Empowering the Hispanic & Youth Community
SEPTEMBER 2022 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM AND IMPACTINGOURFUTURE.COM The ”On My Block” star shares how he took inspiration from his character Jason Genao The questions you should ask your doctor about diabetes 4 How one organization is combating child malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa 6 An Independent Supplement by Mediaplanet to LA Times A Mediaplanet Guide to Latinx Representation and Children’s Nutrition
I started the show at a young age, and people kept saying this show would change history. You can’t describe it, because you never intend to do these things. It’s crazy to think that I’m part of something, especially being from Jersey City, and being from the family
This recipe is very easy, and made without sugar!
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How do you think your Dominican roots contribute to the success in your career?
Oh my god, yeah. I don’t even think people can fathom how underrepre sented Latin culture is.
2 Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 20-25 minutes.
Ever since I was little, my school had a drama club. And my drama teacher, she used to praise me and really pushed me. She was always making me the star of her plays.
Ruby was an inspiration to me, because sometimes I still walk around shy or nervous to obtain the things that I want in life. He believed that he deserved everything. And I think that’s the most important story to tell peo ple: that they’re deserving of every thing, regardless of what they look like, or regardless of what the media and stories have told us we should look like to receive these things. n
I think the thing about growing up in a Dominican family is that we all sort of grew up in the same state of bor dering poverty. So there’s just this dream of trying to get out that I think we all sort of run with. My family was big on dreaming and pushing past whatever it is that we were given to start with.
• 1 cup dried apricot
Can you share what empowering the Hispanic community means to you?
How did you know acting was for you?
4 Pass the mixture to your processor or blender. Process until you have a homogeneous consistency.
want him to represent?
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
5 Taste and add more chili, lemon, or Stevia.
“On My Block” tackles this issue perfectly. A lot of people in the Latino community were able to see themselves on a screen. What does it mean for you to be a part of that impact?
• 1 cup pitted dates (you can substitute stevia drops to taste)
You played such a big role as Ruby in “On My Block.” What kind of story did you
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A common issue in the industry is media under-representation.
that I’m from. “On My Block” was an amazing representation of the other side of Hispanic culture in America.
I think Ruby was one of the most amazing characters ever. He is so unapologetically himself. People like Ruby aren’t told that they should walk with their head high, they’re told that they should stand in the background and that they aren’t as deserving.
Enjoy the benefits of SweetLeaf® stevia; zero calories, non-glycemic, and no aftertaste.
6 If you want a thinner consistency, you can add a little water or a lot of lemon.
July Montemayor, Nutrition and Health Coach
Directions:
• 3 tablespoons of Tajín
Publisher Razelle Amante & Sari Karpe Business Developer Katie Konfino Managing Director Jordan Hernandez Lead Designer Kayla Mendez Designer Sarah A. King Lead Editor Dustin Brennan Copy Editor Griffin Cronk Director of Content and Production Joelle Hernandez Cover Photo Andrea Riba All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve LA Times.
3 Let cool for 15 minutes.
Dip or spread it on whatever you want: fruit, Jícama, peanuts, cucumbers, or chips.
Actor Jason Genao Reflects on the Impact of His Hispanic Heritage
Can you tell us about your upbringing?
I was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Dominican parents. My mother is first gen and was born in Long Island. My dad is an immi grant from the Dominican Republic.
How to Make Healthy Homemade Chamoy Using SweetLeaf®
I’ve always wanted to be an actor.
1 In a saucepan, place the hibiscus flower, dates, apricots, Stevia Plus® OR a few drops of Sweet Leaf®liquid stevia, lemon juice, and Tajín in water.
Jason Genao, an actor in the Netflix show “On My Block,” discusses underrepresentation in show business.
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To empower Hispanic people is to believe that we all exist, and that we all exist in the same manner that other people exist. It’s to believe that a movie about Dominican people should be funded just as well as other movies.
Ingredients:
• 2 cups of water
• 4-6 Packets of Stevia Plus® OR A few drops of SweetLeaf® liquid stevia
• 2 cups of hibiscus flower
Writer ThattheVelasquezElisabetandWorldviewShapedHerDebutNovel
Throughout your work, you’ve covered feminism, body positivity, education, mental illness, sexual assault, gentrification, and so much more. What is the overall message you want to capture for your young, first-generation readers?
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Ultimately, it’s about reimagining success. My main character, Sarai, is a first-gener ation Diasporican growing up in the 90s during the “war on drugs.” She, like so many of us, is growing up with differing ideas from society, her teachers, and par ents about what kind of person makes it in theThisworld.story was inspired by my own life as someone who was statistically viewed as a failure. As a Puerto Rican teen mom and high school drop-out, in many ways, not aspiring to what other people viewed as success liberated me. I chose to believe that I was successful even as a “societal failure.” There is so much success to be had in the act of surviving.
