r o d u c t i o n a n d s a m p l e d e v e l o p m e n t .

T h e b r a n d h a s b e e n g e t t i n g a l o t a t t e n t i o n , w i t h

f a n s a l l a r o u n d t h e w o r l d .

NENAS MAGAZINE | 8

H O N O R I N G

M A K E R S ,

C U L T U R E A N D

C R A F T .

N E N A S : W h y d i d y o u d e c i d e t o s t a r t Z u a h a z a ,

w h a t i s Z u a h a z a a n d w h a t d o e s t h e w o r d

Z u a h a z a m e a n ?

T A T I A N A : I n 2 0 1 8 , I m a d e a t r i p t o a s m a l l r u r a l

a r e a o f C o l o m b i a c a l l e d C h a r a l á t o l e a r n a b o u t

t h e r i c h h i s t o r y o f c o t t o n g r o w i n g , s p i n n i n g a n d

w e a v i n g i n t h i s r e g i o n . D u r i n g m y t r i p , I m e t

C o r p o l i e n z o , a c o o p e r a t i v e o f a r t i s a n s w h o s e

m i s s i o n w a s t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r a n c e s t o r s ' c r a f t

a n d t e a c h t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s a b o u t t h e i r

G u a n e I n d i g e n o u s t r a d i t i o n s . W e t h e n d e c i d e d

t o c r e a t e a n e w l i n e o f t e x t i l e s , b o r n o f t h e

a r t i s a n s ’ e x t e n s i v e k n o w l e d g e a n d o f m y d e s i r e

t o s h a r e C o l o m b i a ' s c r e a t i v e a n d s u s t a i n a b l e

t e x t i l e s w i t h t h e g l o b a l m a r k e t .

Z u a h a z a m e a n s “ m y s i s t e r ” i n t h e M u i s c a

l a n g u a g e o f t h e p e o p l e w h o l i v e d i n t h e

C u n d i b o y a c e n s e m o u n t a i n r e g i o n o f C o l o m b i a .

A s a s o c i a l e n t e r p r i s e , Z u a h a z a s t r i v e s t o

e m b o d y c o l l e c t i v e s i s t e r h o o d b e t w e e n w o m e n

i n C o l o m b i a . F o l l o w i n g a n e r a o f i n t e n s e

c o n f l i c t , w h i c h c o n t i n u e s t o s h a p e a n d a f f e c t

C o l o m b i a t o d a y , Z u a h a z a s e e k s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n

t h e p e a c e m a k i n g e f f o r t s t o r e u n i t e a n d h e a l o u r

c o u n t r y . Z u a h a z a s t r i v e s t o c o n n e c t w o m e n

f r o m a c r o s s C o l o m b i a , a n d t o c r e a t e u n i q u e

p r o d u c t s t h a t r e f l e c t o u r d i v e r s i t y , h i s t o r y a n d

d r e a m s a s s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e u n i t y a n d p e a c e t o

c o m e f r o m C o l o m b i a . T h i s i s w h a t s i s t e r h o o d

m e a n s t o u s .

N E N A S : W h a t i s t h e i m p a c t t h a t Z u a h a z a i s

m a k i n g i n t h e i r l i v e s ?

W E W O R K W I T H A

C O O P E R A T I V E O F T H I R T Y F I V E

W O M E N . T H E R E A R E S E V E N

W O M E N T H A T H A V E B E E N

W O R K I N G C L O S E L Y W I T H M E

O N Z U A H A Z A ' S P R O J E C T S .

T H E Y A R E A L L W E A V E R S ,

S P I N N E R S , N A T U R A L D Y E R S ,

T A T I A N A : W e h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g a l m o s t a f u l l

S E W E R S A N D M A C R A M E

y e a r i n t h i s e x c i t i n g j o u r n e y , a n d w e c a n t e l l

A R T I S T S . T H E Y L I V E I N A

y o u t h a t o u r a r t i s a n p a r t n e r s a r e e a r n i n g t h r e e

t i m e s m o r e f r o m t h e i r n o r m a l i n c o m e b y

S M A L L T O W N C A L L E D

w o r k i n g w i t h Z u a h a z a t o s e l l t h e i r p r o d u c t s

C H A R A L Á , L O C A T E D I N T H E

i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y . T h e y h a v e b e e n a b l e t o n o t j u s t

e a r n f a i r w a g e s f o r t h e i r l a b o r , b u t t h e y h a v e

D E P A R T M E N T O F S A N T A N D E R

l e a r n e d t o p r i c e t h e i r p r o d u c t s f a i r l y . T h e y

I N T H E A N D E A N M O U N T A I N

h a v e l e a r n e d t o d e v e l o p n e w w e a v i n g

t e c h n i q u e s a n d a r e c u r r e n t l y t r a i n i n g t o l e a r n

R E G I O N O F C O L O M B I A .

n e w n a t u r a l d y e r e c i p e s t o g e t n e w i n n o v a t i v e

c o l o r s . 9

I T E M S F R O M T H E R O O T S C O L L E C T I O N

I T H I N K T H A T B E C A U S E I A M A N

A R T I S T A T H E A R T , P R A C T I C I N G

W E A V I N G A N D N A T U R A L D Y E I N G I S

S O I M P O R T A N T F O R T H E S O U L O F

O U R B U S I N E S S .

T A T I A N A O R D O Ñ E Z

10

A new collection is launching in

October 2020 and will include

home textiles (pillows and

throws) and their first line of

Fique (hemp-like) rugs and

baskets.

NENAS: You are an artisan yourself, do you

still have time to handcraft pieces, and if so,

how does creating benefit your spirit and life?

TATIANA: Is a bittersweet feeling. To be

honest, since starting the business myself, I

have had less time to practice weaving and

make products myself. I have been having to

do all the operations side of the business and

that has taken the majority of my time. My

plan is that as we grow we will be able to hire

someone part time to help with marketing and

I know that will help me go back to making

myself more than I currently get to. I think

that because I am an artist at heart, practicing

weaving and natural dyeing is so important for

the soul of our business. I can't design from a

computer, I need to make the fabrics, feel

them, see the colors to actually know this will

work for a collection. I believe that staying

true to your passions and what you truly enjoy

doing is essential to keep your business or

venture going forward. Making keeps my soul

and mind healthy to stay passionate and

remember why we are doing this.

NENAS: Where do you see women artisanship

in the future? And what can all of us do to

foster its growth?

TATIANA: The artisan sector is growing and is

very exciting to see. I think it's interesting to

see how as technology and virtual reality have

taken a huge importance in our lives now, we

still miss that human touch. As we see our

planet struggle with mass production, plastic

pollution and huge corporations making

products cheaper and more environmentally

harmful, we have realized that there is

something missing. The human touch. The

stories of our grandparents, of our cultures,

teaching us techniques that have survived for

centuries if not thousands of years.

I see artisanship truly gaining so much

importance in the future. I see a generation of

consumers that are more interested in

purchasing a handmade treasure for probably

twice the price than a cheaply machine made

version. We will never create in massive

amounts, we will never compete with cheaplymade

products. But, we are fighting against

that wave and is gaining momentum and a

voice. I believe that as we all educate ourselves

and continue to be advocates in our own lives

for a better world, a more fair and just labor

system and protecting this earth that we all

call home, we will help grow this artisan sector

movement all together.

11

ON ADVICE TO OTHERS

Tatiana and the artisans of Zuahaza in Colombia.

Your story is unique and that is what will

set your business apart. If you were

wanting to start a slow fashion label or

artisan goods business, remember this is

a sector where we are all working

towards the same goal.

Take it one step at a time. Everyone's journey looks different so don't

compare yours to others. If we work together towards change, we all

come out winning. This sisterhood is not about competition, is about

lifting each other up.■

Visit Zuahaza.com to shop and sign up for updates.

12

Ziabari: In a blog post about your trip to Iran, you wrote that

many people confuse Iran and Iraq, believing that it’s a wartorn

country and under the rule of ISIS. Where do you think

this confusion and misunderstanding originates from?

Napora: The lack of knowledge about the world. But, at the

same time, I don’t expect people to know about every single

territory in the world and what’s happening there. I expect

maybe 5% of the people to be really interested in the current

affairs and geography. So, even if these comments about Iran

and Iraq made me roll my eyes about that, I quickly

remembered that if I’m interested in the region, it doesn’t

mean everyone has to be.

I also come from a country that people, especially from outside

of Europe, confuse with other destinations or have a

completely false image of. Over the years, I just learned not to

take these opinions too personally. And I think in the case of

Iran, it wasn’t the realistic image of the country, just the lack of

knowledge about the Middle East and what was happening

there. After all, these two names [Iran and Iraq] are similar.

Ziabari: There is often worrying news about Iran in the media,

which is mostly the result of the country’s dismal foreign

relations and regional policies. However, those who visit Iran

assert that the reality of Iranian people and the culture of Iran

are totally detached from its politics. Did you also come to this

understanding after concluding your trip?

Napora: Definitely! In every country, we should separate

politics and people, as politicians don’t always represent their

nation fully. It’s very accurate in Iran, too. The majority of

people I met in Iran were warm, hospitable, welcoming and

curious, and there was not a single moment when I felt they

are not fine with tourists visiting their country. Quite the

opposite, actually.

