Cadena Collective — Latina Empowerment

I shared on my Instagram post about being Black, Hispanic and a DACA Recipient; sometimes I feel like all the odds are against me. I've experienced racism, discrimination and hurtful comments simply because I am all of these things. I have at times been forced to choose a race/ethnicity and have been told that I am not welcomed in this country. Despite all of this, I will continue to walk with my head held high. My parents have sacrificed too much for me to be beaten down by the opinions and actions of others.

I met Maria when she was a young teen in high school and was awed by her go-getter spirit and willingness to speak up about her immigration status and willingness to stand up for others. She always struck me as wise beyond her years, honest to the core and loyal to her family, friends and community. As time went on we continued to run into each other at community events and my admiration for her work ethic continued to grow. We asked her to model for Cadena because she embodies a young Latina who lives in-between two cultures, never forgetting where...

Jennifer is a phenomenal woman. I met her through a community event that focused on voter engagement and I continued to see her at community events. I saw her grow into her own space of community empowerment and have felt so lucky to witness how a young woman can transform her living experiences into a space of impact. You can always catch her empowering her Instagram followers, although I'd dare to say they're more like friends (yes, all 7,000 of them and counting). That's the thing about Jenn though, she genuinely cares about you and her community and wants to see...