Hello Beautiful Human,

How are you? I have missed writing this newsletter the past two weeks and cannot wait until Friday to pick it up again.

I’ll be honest, part of my delay is having too many things to stay.

Does this ever happen to you with a good friend or family member? If time elapses and there is just so much to say? So let me just drop in and restart anyway.

Today marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month.

What is your initial thought regarding it?

I’ve seen a range of feelings:

• Favorite time of the year, so many great events and celebrations.
• Eye roll why are we limited to a month?! So over being tokenized.
• I don’t have a strong opinion but open to learning.

When it comes to ethnic and cultural identity and its impact on our life, connection to social impact and leadership I have thought A LOT about it.

Like well over 10,000 hours a lot.

My Master’s thesis on self efficacy of Latino leaders in majority white organizations allowed me to explore the very personal topic with academic, Indigenous ways, and lived experience as I struggled with my own sense of belonging, confidence, and identity.

Personally, I find this month, which elevates a common, yet diverse experience that contributes to one’s identity narrative, of incredible interest and value.

In the complex historical context of colonization and the current context of the United States a moment of celebrating and honoring our diversity is simply a starting point for learning and healing.

You can read my past Hispanic Heritage Month Newsletters on my website. Or listen to my guest appearances on the Adelante Leadership podcast here.

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Our identity impact the way we experience Leadership.

Our identity enriches our point of view.

Our identity determines our habits and potential.

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Everyone’s identity (no matter your background) can use a deepening and branching out to unlock our potential.

Like a tree, the deeper and more nurished our roots, the further our branches can growth and fruit we can produce.

Granda Juana Perez and me on her 102rd Birthday ’24

I am writing to you from a plane on the way to Denver to be with my family in my grandmothers final days.

Familia.

The most commonly known Hispanic values.

The support that I give and receive from my family is endless, it’s in my DNA.

Though complicated as times, I know it is one of the greatest part of my root system. It has taken reflection, awareness, and healing to nurish these roots.

I am so very grateful for the inner healing and integration of my roots that my life and leadership journey has afforded, it is worth more than a million dollar, priceless.

What values lie in your roots that need some nourishment and care?

I’d love to hear, hit reply

I look forward to writing more this month about heritage, culture and values.

But for now like an imperfect conversation with a friend I’ll leave us waiting till next time. I hope to see you on Thursday’s, Reset call.

CHECK OUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES

The RESET:
​Thu. Sept. 17 – 12:05 – 12:30 pm CT

Not a webinar, meeting, or one more thing you “have to do”.

It is your time to exhale the anxiety and inhale clarity, calm, and empowerment for whatever you’re facing.

Learn to lean on the power of your breath and body instead of driving it into the ground.

Decolonization is for Everyone
Comrades Education- First America Course

Indigenous scholar Nick Estes articulated that decolonization is not about more violence. It is about dismantling the violent, imperialist settler state, returning land and reasserting Indigenous sovereignty, in a way that makes life and justice for everyone possible.

Anti-racist, liberatory, social impact leadership requires a honest look at the norms and narratives about leadership we inherited. We cannot change culture without understanding its roots.

In a world where our identities have been weaponized and made us feel guilt, shame, or inferiority, I have found incredible empowerment in understanding the systems we operate in and claim a more holistic approach to healing and leading social change through a mutual thriving mentality.

I have not taken a course from this organization since they became Comrades Education (They used to be called White Awake). However I deeply value the coherence I developed in my identity that includes European ancestry and enrichment of my authentic culturally rooted holistic leadership coaching.

Check out their upcoming course here.

Lideramos National Symposium
Oct. 21-23 Colorado Springs

Art by: Juls Mendoza

Our nervous system needs to feel belonging before we can practice carrying the feeling into any room we enter. Participating in the Lideramos National Symposiums for the past four years has enabled me to embody the authentic culturally rooted leader I desire to be. I am honored to participate this year as a Adelante Sponsor of the event. Let me know if you plan to be there or are located in Colorado Springs. I’d love to meet up.