Here we go!

2.1.21. I love the symmetry of this date, so it is fitting that I launch LAinclusionista today.

The thought of being a solopreneur is simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying, but the best things in life often are, so I’ll take that as a good sign.

Long before diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging were terms I was familiar with, I came to know the concepts through my lived experience. My mom was born and raised in Mexico City and immigrated to the United States after marrying my dad, who was then serving in the Navy and is originally from Delaware. As a kid, I had the chance to live in numerous cities - on both coasts of the US, as well as in Panama and Colombia.

I always felt a bit different and had to continually navigate my changing environments to find my place. Without question, I learned how to flex at a young age - even when things got bumpy. I quickly became curious about people and culture - making new friends and exploring new places was simply part of my normal.

Flash forward and I recognize that my experience doesn’t ring true for everyone. Perhaps they grew up and lived in the same house for their whole lives or never had the opportunity to travel beyond the place they called home. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, but for some it might mean they may not have had the chance to see or experience difference as a positive.

Our brains are wired to embrace sameness and exercise caution when encountering the unfamiliar. But with effort and intention, I believe all of us are capable of appreciating the richness and joy of difference. And so I’ve made it my life’s work to help build a world that embraces diversity, is more equitable and more inclusive and where we all feel like we belong. It may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it.