Creating for Empowerment: The Questions

I began this photo essay almost 10 years ago. Inspired by my sister-in-law's connection to the earth and colorful nature, and my older brother's knowledge on Eastern philosophy. But it must have not been time yet. I did all the research and had all the intention of creating photographic materpeices! I kept all my notes and would come across them every couple of years. The last time I found them, I needed and wanted a project that expressed all that I've learned and become to this moment. Now is the time and the place.

I've been taking pictures ever since elementary. I had a purple camera, with lime green accents, 110 film and the kind of flash you had to flip every time you used it. Now that's some vintage 80's stuff. I took photographs to capture my memories. It's a generational thing. I am a third generation photographer. My grandpa, and my dad, are both photographers. We take pride in our work, and do it for the love.

My pop's is known for his Latin Jazz and Salsa photographs. This is one of the photographs from the Los Van Van concert at Yoshi's SF.

I have been slacking on my photography. A little because I let the excuse of finances stop me from carrying and using my film camera. Now that I have a digital camera, I sometimes fear loosing or breaking it, as it's much more costly than my film cameras. Pushing the excuses aside I began my photographic journey...

I now have all but one Goddess. I am looking for Demeter, the Mother Energy. She is the Goddess of nurture and protection. Know one? Send her my way! I would prefer is she is pregnant.

When I was writing out my goal for the photo essay, and what I wanted to express, it became apparent that I was making the connections between our ancestors and today. I asked two questions of every Goddess applicant.
1. How do you stay connected to your heritage?
2. Tell me six words that describe you.

I believe it's important to always stay connected to your ancestors. In today's world of disconnect, we need that grounding. Being a multicultural woman, I sometimes lack that grounding. I am Puerto Rican, Philippino and German American. I cannot be labeled with one word, nor can I connect fully, individually to each ethnicity. I am the growing number of children in the United States. Those of mixed parents and cultures. To be American, dose not mean to be white. Nor does it mean to be just Latino, black, Native or Asian. We are each a part of specific cultures. We need to all find ways to reconnect ourselves.

The Puerto Rican side. My mom's mom. May she RIP.

The German Side. Great grandmas and all. May they, and my grandma RIP.

What does staying connected mean to me? Staying connected to my ancestors means I incorporate many different aspects of living. I cook to keep that ritual of cooking from scratch, with love, to nurture my family. I educate myself to pass on the gift of knowledge to my seeds. I don't conform to ideals set forth by colonization, so I can continue to have my mind be free. I stay passionate about my moral codes of integrity, strength, knowledge, compassion and ganas. Music, food, art and love keep me connected to my ancestors.

My six words to describe myself: compassionate, funny, intense, hard-working and playful