RHG Magazine September 2024 | Page 13

2. **Honor Your Past, But Don’t Let It Define You**: Your past experiences, including the challenges and losses you’ve faced, shape who you are, but they don’t have to limit your future. Embrace the lessons learned and let them guide you forward. By acknowledging the impact of your past while staying focused on your goals, you can move forward with strength and clarity, creating a path that honors your growth and resilience.

3. **Build a Supportive Community**: Surround yourself with people who uplift, challenge, and support you. A strong community is crucial for growth, offering encouragement and accountability as you navigate life’s challenges. Seek out those who inspire you, who share your values, and who are committed to mutual empowerment. Together, you can amplify each other’s voices, making your collective impact even more powerful.

~Share something you are passionate about.

We have had our own journeys through life and one thing that has brought us together is helping communities access the resources they need. Working collaboratively we have found we are both passionate about empowering and activating the power within all of us.

~What are some ways you are helping to bring this forward in the world?

We have been helping bring this forward to the world in many ways including:

1. **Amplifying Voices by uplifting and empowering the Latinx community by sharing stories of resilience, success, and advocacy through Gabriela’s Auténtico Podcast. 2. **Empowering Latinas Through Latinas Rising**: As co-founders of Latinas Rising, we are creating spaces that empower Latina women to embrace their heritage, find their voices, and step into their power. Esmeralda also does this through her work supporting women veterans through Sisters in Service - Greater St. Louis 3. **Advocating for Language Access and Minority Rights**: We use our voice to advocate for language access and minority rights, challenging inequities and promoting justice through the nonprofits, STLJuntos and the Saint Louis Hispanic Leaders Group 4. **Supporting Small Business Development**: Gabriela supports entrepreneurs by providing resources and guidance to help them build successful businesses and thereby accessing economic growth 5. **Fostering Authentic Conversations and Representation**: We both ensure diverse voices are heard and valued by fostering authentic conversations and representation in all spaces we are in 6. “”Championing Healthcare Equity**: Esmeralda educates faculty and staff on DEI best practices to improve patient outcomes

~Any final thought, share, or idea that you would like to share with our readers today?

Calladitas Rising is more than an anthology. Gabriela and I are creating a movement amplifying the voices of Latinas who have been historically silenced or overlooked, offering a platform for stories that inspire, empower, and spark change. We encourage readers to see it as a celebration of identity, culture, and the collective spirit of rising above adversity to pave the way for future generations.