Ziabari: You wrote in one of your travel blogs about Iran that

you had countless encounters with people on the streets,

restaurants and public places who approached you to offer

help or ask where you came from and what you thought of

Iran. Why do you think this experience happened so

frequently? Did it ever make you feel uncomfortable?

Napora: No, I was very happy to talk to local people as that’s

what makes traveling so special too. Since there are still not

too many independent travelers visiting Iran, those who

venture there are somehow an attraction.

I think locals were just curious [about] how I like their country

and wanted to make me feel welcome there. All these friendly

encounters were one of the reasons why I enjoyed my trip to

Iran so much

Ziabari: As you noted, Iranian people are known for their

hospitality and friendliness. Tell us more about your

experiences with Iranian people and the treatment you

received in different cities. Have you had similar experiences

in other countries?

Napora: I had a similar experience in other countries too, like

New Zealand or Georgia, but Iran is among the top places I’ve

met the most hospitable people. Except for the few

uncomfortable situations I encountered as a solo female

traveler, everyone was friendly and welcoming. I was invited to

people’s houses for dinner, I was invited to join them in

restaurants, and locals bought me Iranian dishes so I could try

them out. It was one of the experiences I will never forget.

Ziabari: What’s the most attractive thing about Iran that you

observed and experienced during your trip?

16

Omid Armin

Napora: Even if I experienced similar hospitality in other

places, I think the incredible hospitality of Iranian people is one

of the best things about the country and it can make every

traveler feel special. I felt all these friendly encounters were

genuine. Also, Persian culture and history are very interesting

to learn about and should be more promoted.

Ziabari: Iran is the 17th largest country in the world in terms of

territory. It has a population of more than 80 million people,

the majority of whom are youths. It boasts 24 UNESCO World

Heritage Sites and a history dating back some 7,000 years.

Why doesn’t Iran receive many international visitors? What

should the country do in order to become a popular tourist

destination?

With so many interesting places in the world, Iran doesn’t get

enough attention as it is not very present in the media,

including travel media, and people simply don’t know how

beautiful and worth a visit the country is.

There is a lack of proper promotion of tourism in Iran, and all

we learn is from other travelers who have visited the country.

Opening up for travelers and making traveling to Iran easier

should be a priority. A lot has changed for the better in the

years since my visit, but there are still many things that can be

done to tourists.■

attract

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not

necessarily reflect Nenas Magazine's or Fair Observer’s editorial policy.

Napora: Unfortunately, the bad press Iran receives affects its

tourism. The visa procedure isn’t also the easiest and might

make some people doubt if it’s worth going through the hassle.

17

17

FEMINICIDE

Photo: Thayne Tuason

LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN ARE

DISAPPEARING AND DYING

UNDER LOCKDOWN

Lynn Marie Stephen is the

Philip H. Knight Chair,

Distinguished Professor of

Anthropology, Graduate Faculty

Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic

Studies, University of Oregon

By Lynn Marie Stephen, The

Conversation

Almost 1,200 women disappeared in Peru

between March 11 and June 30, the

Ministry of Women reported. In Brazil, 143

women in 12 states were murdered in

March and April – a 22% increase over the

same period in 2019.

Reports of rape, murder and domestic

violence are also way up in Mexico. In

Guatemala, they’re down significantly – a

likely sign that women are too afraid to call

the police on the partners they’re locked

down with. The pandemic worsened but did

not create this problem: Latin America has

long been among the world’s deadliest

places to be a woman.

Don’t blame ‘machismo’

I have spent three decades studying

gendered violence as well as women’s

organizing in Latin America, an increasingly

vocal and potent social force.

Though patriarchy is part of the problem,

Latin America’s gender violence cannot

simply be attributed to “machismo.” Nor is

gender inequality particularly extreme

there. Education levels among Latin

American women and girls have been rising

for decades and – unlike the U.S. – many

countries have quotas for women to hold

political office. Several have elected women

presidents.

My research, which often centers on

Indigenous communities, traces violence

against women in Latin America instead to

both the region’s colonial history and to a

complex web of social, racial, gender and

economic inequalities.

We’ll use Guatemala, a country I know well,

as a case study to unravel this thread.

Take a peek into a day

in the life of budding

artist Stella Young,

and how she improves

It’s a pandemic

her within craft the

pandemic.

Across Latin

America,

gender-based

violence has

spiked since

COVID-19 broke

out.

NENAS MAGAZINE | 18

All were nominated by peers,

editors and readers who admire

them for their work, their

lifestyles, and above all, their

solidarity with other women.

We celebrate them here, as they

are a representation of many

other women working on the

same goals. We hope this list

inspires women everywhere to

unite in SISTERHOOD.

All images provided by the women selected.

EXPLORING &

SHARING NEW

WAYS OF

LIVING

We decided to not fall into the trap of consumerism and instead

of following the traditional path, we got rid of all the stuff we

didn’t need... and moved onto a small 36ft sailboat with the

motivation to observe the world, and learn along the way.

kika mevs

S A I L O R , C O N T E N T C R E A T O R

& A R C H I T E C T

I G : @ S A I L I N G U M A

22

Living on an Caribbean island (Hispaniola), growing up I

was always drawn to the ocean. I would look out my

window and dreamt of traveling the world someday. Our

longing to explore different cultures was one of the many

things that my fiancé Dan and I had in common when we

met. Being both young and adventurous, we were on the

same page, that traveling had to be a big part of our lives.

After graduating from University, we decided to not fall into

the trap of consumerism and instead of following the

traditional path, we got rid of all the stuff we didn’t need,

jumped into a rented car, drove 2,000miles from Georgia to

North America, and moved onto a small 36ft sailboat with

the motivation to observe the world, and learn along the

way. We decided to use our online platform to share our

story and acquired knowledge, hoping it can entertain,

educate, or motivate those looking to start their own

journey.(https://www.youtube.com/sailinguma)

What I love the most about living on a sailboat is that I

am traveling with my entire home, and everything I own

in it. Dan and I like to say that our home might be small

but we have a HUGE backyard. We get to have different

neighbors and a different view out of our window every

time we lift our anchor. In the last 5 years, we’ve sailed

close to 20,000 nautical miles, sailed the Caribbean,

Central America, the east coast of the US to Canada,

crossed the North Atlantic Ocean, and are currently in

the North Sea. Every new place is a unique experience.

ON WHAT MATTERS: Living minimally is a big aspect of

my life, and one of the things I prioritize the most. It is so

easy in our modern world to fill our lives and garages

with superficial stuff we think we need, because a

magazine calls it a “must have” or because our friends

have it too. Stepping away from that mindset and living

small and simple has been the best choice in my life,

giving me the physical and mental freedom to move and

live nomadically.

ON SUCCESS: For me success doesn’t mean having a lot of

money. It’s about being free to craft my life and move forward

on my own terms. Over the course of this journey, I’ve slowly

learned to slow down and take the time to appreciate where I

am, and the little things around me.

ON ADVICE: No matter what journey or lifestyle we choose,

there will always be risks, challenges, and lots of scary

moments, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the BIG picture.

Saying “ sailing around the world” can be daunting, so instead,

we can focus on the next horizon, smaller steps, and with every

step, shift our focus to the next one. All we can do is appreciate

all the good moments, the good people we meet, and the

lessons we learn along the way, and keep taking one tiny step

at a time in the right direction.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: My whole life, I’ve dealt with many

frustrating situations when traveling to new countries. Being

segregated based on my nationality has been one of the most

challenging aspects of this lifestyle. There is no such thing as

Utopia, but the ability to travel freely no matter what one’s

passport is from, would be a step in the right direction.

ON A CAUSE: For the past 2 years, I’ve been involved in

helping put together the Haiti Sailing Cup, an annual sailing

regatta within small villages in an effort to improve the

lives of the fishermen, and educate them about the

importance of a healthy ocean. As a Haitian sailor, this

project is very dear to my heart, as I believe it is catalyst

projects like these that can make the most impact on the

Haitian community, as well as boosting the local economy.

(https://www.sailinguma.com/teamuma)

ON SISTERHOOD: Being a small woman of

color, in a predominantly white male

industry, comes with many challenges. But

I am hoping that by sharing my story,

more women out there will find the

courage to stand up and have confidence

to push beyond their limits, and break the

traditional boundaries.

23

CONNECTING

THE WORLD

I love the communications sector and the power it

has. I love getting to know different cultures and

working towards sharing their true story, not the

one the media wants to sell us. I love being united,

listening to different perspectives and learning

from everyone.

lorna pizarro madera

C O M M U N I C A T I O N S S P E C I A L I S T

I G : @ L O R N A M A D E R A

24

ON A CAUSE: Coalición Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer,

founded in 1989 by a group of feminists who at the time

fought for the Puerto Rican legislature to enact Law 54,

which addresses intimate domestic abuse on the island.

They offer community education, victim care programs, and

technical aid to survivors and their children. While I was

studying Public Relations at the University of Puerto Rico, I

completed a research project on their initiatives.

https://pazparalamujer.org/

Three years ago I was hired to be

the Director of Communications

for the Embassy of Afghanistan

in Washington, DC, then I moved

to Spain last year to pursue a

Master's Degree in International

Relations and Communications. I

am completing a fellowship at

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

European Union and Cooperation

of Spain, where I assist the

Secretary of State for

International Cooperation team

with communication and

evaluation projects. I started a

blog, Facebook page and

Instagram account called Puerto

Rico en el Mundo where I visit

Puerto Ricans living abroad to

learn about their multiple

contributions in different

sectors.

