About Us

I’m from new york

Where something wild happens everyday

But everyone still finds a way to mind their business 

Where it can be 90 degrees weather 

And there’s still someone out there wearing there tims

Waking up every weekends early to bhajan

And smelling the curry goat already cooking on the stove

My life right?

I am from brooklyn 

Where the crackheads are up before the crack of dawn

And the ocks are ready to make you that blt

Nothing like home to me

I am a go getter 

I have Perseverance

I will be successful

And nothing can stop me !

I am from hammocks,

From grass ,flowers, and incense 

I am from praying to many different gods, 

To going to temples and celebrating life.

I am from liquor and beer, 

To always living life to the fullest.

I am from a loving family, 

To always pushing me the hardest to be who I want to be in life.

I am from loving my dog, 

To spoiling him and being able to give him the world.

I am from loud music, 

To hearing steel-pans and people eating, whilst walking the street.

I am from my family telling me they love me no matter how hard I try

I am from being able to have the life I wanted , and not taking anything for granted

I am from  Tacos,

from corn flour and meat.

I am from the big white house with a lot of flowers.

I am from the pink and red roses,

The big green tree

I am from celebrating quinceaneras to celebrating the Virgin Guadalupe

and making jokes to giving/getting advice,

from Alberta

and Tomas and Jaime.

I am from the loudness of music 

and eating dinner together.

From “ahi comida en la casa”(*there’s food in the house*)

and “Te calmas o te calmo”(*You calm down or I calm you down*).

I am from Catholicism.

I’m from Brooklyn, NY and Puebla, Mexico

Mole with orange rice and Tamales verdes.

From the story of why my mom left my dad,

To the mischievous things I did as a child,

and the story of how my mom became a strong independent woman/mother.

I am from the big frames in the living room hanging from the wall.

I am from the greca-where my family makes their coffee,

from cafe Bustelo and everyone’s very own specific coffee cups.

I am from a small, homey, Bronx apartment, from the green wall and black leather couches to the big brown table that would always smell like lemon.

I am from the agaves growing on the washer in the kitchen,

the plants my grandma loved more than anyone, that grew to the top of our ceiling and covered the kitchen window.

I am from opening Christmas presents at midnight on the 24th.

And a family that all had crooked fingers,

from Doña 

and Titi Ana and Mimi.

I am from a loud 

and loving, caring family.

From the saying “Sana, sana, colita de rana, si no se sanas hoy, se sanaras manana” every time my cousin and I got hurt, 

and from everyone telling us to enjoy our childhood years, how we will regret saying we wanted to be adults.

I am from the love of sneakers.

I am from The Bronx and the Dominican Republic, 

From Rice with chicken and beans and Mangu with salami.

From the commitment of a grandmother who stepped up to take care of her granddaughter,

the caring uncle who listened,

and the aunt who cared for me as one of her own.

I am from the frames held up in my grandmother’s hallway, the family photos in her album at the bottom of her closet, from my mom’s mac computer that held all of our favorite videos of one another, that cherished so many beautiful memories of ours.

I am from a city that never sleeps

Buildings as tall and far as your dreams

From frozen winter winds

Crisp inviting autumns

That don’t linger long enough

Fresh plantains and fish on a beach

Views of clear beaches and chairs in the sand

Motorcycles at every turn

And mango trees behind the family house

I am from Dominican Republic

Of scorpions and berries

Hair that smells of honey and is as purple as my aura

Warm beige skin that soaks up the sun

Hands as cold as Antarctic sea

I am from Grace and Peace

“Where I’m From”

I am from jade,

from curry and porridge.

I am from the brick walls, dirty and cracking chipping to the floor.

I am from the dandelions,

the petals in the wind

I am from filial love

and compassion,

from Peggy 

and Choong and Cheung.

I am from the discipline

and kindness.

From dreams

and realities.

I am of no concrete belief.

Further description.

I’m from Brooklyn,

roti and tripe.

From the choice to move to America,

the birth of a family in a foreign place,

and the dreams of a family to see to fruition.

I am from playing outside the house, loving eyes watching from my home.