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QUE MAMI SPOTLIGHT

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Tammy Santiago 
Event & Interior Designer 
Sincerely Yours, Santiago

Why is it important to service your hispanic/latinx community?

 

It is important for me to service my Latinx community because most times our community believes my services are only for people on t.v. .  My community needs to see we can all make our dreams come to fruition! We can also afford my type of services even if we have only see it on t.v. 

 

 

Why is your heritage important to you?

 

My heritage is important to me because it has shaped and formed who I’am today!  I have inherited an indescribable amount of worth! Our unique way of standing out in a room full of people with our language, style, and grace! 

 

 

What are your hopes for the future of our hispanic/latinx community ?

 

My hopes for the future of our Latinx community would be that we would discover that Anything and Everything is possible! No matter where our journey began we can accomplish just about Anything! Our Latinx community is a Force and even stronger when we work together!! 

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Leah Sparks
CEO/Creator 
Lujo Skin

Yanexis Corporan
CEO/Make up Artist 
Dream On Looks 

How has your hispanic/latinx culture affected your journey on becoming (your field, career, business etc)?

 

My heritage and culture have played a significant role in my business. The name itself, “Lujo” is a Spanish word and embodies the meaning of luxury. I have been able to instill confidence in other Latina women through my products and have made it so that the prices are fair enough for many afford them. Lujo products can be used by EVERYONE of all skin types, tones and sizes.

 

Why is it important to service your hispanic/latinx community?

 

I think it is important to service the Hispanic/Latinx community because being a positive example and demonstrating success (not only financially but mentally, physically and emotionally) helps other Latinx individuals to see the vision and strive for greatness themselves. As mentioned before, I think it's important not only in the Hispanic community but particularly lower income Hispanic communities, to provide accessibility to such products and wellness that might not necessarily or typically be readily available to that population. 

 

Why is your heritage important to you?

 

My heritage makes me who I am. The food to  music, traditions, being Puerto Rican is a huge part of my identity. I value my roots and will continue to show pride of my heritage. 

 

What are your hopes for the future of our hispanic/latinx community?

 

My hopes are to see the continuation of small businesses and brands blossoming, especially within the Lawrence community. I wish to see mentors and role models continue to be examples for younger Latinx kids, and more opportunities to arise for creative outlets. 

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What is your business/career, why did you begin/start this business/career?

 

My business is a cosmetics line. I started doing makeup while I was in high school, nothing too drastic, very light to no makeup. Then I started having my family and friends ask me to do their makeup since they liked the way I did mine. I started watching videos and just practicing different looks on myself and ended up loving makeup and how it can transform you. I went from only doing makeup on loved ones to actually making it a career. Everyone was pushing me to start taking clients since I was so nervous. I knew my work was alright but I definitely needed to work on my skill and techniques more. After the support and encouraging words I received from my family and friends it pushed me to start up my instagram to take legit clients. Shortly after doing makeup on clients and using other brand products I started to realize my passion for makeup goes beyond just glamming them up. I started brain storming on how I would love to put my own brand on my clients and have my own makeup line. After a couple months of research I started up Dream On Looks. It's a lot of work to run your own business its more than just putting down an idea. It's really about your how passionate you are and putting in the work. Dream On Looks is one of my greatest accomplishments and there is still so much I have to do!

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Why is your heritage important to you?
 
It represents who I am, why I am the way I am and shaped me into the woman I am today!
 
What are your hopes for the future of our hispanic/latinx community ?
 
To provide the youth with more information such as: different trade schools, programs after highschool that aren't college but will get you started on something you're passionate about, educating the youth on their credit, how to build, save, etc. How to really plan and prepare for the future!
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Lissette M. Rios
Founder

 Chic Influence

How has your hispanic/latinx culture affected your journey on becoming

( your field, career, business etc)

 

My Cuban roots are very much the reason I move the way I do in business and personally. Like many immigrants and political refugees that come to this country looking for a better life, seeing the hardships my family endured, I wanted to make sure that I took advantage of what this country has to offer. Especially, compared to where my family is from where there is literally no option to build anything for yourself. That mentality I credit to my culture. Additionally, I wear my Cuban pride loudly so I’m driven to help brands understand how to market to me, because like me there are millions of Latino/as who are English-dominant but their culture is who they are.  

 

Why is it important to service your hispanic/latinx community?