ON WHAT MATTERS: What

matters most to me right now –

and always – is my family. Even

though I live in Spain, I try to be

connected to my roots and to the

people who have brought light to

my life. In addition, it is

imperative for me to be happy

with everything I do. On a

professional level, it is to learn

and grow so that one day I can

give back to Puerto Rico

everything it has given me and

be part of the change we so

desperately need.

ON SISTERHOOD: For me,

sisterhood is synonymous to

empowerment. I grew up in a

family where most of us are

women – and by far. From them

(and my dad) I have learned

about self-love, compassion,

solidarity, the importance of

women in the world and to fight

for what I want. Therefore,

sisterhood and feminism, two

concepts completely rooted in

who I am, have always been

present in my life. Having a

support group that listens to

you, understands you, values

you and respects you without

judgment is fundamental and

that is something that

sisterhood gives you. Also, it is a

constant reminder of

inspiration,

strength,

overcoming, and love.

As Eleanor Holmes says:

sisterhood is power.

ON SUCCESS: My definition of

success is to be happy doing

what you love and with who you

love, so in my book, I already am.

Being successful is about

growing but also contributing,

being determined but humble,

being positive but realistic, and

seizing every growth opportunity

while being focused on my goal.

Also, you should always

remember that success lies in

making mistakes and knowing

how to learn from them.

ON ADVICE: Trust the process and

yourself –- something that has

been difficult for me and I keep

working on every day. We are

used to questioning everything

(perhaps because we’re a

perfectionist gender) and in many

cases we tend to think of the

famous "what if". Be ambitious,

believe in yourself, fight for

what's yours and if you don't

think you can do it, here we are

to support each other, to give the

strength that we need and to be

light in your way. Don't let the

comments affect you, take them

as constructive criticism and

grow from them.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: My ideal

world would be one full of

understanding, integrity and with

public health and education

accessible to all. One without

prejudice, violence and terrorism.

There would be no debate over

equal conditions, exclusion,

racism or judgement for loving

someone who according to the

moralistic standards of society is

not correct.

25

BREAKING

CEILINGS FOR

TRANS WOMEN

What I love most about being a model is being behind a

camera and feeling that rush of confidence I am not

ordinarily accustomed to. I am usually pretty shy, but I feel

like such a badass when I am working!

Photo by Sam Wallander

garnet rubio

F A S H I O N M O D E L

I G : @ G A R N E T R U B I O

26

ON ADVICE: Never forget where you came from.

You are never bigger or better than anyone else.

We all ultimately were born the same, and we will

die the same. It is so important to be a loving

human and to always treat others with kindness.

We have to be there for each other in these dark

times. It’s not hard to just be a good person. We

have x amount of time in this life... so how will you

spend it?

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: My ideal world is not a

realistic one. It would be one without prejudice

or judgment. Racism, transphobia, etc... would

not exist. That shouldn’t be so much to ask for,

but it is.

ON A CAUSE: The Black Trans Fund. It is “the first

national fund in the country dedicated to uplifting

and resourcing Black trans social justice leaders.

BTF seeks to address the lack of funding for Black

trans communities in the U.S. through direct

grantmaking, capacity building support, and

funder organizing to transform philanthropy.”

https://groundswellfund.org/black-trans-fund/

Photo by Falyn Huang

ON WHAT MATTERS: What matters most to me right now is setting a good example

for the trans community. Like other women like me, I want to break barriers and

spread awareness.

ON SISTERHOOD: For me, sisterhood means sticking together regardless of

where you are in life. It means always having each other’s back in the face of

judgment and adversity. Being a trans woman, sisterhood and standing strong is

extremely important to me.

ON SUCCESS: My definition of success is happiness. Where am I going? What do I

hope to accomplish? How will I get there? It all leads to being happy and loving

myself and those around me.

27

REACHING

PEOPLE

THROUGH

STORYTELLING

To hear that someone was moved by my performance or that

something I wrote resonated, tells me that I fostered a sense of

connection through my storytelling. It makes my work feel

purposeful – and I truly love that.

lisann valentin

A C T O R & A U T H O R

I G : @ L I S A N N V A L E N T I N

28

ON WHAT MATTERS: My family. We are in such strange

times, living through a moment in history that I never

imagined I would experience. And yet, history repeats itself,

and here we are. Thankfully, the people I love most in the

world are all under the same roof. So keeping them safe,

letting them know they are loved, that is the most important

thing to me right now.

ON SISTERHOOD: The women in my life that I

consider my sisters, (including my actual sister),

we’re like a pride of lions. We support each other.

We protect each other. We root for each other.

We see each other through good times and bad.

It’s a beautiful give-and-take full of trust, loyalty,

and love. That to me is sisterhood.

ON SUCCESS: Living a fulfilling life would be a success.

Loving and allowing myself to be loved. Working with

purpose. Effecting positive change in the world. Being the

light or the mirror that reflects it, to leave this place a little

better than I found it. That to me is fulfillment. That to me is

success.

ON ADVICE: What I’ve learned and what I hope other

women with similar goals learn to believe is this: the dreams

placed in your heart are there for a reason.

If you’re just starting out, do your research. Ask lots of

questions – of yourself and others. Make a plan. Get the

education you need to make those dreams a reality. Start by

dipping a toe in the waters. See how you feel. And if it feels

right, then jump right in!

But if you’re already in the acting world and you feel like

you’re in over your head, don’t let self-limiting beliefs hinder

you. These types of thoughts will pop up, but it’s important

to be mindful of them and explore where they come from.

That’s the key to moving past them.

I wrote a book called The Everyday Actor focused on refining

our craft now that we’re consistently auditioning from home. It

has all the tools that I still use to help me finesse my own oncamera

presence. But it is also focused on being mindful of selflimiting

beliefs.

I found that during these uncertain times, it was very easy for

my old negative thoughts to resurface. And if they were

allowed to weasel their way in, it would stop me from being my

best and doing what I love to do. I didn’t want that to happen

to me, and I certainly don’t want that to happen to anyone else.

It’s a daily practice. So, “keep swimming,” no matter what.

Regardless of what stage of the journey you’re in, believe in

yourself. Believe in your dreams. Listen to the call on your life.

“What you seek is seeking you.” –Rumi

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: I imagine it would have to start with

love. It would be a world where we truly treat others the way

we would want to be treated. Maybe if we could start with

love, we would strive for respect, compassion, and equality. We

would feel connected to each other and to the world itself. And

then everything else would fall into place.

ON AN INSPIRATION: I’d love to spotlight my sister,

Jillian Valentin. She is also a creative (a singer, an artist,

and a voice actor). Jillian volunteers with a local rescue

and through them, she adopted two kittens she was

fostering, a bonded pair who are also sisters (I’m a Tía!).

Lisann's new book, The Everyday Actor

And while my sister suffered an injury that makes her

artistry challenging, everything from her pop art, to

commissioned cartoons of pets, is used as her

therapy. Together we are writing a children’s book

series about sisters, which she is also illustrating.

Learn more about Jillian’s art here:

instagram.com/jillianvalentinart/

29

EMPOWERING

STUDENTS

AND THE

MARGINALIZED

I love working with other educators to make the

education system more equitable and inclusive for all

students. As a creator, I love engaging with others in the

Chamorro, Micronesian, and Pasifika diaspora in

cultural sharing and uplifting.

marquina hofschneider

S C H O O L C O U N S E L O R & A R T I S T

I G : @ N A M A G O F M O M E N T S

30

ON WHAT MATTERS: Right now Mental Health is a huge thing

for me, in my personal and professional life. I have struggled with

depression and anxiety for a long time so I am always looking for

ways to continue to be resilient as 2020 brings its many

challenges, and I also want to help others, especially my students

and the Chamorro community, find ways to be resilient, too.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood means women loving other

women and doing your best to support each other. It means

embracing each other, backing and hyping each other up,

because we understand the collective struggle of womanhood -

especially with our Black, Indigenous, and Trans sisters.

ON SUCCESS: I am a firm believer that success is self-defined.

To me, success is being happy and living fully, and it's also the

feeling of being content with how I've impacted the people and

world around me.

ON ADVICE: Loving yourself is a hard thing to do, and it's an

ongoing process, but every step counts. And when you've figured

out your own way of loving yourself and your community, the

journey will be clearer. There will be challenges along the way,

but you've got this. Your ancestors know it, your community

knows it, and I know deep down you know it too. Keep moving

forward - konsigi hao mo'na!

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: The first thing I think of in an ideal

world is seeing Black, Indigenous and Trans women thriving in

a collective society that reciprocates positive energy with each

other and with their environment. Reciprocity is at the center

of many Pasifika and Indigenous cultures, which allowed them

to thrive before colonization. What would it look like if all

people practiced this core value in order to thrive? I think the

answer to that would definitely make a magical place to live,

and I believe that that answer is modeled by Indigenous

communities.

ON A CAUSE: Team KOKA (@teamkoka), a non-profit based on Tinian (my home

island) that promotes wellness through disability advocacy and awareness,

philanthropy, and overall support to those facing countless challenges! But also my

prima @decolonize_donne who I am always learning from (and who nominated me for

this) - she is a certified baddie and one of the most resilient and powerful people I

know!