What is the influence of your Puerto Rican culture on your career as a writer?
Elisabet Velasquez is a Brooklyn-born Boricua poet, performer, and novelist. She has performed at numerous universities and legendary venues around the country.
rely on external achievements. I wanted to celebrate the class clowns, the delin quents, the teen moms, the people strug gling with housing insecurity, the non-En glish speakers, the high school dropouts, folks on government assistance, and anyone who “makes it” every day simply by staying alive.
ers can find hope in knowing that they are not alone in their fears or in their dreams. We are shaped by our experi ences, but we are not defined by them.
I’ve come to distance myself from group identifiers like the word “His panic,” which tends to promote a monolithic idea or image of a group of people while excluding others. Speci ficity is important to me.
Growing up Puerto Rican in New York City, there was this subtle (but really notso-subtle) messaging about the kind of people Puerto Ricans were that stemmed from racist stereotypes.
When we take ownership of our nar rative, what we are really doing is taking ownership of our humanity. I want to keep writing stories that include all of who we are, the shiny parts and the dull parts where one does not negate the other.
Can you share a brief rundown of what your debut novel “When We Make It” is about? What does it mean to “make it”?
As a Puerto Rican woman, I have felt the most empowered when I have found value in the parts of me society insisted I find shame in. I have found power in my existence and have come to appreciate just how marvelous of a success story simply staying alive is. n
There was always this feeling that we had to prove that we were not all of the terrible things the news said about us. There was a lot of shame in those stories, mainly because we didn’t write them. No one wanted to be the Puerto Rican ste reotype. So we told each other to “speak
What does empowermentHispanicmean to you?
When I was writing this book, I wanted to highlight the “making it” that often isn’t celebrated. The “making it” that doesn’t
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properly” and warned each other not to end up like so and so, the family’s embar rassment.Asawriter whose life and experiences were devalued due to being named as one of these stereotypes, I think deeply about the messages I am giving readers who may not be living a life society considers stellar or outstanding. My aim is to highlight all of the ways our survival takes shape. Writers like Esmeralda Santiago and poets like Pedro Pietri taught me that we can high light the beauty and intelligence and inno vation so present in our culture while also addressing our struggles.
Everything you have experienced in your life is unique to you. Usually when there is only one of something in the world it is considered priceless. Can you imagine? You are walking around with a story that no one else has. You are a gold mine of memories and cul ture and ideas and joys and struggles and experiences that no one else can ever take from you and no one else can replicate.These are your riches to share or keep. I share mine so that young read
What can I do to reduce my risk of developing diabetes?
more on our website: diabetes. org/MiRiesgo. n
When we begin practicing medicine, physicians take an oath to “do no harm.” But how, in practice, do we carry out this fundamental duty when systemic barriers to healthcare may not be visible on the exam table?
Taking care of your diabetes does not just mean seeing your primary care provider or endo crinologist. It is predicted that the number of Americans at risk of losing their vision due to diabetic retinopathy will double from 7.7
Each year, 1.4 million are diag nosed with diabetes in the United States. Unfortunately, diabetes continues to be a topic that is not spoken about often enough. Adults with diabetes are two times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than those who do not live with diabetes. If we want to change our future, we need to educate ourselves on our bodies.
million to 14.6 million from 2010 to 2050. It is also predicted that Latinos will represent the largest increase in cases of diabetic ret inopathy, increasing more than three times from 1.2 million to 5.3 million. If you live with type 2 diabetes, even if you do not use glasses, it’s important to receive an annual dilated eye exam. You can learn a lot about your health through a dilated eye exam.
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What should I do before my next appointment?
As we pledge to “do no harm,” health care providers have an obligation to advocate for patients and change the unfair practices that permit a lower stan dard of care for underserved populations.
According to my family’s medical history and my current health, do I need an A1c test?
Elena Rios, M.D., M.S.P.H., M.A.C.P, President and CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association
Dr. Francisco Prieto Chair for the National Committee,AdvocacyAmericanDiabetesAssociation a
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The National Hispanic Medical Association is a nonprofit association dedicated to representing the interests of the 50,000+ practicing Hispanic physicians in the United States.