 

It’s important to always be of service to my community because when we help each other, we’re all able to rise up collectively and in that, more people will hear our voices, needs and wants.

Why is your heritage important to you?

My heritage is important to me because it not only defines who I am, but it’s a reminder/representation of my family. Everything I do is to make my family proud and so that my grandparents in heaven know that their journey to this country has generated so much for all of us. 

 

What are your hopes for the future of our hispanic/latinx community ?

 

  My hope for the Hispanic/Latino/a community is continued unity.

Omayda O Massa-Torres
Creator/Owner 
By Omayda 

Why is it important to service your hispanic/latinx community?
     

For me it is very important that we; not only service our own communities but implement a mentality that strengthens the minds of our people. Goals on my list when discussing the Latinx community are breaking generational taboos and educating older the generation about the LGBTQIA+ community.I believe as a community we can raise our voice and  break down misogynistic and outdated ideologies that have made a home within our walls and have only served to divide us. 

Why is your heritage important to you?
MY heritage is who I am. Being able to look back on my heritage not only remind me of who I am and why I exist, my heritage also serves as a mark of the progress my people have made over time and reminds us we can not conform, instead we need to push back and resist. 

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What are your hopes for the future of our hispanic/latinx community ?

     

My hopes are to create more amazing women like our mothers and grandmothers, and to leave all the machismo crap behind. 

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Linda Garcia
CEO/Founder 
In Luz We Trust 

 Why is it important to service your Hispanic/Latinx community?

I have found in my experience that obtaining financial literacy is one of the most empowering experiences. I have watched my parents be solely dependent on other people for money, via a paycheck or reimbursement for services. Money is so much more than just a paycheck, it is a tool that can be used to generate more money. - When we combine the lack of financial literacy with a deep scarcity mentality, we have a massive problem in our community and In Luz We Trust is looking to solve that. 

Why is your heritage important to you? 
My ancestors are important to me, my past traumas, my reflex to certain situations are important to me. I am working diligently to change my mindset and the mindset of my family, may we make our ancestors proud. Accomplish what we came here to accomplish, may nothing seem impossible, and more importantly, may we live a life with true freedom where we aren't dependent on money in a way that makes us terribly unhappy. 

 

What are your hopes for the future of our Hispanic/Latinx community?

The Latinx community is currently leading as entrepreneurs over any other race/ethnicity by astonishing numbers. We are also circulating the dollar within our community 6x over. These are two major accomplishments for us and I want to make sure we take the time to acknowledge that. I would like to see these two statistics taken to the next level. As entrepreneurs I want to see us take our businesses to levels not imagined, focusing on company fundamentals, hiring our people with more than fair wages, and disrupting sectors, with impactful change. 

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Cristina Hernando 
Owner/Founder
HER Massage Therapy 

What is your business/career, why did you begin/start this business/career ?

My business currently consists of Massage Therapy and Wellness. You can say the stars aligned for me to pursue Massage many years ago! However, I decided to finally start up my own business for many reasons. One being that I knew I loved massage so much, I love making others happy, I love feeling I've impacted someone's life even with something as simple as 60 minutes of their time. Even though I loved massage, I found myself back and forth in the industry, I never stayed in one place and couldn't quite understand why.
With time I understood that I was not happy with the environments I worked in. The decor, the scents, the music, the regulations and felt out of place. I also went through a traumatic moment in my family and honestly felt helpless!
This pushed me to want to have something that was mine, a foundation that would place me in a better place, especially in times of need. Lastly, I wanted to bring a different vibe to Lawrence! I was raised in Lawrence, have worked locally and know so many people.  I felt that all we really had was a nightlife, which dont get me wrong, I enjoyed it very much. But sometimes we all like to get away in different ways! Just like I like a night out with my girls, I enjoy some time away indulging in self love as well. A little bit of everything, but many factors fueled this startup!

Why is it important to service your hispanic/latinx community?

They raised me, watched me grow. It feels amazing to give back to the community by servicing them and putting them on to self care.
Why is your heritage important to you?
It’s in my roots! To be proud, to be me, to be us. The importance of my roots runs through my blood and honestly it’s a bit difficult to explain because it is just a part of who I am, you just feel it.
What are your hopes for the future of our hispanic/latinx community?
Simple, for us to continue growing and proudly at that.


 

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