31

KEEPING

PEOPLE

HEALTHY

& SAFE

I love helping companies and their employees achieve a

healthy workplace. I enjoy working on a mission of

making a difference in someone’s work environment and

eventually their life. Occupational health is a specialist

branch of medicine that focuses on the physical and

mental wellbeing of employees.

adna osman

T R A V E L E R & O C C U P A T I O N A L

H E A L T H S P E C I A L I S T

I G : @ O S H U N S P I R I T

32

ON WHAT MATTERS: I believe the purpose of life is not

merely to enjoy ourselves and to be occupied by our

own pursuit of happiness. It is to be useful, to

contribute in some way to make things better for your

community which ultimately will lead to a better

world for all.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood is holding each other

down when life is hard. But it’s also lifting each

other so our sisters can rise. We rise by lifting our

sisters.

ON SUCCESS: Success is being yourself, expressing

yourself and having faith in yourself. Success is not to

be measured by how high you climb the career ladder

but rather an inner peace. If you have a positive

attitude and combine it with the right actions this

surely will result in success.

ON ADVICE: I want you to recognize the things that

are already going well in your life; love, health,

friends, family… life is filled with abundance.

Recognizing this is an important step to being your

authentic self. Having an attitude of gratitude will

surely lead you to your liberation.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world would be a world

where discrimination based on color, sex, sexual

orientation, and opinions would not exist. A

compassionate world with deep-rooted respect for

animals and Mother Nature. I believe that each

moment gives us a chance to make possible peace

within yourself and for your fellow humans. Peace

and happiness can only be reached through love,

understanding and compassion for each other.

ON A CAUSE: Elman Peace, a nonprofit

organization, founded in

1990, dedicated to promoting

peace, cultivating leadership and

empowering the marginalized

brackets of society to be decision

makers in the processes that ensure

their wellbeing. #elmanpeace

http://elmanpeace.org/ 33

ADVOCATING

FOR THE MOST

VULNERABLE

yanitza alicea

S O C I A L W O R K E R & E D U C A T O R

I G : @ H O G A R N M

I enjoy working holistically with vulnerable

populations, as well as contributing in the training of

human behavior professionals. I love being in different

scenarios and collaborating with populations at the

individual level and at the macro level.

34

I currently work as a social worker with victims of gender

violence and sexual assault for a non-profit in Cayey,

Puerto Rico (Hogar Nueva Mujer, Inc.). I am also a

professor of Social Work Administration at the

Interamerican University-Metro, where I supervise

students at the graduate level.

ON WHAT MATTERS: My family and being able to

contribute to my community the best way I know how, by

getting involved and being an active part in the search for

solutions. As a mother, wife, professor, and social worker,

I want there to be an integration of services between

agencies, availability of programs according to specific

needs, effective training to create honest professionals,

the fostering of gender equality, and collective

participation in public policy.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood is a holistic and integral

concept and one that has served me in both my personal

and professional development. On a personal level, I can

mention my mother, sister, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law,

high school friends, and fellow graduate school students

with whom I keep in touch and maintain a bridge of

communication and inspiration for our projects. From each

one of them I have learned perseverance, loyalty, advice,

teachings and, above all, I have learned to always be

myself no matter the context. This is something I want my

daughter to emulate, as well as my son.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: In an ideal world, the eradication

of poverty is a reality, violence in any form is a thing of

the past, the treatment of others is the same no matter the

context, and personal, labor, and economic interests are

not above the right to a just life. An ideal world would also

include competent people in positions of power who are

aware of human behavior and services, with interests that

align with a commitment to serve others. That is the world

I want for my children, Andrés and Diana.

ON A CAUSE: Hogar Nueva Mujer is a non-profit

organization that provides services to victims of violence

since 1992 in Cayey, Puerto Rico and is directed by Mrs.

Vilmarie Rivera Sierra (executive director). Faced with the

crisis of gender violence today, it is up to everyone to act

immediately. This is why violence prevention campaigns

are created to educate the community to be conscious and

stand up against gender-based violence in all its aspects.

In the professional field, it is essential for me to identify

those ties that unite us. It has served me greatly to

identify colleagues who, like me, work tirelessly day by

day, extolling this profession in search of the same goal—

putting competition aside and merging into a collective

whole.

ON SUCCESS: My definition of success is doing what I

like, surrounded by my family, making an impact with my

work and life, and my vocation to serve others. I measure

success by the level in which I involve myself in trying to

impact others no matter where I am, having the

satisfaction that others may in turn continue to assertively

do the same.

ON ADVICE: Do what makes you happy no matter if

sometimes it takes us longer than we project. In my case, I

had the support of my family and husband, and after

several years I was able to complete my studies, have

several jobs in various areas in little time, and regain

confidence in myself.

I knew I was capable of many things and that I just

needed a push and good scheduling. Always search for

opportunity and in the case of not finding it, create it.

In 2019, I had the chance to coordinate the NO

CALLES #YoCreoEnTi campaign, which served

as a mass education, as well as a fundraising

effort for the organization. The goal was to

cover expenses not fulfilled by grants.

This year, a second edition will be held and its

purpose continues to be the dissemination of

existing services free of charge for the victims

of gender violence, as well as the purchase of

psychological/psychometric tests for

participants and their dependents at no cost to

them. We also want to encourage volunteering

in non-profit organizations, as it is vital.

3542

CHANGING

THOUGHT

PATTERNS

I feel lucky to be able to meet with all these

beautiful women and speak to them out of

experience, sharing that they can transform their

thought patterns and feel worthy enough to believe

in themselves and their capacity to become a better

version of themselves.

samira diniz

Photo @AnthonyEdwin

N U T R I T I O N / L I F E C O A C H & E N T R E P R E N E U R

I G : @ P O R T I O N C O N T R O L L E R

36

ON WHAT MATTERS: Being a positive example to

my children first and then to others, helping inspire

them to not be afraid to transform their lives. I'm

the co-owner of a weight loss company called

Portion Controller. Our program is centered

around a weight loss belt that was developed by

my father (a medical doctor) that takes the place

of the lap band and balloon surgeries.

ON SISTERHOOD: Being a woman is difficult.

To truly thrive and be the woman we are

meant to be, wild and untamed, we need a

collective unit of sisters by our side, cheering

us on with love, not judgement. That is what I

believe sisterhood is about.

ON SUCCESS: Happiness. I don’t believe success

is about wealth and gaining a higher status of

influence. I believe that this life is all about being

happy with who and what we do for ourselves and

others.

ON ADVICE: It’s humbling to think of other

women following my footsteps and I’d have to

warn them that I am still figuring out this thing

called life and being human. I’d say that the most

important thing is to be true to yourself.

Put aside those ideas of perfection and accept

your flaws, feel the pain and watch yourself

transform. The hardest part about being human

for me was to “feel” things.

Once I accepted that numbing myself was not the

answer and I began to accept myself and feel, did

I begin to become the woman I really wanted to

be. It’s a process I am still going through every

day.

ON A CAUSE: Love146 is an

international human rights

organization working to end

child trafficking and exploitation

through survivor care and

prevention. Love146.org

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world would be a world without boxes. I believe that it’s these

“boxes” that society tries to force us into that ultimately are the cause for a lot of grief and

suppression in our lives as women. As women, we are given a huge responsibility to be great

daughters, strong mothers, supportive sisters, passionate partners and unconditional friends.

It’s a lot easier to be all those things living without a rule book to be society's version of the

perfect woman which never existed in the first place. The world would be a more ideal place to

live in with free women living in it.

42 37

CREATING

SMILES &

TRAVELING

FAR

I love creating beautiful smiles. Helping

people feel confident again, because a

beautiful smile is one of the best things

you can wear. As a travel blogger, I

love showcasing a world off the beaten

path and inspiring others to get out

there and explore new cultures and

destinations.

olla abdalla

T R A V E L B L O G G E R & D E N T I S T

I G : @ C O M E F L Y W I T H B E

38

ON WHAT MATTERS: Right now the subject of positive

representation is really important for me. 2020 has

been a year of revelations and really highlighted a lot

of areas in our society where positive representation

of people of colour and especially black females is

either lacking or non existent. I strongly advocate for

better representation of black females in all fields. In

order to transform current perceptions, we must

transform our cultural landscape into one that

highlights and represents black females in a positive

light. I hope I can do that in the world of dentistry and

also through my travel ventures. I am currently

working with a small group of black females in a local

(London) high school to ensure they are reaching their

highest potential and are aware of all the options

available to them in their prospective careers.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood is the creation of a safe space for females, where we can

support, uplift and empower each other to ensure we are reaching our highest potential. It's

a community where women can unite, communicate and understand and celebrate what

makes us different without tearing each other apart.

ON SUCCESS: Success is a journey, not a destination in my opinion. I don't believe the

attainment of money or fame is success, but achieving your desired vision. Success for me is

living a stress free, peaceful, healthy existence. Where your basic needs are met and you are

truly happy and at peace, that's success.

ON ADVICE: Have a vision, steer your ship towards that vision. There will be obstacles along

the way and you may steer off course several times because that's life. But if you keep your

focus on your vision, I promise you it's exactly where you'll land. Anything is possible, you

just have to trust that you possess everything you need to achieve it, love yourself and don't

ever doubt yourself.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world for me would be an equal world. Where everyone is

granted the basic needs of food, water, shelter, safety and peace. Sadly, we are far from this

ideal but I hope we can move towards it rather than edging further away.