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Through the National Hispanic Medical Association’s Vaccinate For All campaign, we empower medical professionals and trusted community leaders with resources and knowledge to combat misinformation and improve vaccine accessibility and uptake through personal connections and community events. The care we provide should not just be accessible, but also high quality — and quality care is patient-cen tered care. It is our responsibility to con tinue breaking down barriers for a more equitable future.
What are long term complications of diabetes that I should pay attention to?
Here are four questions you should ask your doctor about dia betes at your next appointment:
4 Latinos are over 50% more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. It is time for us to talk about that.
“Do No Harm” Oath Extends Beyond the Doctor’s Office
Brighter FutureHealthierand
As president and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, I have seen firsthand the disproportionate burden placed upon Hispanic/Latino people and other underserved groups when trying to access affordable and culturally competent healthcare. There is no single explanation for this, but rather a long his tory of systemic mistreatment and failings — whether it be concerns about immi gration status, lack of health insurance or child care, unforgiving work schedules, or misinformation that flourishes unchecked through social media platforms. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted those disparities even more: During the first four months of the pandemic in Cali fornia, Latinos between the ages of 20-54 were dying at a rate eight times higher than white people in the same age group. It has also underscored the barriers to vaccine access and uptake among Hispanic peo ple, with Hispanics having the lowest per centage of booster uptake among those eligible compared to all other racial/ethnic groups nationally.
The American Diabetes Associ ation is the nation’s leading volun tary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. Find diabetes management tips, recipes, and
Share a meal with loved ones
Schools can play a pivotal role in sup porting the cultural identities of their students by providing foods that are representative of the ethnic diversity of their Schoolscommunities.cancelebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by offering authentic traditional foods from Latinx countries through the school meal program or events. These are great learning opportunities for students as they explore the similarities and differences across cultures and celebrate what makes each culture unique. n
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to reflect and celebrate the wonderful cultural differences that bring diversity to our nation.
Honoring Traditions Through Food This Hispanic Heritage Month
Spending quality mealtime time with loved ones can bring joy, fos ter engaging conversations, build family bonds, and create cherished moments together. It’s a time to unplug from technology and allow for honest conversations about our day. Preparing dinner together is also a great way to get kids involved in meal preparation and try new foods.
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These traditional foods are an important part of a culture and become an expression of an individ ual’s cultural identity. As we spend the next month observing the uniqueness and diversity of Hispanic/Latinx com munities, here are a few ways you can use mealtimes to celebrate the rela tionship between food and culture.
The power of a shared meal can also take place outside the home. Con necting with friends or coworkers helps us build new social connections while learning about other cultures, traditions, and lived experiences.
Cookbook project with the family Gathering family recipes for a cook book is a great way to connect with loved ones. A cookbook can honor family traditions by preserving cultural recipes and passing them down to the next generation. Collecting recipes together can also foster meaningful conversations while increasing feel ings of happiness and empathy which is great for our social-emotional health.
Schools can participate, too!
Connect with friends and coworkers
Cultural foods — also known as tra ditional foods — represent the tradi tions, beliefs, and practices of a geo graphic region, ethnic group, religious body, or cross-cultural community.
Cultural differences may include the spoken language, traditional clothing, and the types of foods consumed.
Josephine Thomason, M.S., RDN, LDN, FNLP, (She/Her), National Advisor, Whole Child Health Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Before the pandemic in February 2020, when the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank was already reaching an impressive 300,000 people each month, the unemployment rate in LA County was around 4.7% and LA County’s poverty rate was 20.8%. As the unemployment rate dipped back below 4.7% in May 2022, many people assumed the need for food assistance would also return to pre-pandemic rates. It has not.
In 2017, Dr. Manary began inves tigating an improved RUTF that included more diverse polyunsat urated fatty acids in a large-scale clinical trial. The trial demonstrated definitive scientific proof that 6-15 IQ points could be added to every SAM child during therapeutic feeding, and for children in the first year of life, nor mal neurocognition was achieved.
Project Peanut Butter Is Saving Futures by Saving Lives
As we approach the final months of 2022, the LA Regional Food Bank and Food Bank partner agencies are still helping an average of 800,000 people each month, well over double the pre-pandemic numbers. Due to the lingering effects of the pandemic and extra pressure put on budgets by rising costs, even fully employed people, some who have multiple jobs, are seeking food and nutrition assistance for themselves and their families. Families with young children have more mouths to feed and less time to work. When budgets tighten, families rely more on high-calorie, low-nutrition foods, which are cheaper and easier to access.
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Olivia Stewart, Project Peanut Butter
Michael Flood, President and CEO, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
roughly 1 million children every year. Children that survive are often left with encumbering deficits that color theirPPBfutures.factories are currently estab lished in four sub-Saharan African countries, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. These fac tories purchase local ingredients, provide local income, and treat indig enous malnourished children, defining PPB as a local solution.