ON AN INSPIRATION: Naomi Osaka for all she is doing within the world of tennis right now to

raise awareness and bring attention to the topic of black lives matter. What an inspirational

young woman. naomiosaka.com

39

ADVOCATING FOR

EARTH AND ITS MOST

VULNERABLE BEINGS

I get to spend a lot of time doing what I love and

standing up for those who most need advocating...

what matters the most to me is climate change, social

justice, and self-love.

liz clark

S U R F E R , S A I L O R , W R I T E R &

E A R T H A D V O C A T E

I G : @ L I Z Z Y C L A R K

40

ON WHAT MATTERS: Climate

change, social justice, and selflove.

ON SISTERHOOD: To me, sisterhood

means being devoted to empowering,

uplifting, and advocating for all other

women. It’s seeing all women as your

sisters. It is releasing old ideas of

competition and jealousy, and replacing

them with love, acceptance, and a

recognition of the power and beauty in

being bonded with other women. It’s

celebrating each woman’s unique

femininity. It’s inclusion, connection to

mother earth, and sharing with each other

about what it means to be a woman.

ON SUCCESS: To me, success is creating a life that

remains closely dedicated to the yearnings of your

heart. It is a continued journey of self-awareness. And

arriving at a place of personal fulfillment that makes

you want to be of service to the world.

ON ADVICE: Believe in your dreams. Don’t worry about

how you will get there, just decide that you will.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: A world where there is love,

justice, kindness, and respect for all beings.

ON A CAUSE: Changing Tides Foundation is a nonprofit

founded on a beautiful sisterhood with 5

close ocean-loving “sisters” of mine who wanted

to do more to give back to the world. Our mission

is to empower women to save the planet!

https://www.changingtidesfoundation.org/

Liz's book, Swell: A Sailing Surfer's

Voyage of Awakening

41

HEALING OTHERS

THROUGH

ART &

MINDFULNESS

jessica bravo peña

D E S I G N E R , H E A L E R & E D U C A T O R

I G : @ M A N T R A L O V E R S

I like the various creative possibilities that my work

offers. But the thing I love most is connecting with

people's creative processes and facilitating a safe

environment for emotional healing.

42

ON WHAT MATTERS: It is important for me to be able

to continue developing a creative and encouraging

project in these times. These are times when we are

redefining ourselves as humanity and going through

changes at extraordinary levels. Many of us have

dared to develop projects, express ourselves and

expose ourselves to make a positive impact. In my

case, this has meant rejecting a more conventional

life to live with more purpose and more aligned with

my convictions and talents.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood for me is empathy and

solidarity towards other women. Working together

to overcome the difficulties that sexist oppression

has brought us. It's a spiritual practice based on

knowing ourselves and learning from our history in

order to connect with other women.

ON SUCCESS: For me, success is to achieve healthy

spaces that allow me to cultivate my virtues and

abilities for the service of others.

ON ADVICE: Self-love and giving oneself the

opportunity to learn, to make mistakes and to

transform. I believe that everyone has a particular

path to travel and a unique way to impact. I lived

without self-love for a long time, and it wasn't until I

started practicing it that I was able to connect with

my genuine desires and my own expectations. When

one connects with what the heart desires, the

universe opens many creative doors.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: My ideal world is surrounded

by nature, social conscience and solidarity. I would

like us to promote more healthy and sustainable

environments, where comprehensive, emotional and

creative education is accessible and important for

everyone.

ON A CAUSE: I'd like to promote Colectiva Feminista en

Construcción, @colectivafeministapr, who have been

educating and fighting against gender violence and

patriarchy, raising awareness of the femicide crisis in

Puerto Rico.

43

LIGHTING

UP PEOPLE'S

LIVES

We love creating vibes and moods with

our handcrafted products, bringing light

into people's lives. Scents can uplift you

while adding peaceful illumination into

your space.

arianna asley & rebecca

cepeda

C A N D L E A R T I S A N S & E N T R E P R E N E U R S

I G : @ I L L U M I N A D A C A N D L E S

44

ON WHAT MATTERS: That everyone feels peaceful while they're at their home or

workplace. Staying positive. In a chaotic world with narrative-driven media, it’s

important that people’s mental health stays in check and we hope our products help

people cope with the times.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood is very important to us, we believe in

empowering other women. We have been best friends for over ten years and

understand that blood doesn't always make you relate to someone or

necessarily make you have a connection or a bond. The good part about that

is that you can have as many sisters as you want. Sisterhood means that

even when we’re apart, we’re together in spirit and there for each other.

Sisterhood is the ultimate women empowerment because we can create our

own tribes.

ON SUCCESS: Success to us means staying hungry, conquering our dreams, and not ever

stopping no matter the opinions of others. Also, as long as you're happy, you're successful.

You can have everything and feel nothing. You can have nothing and feel everything.

ON ADVICE: There are no proper directions on how to begin, so create your own lane. You

are absolutely capable. Go for it even if you hit a few bumps in the road, get up and keep

going.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: Being united. That sense of community makes us feel at ease and

less alone. There would be no war, only peace, and everyone would lend a helping hand to

each other.

ON A CAUSE: The Clara Lionel Foundation supports and funds

groundbreaking and effective education and emergency

response programs around the world. With the voices of

Rihanna and her fans, CLF also engages in global advocacy

with the goal of improving the quality of life for young

people everywhere. https://claralionelfoundation.org/

45

DESTIGMATIZING

CULTURAL MYTHS

mareah madison

B U S I N E S S A N A L Y S T & W R I T E R

I G : @ _ M A W E L T R A

I try to open healthy conversations around differences

within communities. I hope this will allow us to connect

and grow as a society to have a better tomorrow. I

love that I am following my dream of owning my own

business to help others.

46

ON WHAT MATTERS: Now, with the weight of everything

revolving around the pandemic, my family is the most

important thing for me. I am making sure that everyone is

safe and healthy. Next, is focusing on myself and growing

my business. I have so many plans and goals. I want to

accomplish all of them in the next five years. I want to

create the life I have always dreamed of since I was

young. Additionally, I want to create a legacy for my

future children, grandchildren, and other descendants.

ON SISTERHOOD: For me, sisterhood means supporting

and helping other women. I am a part of Alpha Kappa

Alpha Sorority, which is an African American women’s

sorority that focuses on unity and friendship amongst

women. Far too often, society pins women against each

other. This is not something I condone. It is already

difficult enough to be born a woman in this world. The

patriarchal society creates an atmosphere to keep women

behind and not able to succeed. Every day we have a

fight in our hands; it is even more difficult when you are a

woman of color. The odds are stacked against you twice.

The different adversities that women go through in this life

make it hard to succeed. We as women need to stand with

each other and create a safe space for other women to

grow in this life. This is part of aiding in the dismantling of

the patriarchy, by liberating each other and improving our

social stature.

ON SUCCESS: My first definition of success is that if you

have made a difference in one-person's life, then you are

successful. Sometimes others look at monetary

measurements as success, but I measure mine differently.

I feel that if I have aided others in any way, then I have

succeeded in this life. My second definition of success is

creating generational wealth. I want to set my future

children, grandchildren, and descendants up with all the

tools to succeed and sustain themselves in this life. This is

the reason I started a business. I hope that in the future

my children can see me as a role model. I want to break

the generational curses and create a better future for

those descendants that come after me. I want them to look

back and say, “Our ancestor, Mareah Madison, definitely

paved the way for our success. Look at how far we have

come.”

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world for me would

mean having equality for all. A world where we can all

coexist and set our differences aside for the betterment of

others. This is why I like to travel and write about it,

because it debunks cultural myths and allows you to see

how others live. I believe that if everyone had the

opportunity to travel, we would understand each other

better and improve the quality of life for everyone.

ON A CAUSE: I wish to promote the Global

Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW).

It is an alliance of more than 80 nongovernmental

organizations from Africa, Asia,

Europe, LAC, and North America. The

organization is non-profit and covers migrant

rights, anti-trafficking, self-organized groups

of migrant workers, domestic workers,

survivors of trafficking and sex work, human

rights and women’s rights. The non-profit

encompasses everything that I stand for and

fight for in this life. Women are the most

marginalized, especially when they are women

of color. We have a global issue with the

different ways women are being exploited.

https://gaatw.org/

ON ADVICE: Just go for it! I wish I could have said this to

my younger self. I was full of anxiety and imposter

syndrome, thinking I would not succeed. I wasted time

focusing on the things that did not matter. If you have an

idea or want to start something, just do it. The sky is the

limit! No one can stop you but God. Do not worry about

self-doubt, other opinions, haters, or someone doing what

you want to do better, focus on you and what you want

out of life. Remove all those roadblocks and your dreams

will come to fruition as long as you believe in yourself.

47

HEALING

EMOTIONAL

WOUNDS

I love seeing the community that comes

together to love one another up and heal and

inspire. How we come ready to face our

emotional wounds and rise in our worth. It

moves me to tears.

christine gutiérrez

L I C E N S E D T H E R A P I S T , H E A L E R & A U T H O R

I G : @ C O S M I C C H R I S T I N E

48

I work as a licensed therapist and healer. I am also

recently an author of the book I Am Diosa: A Journey

to Healing Deep, Loving Yourself, and Coming Back

Home to Soul. What I do in whatever setting I am in—

whether it’s speaking on stage, writing, hosting a

retreat or workshop or working 1-1 with a client—is

hold space for people's pain, shame, and traumas,

help guide them to reclaim their worth, their power,

and grounded tools to heal.