“When a child comes in the clinic, they are crying, [and] their bodies are so weak. At the ending of the treat ment, they are joyful, playing around, smiling,” said Elizabeth Sesay, a Senior Nurse in Sierra Leone.
In the poorest countries of the world where hunger is common, Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) kills
n 2002, Dr. Mark Manary developed a local, ready-touse therapeutic food (RUTF) to feed malnourished children in sub-Saharan Africa. Project Peanut Butter (PPB) was founded in 2004. As the organization continued to grow, millions of children were treated.
“I am grateful to all the people working to make RUTF available. My children are alive thanks to it,” said Aida, the mother of Pilirani who was successfully treated by PPB.
n DAVISJEFFREYPHOTO:
Inflation and the Impact on Nutrition Insecurity and Child Hunger
Fortunately, many people are working hard to fight hunger in our community. Thanks to incredible partnerships, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank alleviates child hunger by providing nutritious food to families at partner agency distributions and through child nutrition programs like the Food Bank’s BackPack and Summer Meal programs.Remember that even before the vari ous challenges of this decade, there were people who needed a little help. Now, the need in Los Angeles County is even more dramatic. It isn’t possible to know what chal lenges are ahead, but everyone agrees: No one should go hungry, especially children. Please join the fight against food and nutri tion insecurity and invest in your community.
The future is brighter with more opportunity for each child.
Project Peanut Butter’s (PPB) outreach efforts have yielded tangible headway in reducing malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, while also providing local jobs.
Clinical trials prove that RUTF causes 80-90% recovery in SAM children treated for an eight-week period.
PPB then appealed to the inter national food regulatory agency, CODEX Alimentarius, to change the standards for all RUTFs to include more PUFAs; this appeal was adopted in 2021.The future is brighter and with more opportunity for each child that receives the necessary nutrition to fuel both their minds and bodies. More information can be found at www.projectpeanutbutter.org
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For many families, the nutritional value of the food is sacrificed first, but before long, skipping meals altogether becomes inevi table. Parents skip meals to ensure enough is leftover for their children, and when there still isn’t enough, kids skip meals, too.
No one should go hungry in our community, but too many children struggle to access basic needs, including nutritious food.
O h, easy question. My kids love carrots. I’ve been trying to get them to eat healthier and they’ve really been enjoying them. But on the other hand, they also love Cheez-Its. n
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The Barriers to Family Dinner Aren’t Simply a Lack of Time
Mark Viso, President and CEO, Food for the Hungry
At FH, this reality motivates our work in the fight against poverty.
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How do you think empowering and connecting with farmers can positively impact hunger?
The United Nations estimates that last year 828 million people were hungry, with 2.3 billion people experiencing food inse curity. Nearly 150 million children under 5 years old suffer from stunted physical growth and cognitive development due to a chronic lack of essential nutrients.
Well, I think of corporations like Bayer — they’re partnered up with people that believe the message. These big corporations have good years and bad years, and if they can
Country music singer and Feeding America Partner Luke Bryan takes a moment to answer our questions about food and farming.
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Too many families lack access to nutri tious and affordable food. The combina tion of conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused global hunger and malnutrition rates to skyrocket.
At FH, we are honored to walk along side these children, families, and com munities on their journey from hunger to health. Our goal is that every family can sit down at a dinner table brimming with plen tiful, nutritious foods and hope for a better, brighter future — which, after all, is the same thing we want for our own families.
I just think the stakes always get a little higher every year with growing climate change. There are so many unknowns in farming. So I think the best thing to do is just uplift them and show them our appreciation and teach the world that farmers are out there making this food, no matter what side of the aisle you’re on. When you look at vegeterians or vegans, or meat lovers, or whatever — all these different people —
One example is our work in Guate mala. With funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), FH is working with communities to build food security and improve the nutritional status of vulnerable individuals and families in areas with some of the highest rates of poverty, hunger, and child malnutrition in Guatemala.Ourlocal staff has reached almost 8,000 families through the distribution of a fortified micronutrient soup mix used to supplement meals, alleviating hunger and addressing vitamin and nutrient deficien cies.These investments address hunger in the immediate term and give families the security to know they don’t have to go hungry in the future.
either way a farmer is out producing stuff to eat, not the grocery store. You have to understand that there are real Americans out there working hard to grow food for all of us.
Mark Viso, a proud native Angeleno and CEO of Food for the Hungry,talks about hunger, malnutrition, and what motivates his organization in the fight against poverty.