ON WHAT MATTERS: What matters the most to me

right now is allowing myself to celebrate how far I

have come. Having gone through trauma and abuse

myself, I have been healing for the past 10+ years

and sometimes the new learning curve is to pause

and enjoy the fruits of your labor. This is where I am.

My new learning curve. To allow myself to enjoy the

life I have created. My community of diosas, my

amazing husband and marriage, and just my life!

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood is soul medicine.

ON SUCCESS: Success is being in alignment with

one's soul.

ON ADVICE: Trust your soul. Do the work. Get

support and keep at it one day at a time.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world is where

love, unity, compassion, kindness, community, and

peace prevail.

ON A CAUSE: I would love to promote Better Help, an

online virtual therapy platform where people can get access

to tele-therapy by licensed therapists from all around the

world. There are also scholarships available for BIPOC in

financial need or those in financial need.

trybetterhelp.com/cosmicchristine

49

INSPIRING

WITH

POSITIVE

TUNES

I am beyond lucky to create art and express

myself on the regular. What I love most

about this process is that these works of art

eventually take on lives of their own and

become part of the lives of others all around

the globe.

monogem

S I N G E R , S O N G W R I T E R & A R T I S T

I G : @ M O N O G E M

50

ON WHAT MATTERS: Right now, during a global

pandemic, is an interesting time to answer this

question... but the current state of the world has

made me realize what's really important: my health,

first and foremost, a roof over my head and the

essential life needs to be able to wake up the next day

for another sunrise.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood, to me, means

community. A community built of strong, supportive

women who share common interests. I don't have

any sisters, but am so grateful for the sisterhood of

women I have surrounded myself with in the recent

years --- they have given me such a safe and soft

place to land.

ON SUCCESS: My definition of success is always

going to be happiness. Also, to be successful is to be

passionate about your work, because then it never

feels like work.

Monogem's latest album, So Many Ways, released in

2019. A new album is coming out soon and the new

single, Paraíso, is out now.

ON ADVICE: Always follow your gut, it's so important

when making decisions about anything. If it doesn't

feel right in your body, it's probably not.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world would look

like a world with no hate or violence, and a world that

collectively works together to take care of our planet.

ON A CAUSE: I always love to promote and support

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a global bipartisan

environmentalist organization with a strategic plan called to “stabilize

the global climate, build defenses against extreme weather, ensure

food security and abundant oceans, and reduce exposure to air

pollution and toxic chemicals” by the year 2025. edf.org

51

HELPING

OTHERS

USE THEIR

VOICE

I love having the opportunity to work in different projects

and positively transform people's lives. When I offer my

workshops, I love being able to help people achieve their

public speaking goals. I have had the good fortune of

bringing food to the table doing the most fun professions.

One day I’m interviewing Natalia Jiménez and another

day Ricky Martin. I love what I do and I feel grateful and

blessed with my life.

saritza alvarado

T E L E V I S I O N P E R S O N A L I T Y , P H I L A N T H R O P I S T

& E D U C A T O R

I G : @ S A R I T Z A A L V A R A D O

52

ON WHAT MATTERS: I have a three-year-old boy

who is the light in my eyes and at the moment the

most important thing to me is to direct him to be a

good man. Secondly, I want to continue to expand

my workshops to help people speak in front of

cameras and in public. Seeing them overcome their

fears fills me with joy.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood is a word that

represents something monumental—loyalty and

respect. When I think of sisterhood I think of

the way we see each other and help each

other. A sisterhood does not criticize and does

not envy, on the contrary, it is supportive. A

sisterhood contributes to the growth of other

women and is proud to be a part of it. It is loyal.

ON SUCCESS: Success for me is 100% linked to my

peace and happiness. Twelve goals achieved and

ten million dollars in the bank are of no use to me if

I do not have peace and happiness. It sounds

cliché, but it is a reality. Money and material things

cannot buy true success. I am not saying that

achieving dreams and goals is not being

successful, it is. But it must always go hand in hand

with integrity, peace and happiness, otherwise, I

would not call it a success.

ON ADVICE: My profession is beautiful, but not

everything is rosy. Sadly, in the world of

entertainment and media, nothing is certain, so my

first advice is to learn to adapt quickly to changes

and to not take things personally. Television

programs have short lifetimes so I advise women to

evolve in other areas. You must be active on social

networks, constantly create content and maintain

your presence so that future customers see you. In

this profession, you have to be up to date with

what happens in your country and the world. I

advise you to continue studying—the field of

communications is very changeable and insensitive,

you will need to be prepared.

And finally, love what you do. There are times

when you get tired of putting on so much makeup,

looking for clothes, taking photos, going to events,

presenting at venues until dawn, rehearsing and

repeating scenes, losing your privacy, listening to

dissatisfied customers and people who take

advantage of you. You have to be brave and

strong. Always remember the beautiful side of the

profession and how much you love doing it.

Nothing is perfect in life, we just have to enjoy

going through it.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world for me

filters down to a single word: respect. If as human

beings who live in the same world, the same land,

we learn to respect our differences, we could enjoy

our lives more. In my ideal world, there would be

no borders or skin colors. In my ideal world, we are

all one, created by the same divine force. A world

where different lifestyles are admired instead of

criticized. Where we all have enough to eat and

the opportunity to choose without harming the

other.

ON A CAUSE: I am currently working on

“Stealing your style,” a project that 100%

benefits Hogar Nueva Mujer (a home for

women who are survivors of violence).

Girls have the opportunity to steal the

closet of their favorite influencers. For

$5, they participate in a raffle of more

than 100 pieces of clothing and

accessories. The raffles will happen live

and directly from the closet of the

influencer. The project will start in early

November of 2020. To participate, you

can visit www.secuestrandotuestilo.com.

53

SPREADING

BEAUTY &

LIGHT

I love being a conduit for inspiration... spreading beauty and

light... awakening the physical and etheric senses, and

evoking appreciation for every moment while documenting

and archiving the intangible to last a lifetime. There is power

in all of that creation and I recognize that my job is about

digging deeper to understand the connection of our humanity.

nicole canegata

C O N S C I O U S E N T R E P R E N E U R & P H O T O G R A P H E R

I G : @ T H E T R A V E L I N G L E N S E

54

ON WHAT MATTERS: Right now, I am

focused on personal growth, and

creating a truly balanced and healthy

(physical, spiritual and emotional) life for

myself. That means getting a full night’s

rest, setting boundaries with my work,

eating healthier, making time for my daily

yoga and meditation practice, spending

time in nature and connecting with my

loved ones. I am currently on a little

sabbatical in Maui enjoying a self

imposed retreat. I am using this time to

shift old habits and up-level my life. I am

excited to reset and recharge so that my

cup is full. My intention is to be present to

the everyday miracles around me, and

continue co-creating the life of my

dreams.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood

transcends the physical; it is a sacred

communion of the feminine... a chosen

bond... filled with love, respect,

gratitude, grace, and unconditional

support. I am blessed to have a strong

and beautiful sisterhood that extends

all over the world. I cherish all the

women in my life and am so grateful

for these goddess connections.

ON SUCCESS: I’ve learned that success

is both a journey and destination.

Knowing what you want and working

towards that goal is the first step. There

might (let’s be honest, there definitely

will) be challenges along the way, but

perseverance is key - don’t ever give up.

Being present while turning your dreams

into reality, is true success.

ON ADVICE: As I continue on my

journey, I’ve learned that it all starts with

unconditional self love, self care and the

path of self discovery. As women, we

need to trust our intuition and listen to

the whispers of our soul. Everything we

seek is within us and available to us. So

go confidently towards your goals and

dreams. Invest in yourself and the things

that make you happy.

For me that is spending time in nature -

connecting and grounding with the earth

elements... traveling to sacred lands on

sisterhood retreats, yoga & meditation,

energy healing certifications, and

spiritual books & divination tools.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: An ideal world

for me is one where humanity

respects, protects and helps heal

Mother Earth, her oceans and

rainforests... where people love one

another because love is our

birthright... racism and poverty don’t

exist... women have equal rights...

healthcare is free... energy healing is

the norm... people are free to be who

they want to be... and encouraged to

follow what lights up their souls.

ON A CAUSE: PangeaSeed Foundation

is an international non-profit

organization that assists in conservation

of our oceans using cultural,

environmentalism, and art activism. This

organization facilitated an art activism

campaign on my island home of St. Croix

in Fall of 2019, where artists from all

over the world traveled there to create

a series of epic murals in one of the low

income housing communities, featuring

scenes that promote ocean conservation

and appreciation.

www.pangeaseed.foundation

Children of Fallen Patriots provides

educational benefits to assist military

survivor families’ attend college. This

organization is near and dear to my

heart! In honor of my father’s military

service and sacrifice, they helped pay

for my photography degree, when I

decided to change my career and return

to school. I wouldn’t be where I am

today without the financial assistance

and generosity of this organization.

www.fallenpatriots.org

55

PROMOTING

THE ART OF

CREATIVE

LIVING

I love witnessing folks choose a gentle approach in

navigating their inner world. Rather than only listening to

their inner critic, it is about finding ways to tune into their

hearts and their own inner wisdom. Building self-trust,

self-leadership and self-compassion are my absolute

favourite things. Creative expression is a form of selfdiscovery

and self-care.

nicola newman

A R T I S T A N D P A I N T I N G T E A C H E R

I G : @ N I C O L A N E W M A N _

56

ON WHAT MATTERS: Taking time to be still. It’s been

such a big year for the whole world, and we are still in

the midst of it. I am feeling the need to just sit on my

bench seat in the garden and listen to the birds, often,

throughout the days.

ON SISTERHOOD: I don’t actually resonate with the

term sisterhood... What I do love is the practice of

lifting womxn up, supporting them to listen to their

hearts and be true to themselves. What might be seen

as a non-conformist, unconventional form of living, are

a result of simply carving out time to be with

themselves, be honest with their desires and

prioritising themselves. That leads to a kind of bravery

that is powerful, life-changing and has ripple effects

out into our families and communities.

ON SUCCESS: I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about

this! For me, success is when I’m living in alignment

with my values. Doing work that lights me up while

making a positive difference using my gifts and

talents. It's also important to me to be learning,

expressing my creativity and prioritising intimacy and

honesty in my relationships. I love having money flow

into my life as a result of my contribution to others, and

saving a percentage of that money for the future is

important to me, too. My core values are learning,

creativity, intimacy and using my gifts and talents.

ON ADVICE: Don’t try to follow in anyone’s footsteps!

What I mean is I love being inspired by other people

and it’s a gift to see someone doing something we

would like to do, too. However, we each have our own

journey and path. We can’t recreate someone else’s.

So, learn all you can from the people whose values you

resonate with and who’s lifestyle speaks to you. But

then, go away and journal. Be curious about life. Try

things.

Embrace a sense of playfulness and light-heartedness

about the outcome. Be willing to do something

different if it doesn’t light you up, and cultivate a

relationship with yourself that is soaked in selfcompassion.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: On a large scale, my vision for

an ideal world would be more female leaders in

government. More social support for societies instead

of privatisation. Less focus on profits and more on

quality lifestyles. And worldwide effective policies that

protect our environment and allow it to regenerate

and thrive rather than exploit resources and cause

climate change. An ideal world would be the end of

narcissism, gaslighting and particularly power-hungry

leaders who don’t care about who they crush in pursuit

of their own power and profits.

On a more intimate scale, an ideal world would look

like folks having a strong connection to themselves.

Knowing their values. Cultivating self-compassion and

as a result, kindness towards others. Knowing deep in

their hearts, that focusing on trying to prove

themselves or impress others doesn’t lead to a fulfilling

life. Instead, that being true to themselves is a more

rewarding and sustainable path.

ON A CAUSE: The climate crisis and the

Black Lives Matter movement are timely

and urgent. I hope the groundswell of

support in cities and countries will change

the systems that oppress BIPOC folks. Here

in Australia, the deaths in custody for our

Indigenous Australians are horrific. The

structures and systems that keep

Indigenous Australians oppressed and

marginalised need to change.

There are lots of folks doing work in this space and education is a

vital step for all white people. People and organisations I would love

to promote include IndigenousX, Trading Blak, The National

Indigenous Times, Stan Grant, Anita Heiss, and some of my favourite

artists, Tony Albert, Richard Bell, Vernon Ah Kee, Kiya Watt, Bianca

Beetson, and Judy Watson.

57

SINGING OF

FREEDOM &

SOUL

I love the freedom to be able to create, challenge, evolve,

and express myself through my work... To keep growing

and evolving with my music/art, and also as a human

being. To be heard and understood, to have a safe space to

vent and/or question and try to figure out this crazy,

weird, and wonderful journey called life.

Photo @AnthonyEdwin

calma carmona

A R T I S T , S I N G E R & S O N G W R I T E R

I G : @ C A L M A C A R M O N A

58

ON WHAT MATTERS: To keep growing and

evolving with my music/art, and also as a

human being.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood to me means

to have comradery with other women. To be

able to share experiences, information, and

advise. To be heard and understood, to have

a safe space to vent and/or question and try

to figure out this crazy, weird, and wonderful

journey called life.

ON SUCCESS: To me the definition of

success keeps changing and evolving with

the years. But right now my definition of

success is to be able to create and bring to

life ideas and visions.

ON A CAUSE: Corredor Afro in Loiza Puerto Rico, Directed by Dr. Marta Moreno

Vega. "Corredor Afro aims to establish African and African Diaspora global

linkages of historical and contemporary creative legacy to enhance, develop and

share the philosophies, intelligences, and cultures of African descendant

communities—from Loiza to the globe. Through artistic projects, community

traditional knowledge, micro-business opportunities for youth and adults, the

wealth of inherent cultural information will be enhanced and promoted for self

and community stability and growth."

ON ADVICE: To trust your intuition, and to

keep conquering all fears even if it’s in baby

steps.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: A world where

everybody has empathy, where everyone

treats each other as they would like to be

treated.

59

CONSCIOUSLY

INFLUENCING

I enjoy the diversity and interaction with

people. Speaking up when I see racism,

spreading knowledge, but also educating

myself on this matter.

maureen powel

S T Y L I S T , M O D E L & C O N T E N T C R E A T O R

I G : @ M A U R E E N P O W E L

60

ON WHAT MATTERS: Speaking up when I

see racism, spreading knowledge, but also

educating myself on this matter.

ON SISTERHOOD: Sisterhood means

supporting each other. We can make so

much more happen when we support each

other. There is enough room for us all.

ON SUCCESS: Living a life that you can

look back on and smile...

ON ADVICE: Be consistent and find your

niche. Keep believing in yourself and when

things get hard, it's ok to step back for a

minute. Recharge and get back on it. Always

keep in mind that there are more ways to

reach your goals.

ON AN IDEAL WORLD: My Ideal world would

not have poverty and racism, with children

growing up in a healthy environment.

ON A CAUSE: A cause that is close to my

heart is the Black Lives Matter movement

which has a different form in different

countries but in the end the same purpose:

Raising awareness, respect,

accountability and change. In the

Netherlands, for example, we have been

fighting for ages against this racist

symbol "zwarte piet" and finally this year

it's forbidden in a lot of cities and

hopefully soon vanished.

61

Katie Hurley

To foster resourcefulness, ask your

daughter to outline projects to see

the whole picture, then break down

the project into goals.

What problems might she anticipate

needing to solve? What resources

are available to support her? Could

she use a committee of peers to

assist?

2. Address Self-Criticism

Empowering girls is particularly

challenging because of their harsh

inner critics. According to Hurley,

self-criticism is a hard but important

cycle to break early. The message

parents often give to girls when

they feel self-critical is to “suck it

up” or “get over it.” Parents over

correct girls too, by letting

daughters know all the ways they

are not doing things “right.”

It’s a parent’s job to let girls know

that they already have what it takes

to thrive. Hurley suggests parents

talk to their girls about rational

reactions to failure and constructive

criticism. Encourage them to “talk

back” to their inner critics. When

moms share their own inner critic

stories, including their harmful and

helpful effects, daughters increase

their own self-awareness, an

attribute of a dynamic leader.

3. Define Leadership

Research shows that girls live in fear

of being labeled “bossy.” This is so

prevalent that Girl Scouts USA

joined Lean In to spearhead a “Ban

Bossy” campaign to encourage

leadership in young girls. Hurley

suggests that parents start

by defining assertiveness and how it

differs from passive or aggressive

behavior.

While leadership is hard to define,

its outcomes are seen in the goals

people can achieve together.

Empowering girls to be leaders

means developing core abilities that

facilitate meaningful lives. When

families teach girls to live and give

voice to their values, they

instill integrity—an attribute of a

respected and successful leader.

To empower girls to become

leaders, they need to see that there

is room for everyone to succeed.

They need to learn to build each

other up, not constantly critique

each other’s looks, ways of dressing,

or behavior. When girls learn to

work together with mutual support,

leadership skills naturally emerge.■

“The mistake

society has made,”

says Hurley, “is

pushing girls to

compete with

other girls to

emerge as the

clear winner.

Everywhere you

turn, girls are

divided.”

63

INTERVIEW

IN NEW LANDS

Interior designer Amy Roberts left her full time job a year ago to pursue a career as a

freelancer with a location flexible lifestyle. She's almost achieved an entire career switch in

the last year and now travels sustainably while working. She talks to Nenas about design, the

future of artisanship, how women can support each other, and her lifestyle brand, atotheme.

"I'm currently in Penang, Malaysia. In an effort to reduce my carbon footprint (and

also because I'm a nervous flyer), I came via train and ferry from Kuala Lumpur. The

island is most famous for George Town, a UNESCO world heritage site. It was

awarded it's heritage status in 2008 due to it's multicultural influence of

communities and architecture. Given its location on the Straits of Malacca, it was a

key center for 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West."

NENAS MAGAZINE | 64

M Y A T T I R E I S F A S H I O N -

F O R W A R D W I T H A T L E A S T

O N E S T A T E M E N T P I E C E

T O M A K E I T S T A N D O U T .

68

clothes." -Gabriela■

Gabriela with her dogs, Isabella

Beatriz and Pippa María.

bold, bold baby

"I would describe my style as

bold, contemporary, and chic. A

statement piece makes my

clothing bold as it not only adds

a striking element to it but also

ensures it is never overly

matching. My outfits are also

contemporary because they are

on-trend (as long as it is one

that I think is flattering!) and

polished.

My unwavering love for fashion

began when I was 3-years-old. I

insisted on picking out my own

outfits and refused to take them

off to sleep! For as long as I can

remember, my favorite form of

self-expression has been my

69

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

KISS

YOURSELF

After a rollerblading

accident, pharmacist

Zuleika Alvarado was

worried that her scar would

never disappear when she

couldn't find an effective

product. Instead of giving

up, she developed her own

line, KISS Naturals.

W: KissNaturals.store

IG: KissNaturals.store

NENAS: Why and how did you start KISS

Naturals?

ZULEIKA: I have a tiny secret. During my

20's, I virtually didn't have a skincare

routine. The idea of researching and buying

$100's of dollars worth products and

applying them in a specific order on a daily

basis made me shudder in fear.

After being injured in a rollerblading

accident, I was worried that I would have a

scar for the rest of my life. I did research

to figure out how I could prevent it. What I

found was that it would take multiple

expensive products because the ingredients

necessary were not sold together.

Being a pharmacist, I realized that I could

take only the necessary ingredients and

remove all the fillers and junk other

products contained. I also realized that the

same ingredients are essential for a healthy

skincare routine.

Combining the ingredients would not only

simplify the skincare routine, but would also

cost a lot less money because you would

achieve the same results with one product

instead of more than three.

So I went ahead and created an all-in-one

serum that would become my only routine.

The Anti Wrinkle and Scar

Serum is specifically formulated

to diminish the appearance of

old and new scars. It also has a

built-in moisturizer with natural

ingredients that reduces

wrinkles and improves the

overall appearance of your skin.

My serum single-handedly gives you a

skincare routine that leaves you feeling

confident all day long. For best long-lasting

results, I suggest using this serum in the

morning and at night. Just apply a few drops

to a clean face.

INGREDIENTS

Hyluronic acid ● Bilberry ● Vitamin E

Rosehip oil ● Vegetable glycerin

Water ● Dimethicone ● Allantoin

●

● Polysugar mulse D9 ● Eucalyptus essential oil

NENAS MAGAZINE | 70

Candy Corn

Yarns' Sweet

Hues

A R T I S A N S H I P

Founder, Heidi Rivera

Tired of looking for good quality, handdyed

yarn in the local shops for her own

knitting and crochet projects, Heidi

Rivera decided to start dyeing her own in

the spring of 2019.

After many attempts, and getting friends

and family to test her yarn,

CandyCornYarns was finally born in

October 2019.

"My skeins feature a blend of Merino

wool and Italian nylon. Each skein is

made with ethically sourced yarn, and

dyed with citric acid dyes in smallbatches.

I chose the name of the

Halloween candy staple because it

represents the brightness and joy I hope

people feel when they use my yarn for

creations."■

their

W: etsy.com/shop/CandyCornYarns

IG: @CandyCornYarns

NENAS MAGAZINE | 71

Before the onset of such religion

through colonialist conquests, the

overwhelming consensus throughout

the world was that human beings were

just a small part of this natural world.

Neither detached, nor superior. Of

course, this “consensus” was not

necessarily expressed in such a way

that all groups adhered to the same

belief structures. Yet, the underlying

environmental ideology remains:

Human beings are, to some extent,

connected to all other living things on

Earth, even the Earth itself. As

European imperialism—and along with

it, cultural genocide—began to take

hold worldwide, so began the spread

of the “Man versus Nature” dogma.

Today Braun’s life is just one example

of the ideological exclusion of non-

European thought as it relates to

wildlife and the natural world.

Nonsubscribers are barred from

participation in the protection of the

world and nonhuman lives they hold so

dear, which inhibits their

environmental stewardship. But

around the world, and especially in the

United States, we are witnessing a

historical push toward the dismantling

of imperialism, the decentralization of

power, and the welcoming of non-

White, non-European values into

conservation.

How Modern Conservation Upholds

the Superiority of Humans

Christianity has deep, painful

historical associations with the

obsession of dominance. The same

Bible that was used to enforce

humans’ domination over nature was

also used to force Indigenous peoples

to abandon their cultural truths for

those more palatable to Europeans.

This laid the foundation that continues

to separate human life from nature to

this day.

As the Bible states in Genesis, “Let

[Man] have dominion over the fish of

the sea, and over the birds of the air,

and over all the wild animals of the

earth.” We see echoes of this passage

in the frameworks of many

conservation objectives today, with

concepts such as “creating”

sustainable forests, “managing”

wildlife populations, and “preserving”

wilderness as a realm separate from

that of humans. This reduces our

perception of human connectivity to

nonhuman life and to distance

constituents from the objective

recognition of Earth’s intrinsic value.

Take one of the U.S.’s leading

environmental organizations, for

example. The National Park Service—a

federal organization with well-known

racist origins—has a mission statement

that almost exclusively highlights the

instrumental value of North America’s

natural lands: “The National Park

Services preserves unimpaired the

natural and cultural resources and

values of the National Park System for

the enjoyment, education, and

inspiration of this and future

generations … to extend the benefits

of natural and cultural resources

conservation … throughout this

country and the world.”

Their mission is painfully

anthropocentric, never mind that the

very lands it aims to extend were

stolen from Indigenous tribes who are

now denied access. Missions such as

these create a near-impenetrable

ideological barrier through which

environmentalists of non-Christian

cultures cannot pass.

Keeping POC Out of Conservation

These organizational goals exclude

other faith (or non-faith) groups and

have nurtured a hostile environment

that disproportionately affects people

of color. Historical experiences

function to reinforce these impacts,

further preventing people of color

from exercising agency in

conservation initiatives. For one,

White constituents do not live with

the same generational trauma that

people of color do.

Experiences rooted in genocide and

slavery, for example, still inform

people’s experience of the outdoors.

Black people were forbidden to enter

certain spaces owned by the National

Park Service and other natural lands

because of Jim Crow laws and deeply

rooted racism, as pointed out by

researchers Rachelle K. Gould and

others. Many were lynched in these

landscapes as well. Thus, for Black

people, experiencing the outdoors was

to put one’s life on the line.

Simultaneously, “those in power

[imposed] a particular concept of

environment,” Gould says, which

denied Black people’s experiences in

natural habitats. Ideological disparities

have likewise discouraged Indigenous

agency in land management despite

how profoundly they value land and

wildlife.

Photo: Jessica Felicio

Experiences

rooted in

genocide

and slavery

still inform

people’s

experience

of the

outdoors.

73

18

This methodology aims to “alleviate poverty

among forest users, empower them, and improve

the condition of the forests.” The idea was that

the invitation for community involvement (and

thus, agency in management decision-making

processes) would nurture a sense of ownership in

constituents, encouraging them toward more

conservative use of forest resources, thereby

creating a more sustainable existence for the

forest.

The team consciously invited varying ideals and

perspectives into management practices by

interviewing elders and community leaders on

their perspectives regarding the forest’s health.

Stakeholders included nongovernmental

organization leaders, and traditional and religious

authorities that led and guided the surrounding

communities. Divinity priests were invited as

well, representing deities revered by the locals,

including Ogu (the god of iron), Tchankponon

(the god of smallpox), Otchoumare (the god of

the rainbow), and Nonon (the god of bees). First

Settlers and local hunters were also given

authority in this work, serving to extend the

network of participation deeply into every facet

of the residents surrounding and within the

Tobé-Kpobidon forest.

This decentralization of power and integration of

diverse belief structures was supported by the

foundation, which provided the financial

resources and the means for reinforcement of the

constituents’ chosen management policies. This

included warning signs indicating forest

boundaries and guards to manage entry into the

area. The foundation also rewarded locals’

involvement with a yearly stipend of 500,000

FCA ($1,000 USD) to further encourage their

continued dedication to conservation activities.

This new governance structure yielded

phenomenal results.

JAZMIN MURPHY, also known as “Sunny,” studied Environmental

Policy and Management at American Public University. Outside of

academia, she works as a writer and science communicator, aiming to

welcome more people, especially people of color, into STEM. She is a

member of the National Association of Science Writers and American

Society of Mammalogists, and uses these resources to create

educational STEM content for adult readers through her platform,

Black Flower Science Co.

Photo: Paddy O. Sullivan

As community access to the forest expanded for

medicinal gathering, hunting, beekeeping, and

more, the forest’s contribution to the local

economy increased to make up more than 25% of

the First Settlers’ income. Also, the native flora

experienced a “progressive evolution” alongside a

healthy, low rate of human agricultural

interference. (Cashew plantations, for example,

expanded at only 0.4% annually). This

community-focused approach continued to have

positive effects on the forest in the years after

the study.

The Tobé-Kpobidon Forest experimental

management approach, along with the extensive

foundation of evidence validating Indigenous

knowledge, serve as a beacon of hope amid the

darkness that looms over non-White, non-

European demographics that yearn for a role in

conservation initiatives. It demonstrates that the

present ideological chasms that keep people of

color out of conservation can be defeated and

that such cultural victories powerfully serve both

humans and the natural landscapes in which we

reside.■

75

FINAL SAY

"FIGHT FOR THE

THINGS THAT YOU

CARE ABOUT, BUT DO

IT IN A WAY THAT

WILL LEAD OTHERS TO

JOIN YOU."

R U T H B A D E R G I N S B U R G

1 9 3 3 - 2 0 2 0

NENAS MAGAZINE | 78

Vlad Tchompalov

79

Nenas Magazine

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