Each year, we’re asking farmers to do more — we’re asking them to do more as the challenges to farms get tougher and tougher. For me, when you look at diesel prices, and you look at land prices, and you look at stuff like that, I think no one is creating an environment where we can show our appreciation to farmers.Thefarmers are no different than frontline workers, you know, firemen and policemen, I mean, a lot of times they’re doing a lot of this work. And they don’t make a lot of money at this. But they get uplifted, they get showcased, and they get shown love and positive feedback. That goes a long way in these farming communities.Youknowthere are farmers, but then there are people who work for the farmers, like the people who drive the trucks. A lot of times the farmers hold the financial ups and downs of farming, and a a lot of people come in and work for these farmers. So there’s the actual
pass their good years, back to the farmers with rebates, they help them save a little money on the back end. They cooperate. I think a company like that is constantly creating more innovative ways to help the farmers.
What should big corporations do to honor and uplift the farmers they work with?
Luke andAboutChatsBryanFoodFarmers
What are some of your kids’ favorite snacks to bring to school?
In many of the countries and contexts where Food for the Hungry (FH) works, the barriers to family dinner aren’t simply a lack of time.
Right now, 50 million people are facing famine, and malnutrition claims the life of a child every 11 seconds.
farmer and then there’s an umbrella of people around that farmer who need to be remembered and uplifted, too.
parents Aracely and Edward to put food on the table for their four young children during the pandemic. Save the Children’s food box distributions in their community — which include fresh produce — have provided a lifeline for their family, and the healthy recipes that come in the boxes make all the difference, Aracely said.
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T he strengths and resources unique to every rural community need to be leveraged to ensure no child starts the school day hungry, and it’s going to take a collaborative, strategic approach to do this on a national scale.Together, government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and commu nity organizations not only need to improve food distribution approaches in rural America, but uplift new, inno vative solutions — for Aracely and Edward’s children, and all rural kids — so they get the nourishing food they need to grow, learn, and thrive. n
Getting Rural Kids the Nutrition They Need to Learn This School Year
Kids struggle to thirst for knowledge when they’re hungry for food. Without regular access to nutritious meals, children’s performance and behavior in school suffers.
Currently, the existing solutions to child hunger are not fully addressing the need in rural America.
Tamara Sandberg, Senior Advisor for Food Security, Save the Children
Rural families may need to travel a few towns over, or more, to access a grocery store with fresh food, which can prove difficult without reliable transportation. And if rural commu nities are supported by a food bank, it’s not uncommon for that service to be provided only once or twice per month.Save the Children staff, who lead early learning programs across rural America, are accustomed to see ing kids rush into school on Monday mornings, not to get to the day’s first class, but instead to eat the breakfast the school provides. For many kids, it’s the first balanced meal they’ve had since they left school for the week end.In rural southern California, infla tion and limited job opportunities have greatly impacted the ability for
“Eating healthy supports my chil dren’s brain development — it helps them learn better,” she said.
ungry kids are more likely to have lower math scores, repeat a grade, come to school late, or miss school entirely.
And 13 million children across America — 1 in 6 kids — are starting this new school year hungry. The sit uation is worse in rural America, as nearly 90% of the counties with the highest percentage of children at risk for food insecurity are rural.
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Desi Perkins Discusses Her Skincare Brand and Representation in the Beauty Industry
I remember aloe vera was the answer to everything. We always had aloe growing somewhere in the backyard, and we would cut them open to use on our body or face. My family also used to boil guava leaves and use the water on our skin. These moments from my summers in Mexico inspired DEZI Skin’s ingredients, such as Mexican plum fruit, mango, guava, and avocado.
Screenwriter Linda Yvette Chávez Is on a Mission to Change the Media
What is something you want the Hispanic and Latino community to know?
What can fans expect next from Desi Perkins?
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With streamers, particularly Netflix, you always are prepared for whether or not your show will come back. So, we went into the second season with the energy of “if this is the final one, then we’re going to put all of our heart and soul into it.” And we did.
Why do you think it’s important to redefine beauty standards in the Latinx community?
of where we come from, and have a strong sense of self.
Award-winning Xicana screenwriter and producer of Netflix’s hit series “Gentefied” has a message for the Hispanic and Latino community.
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After recently giving birth to my new baby girl, Harley, I’m enjoying being a mom and being present for my family. But DEZI Skin isn’t slowing down anytime soon — we have some exciting holiday launches and a spring launch mothers specifically will be excited about — stay tuned! n
How did your Latin American roots inspire your career?
As a Latin woman, I recognize how important inclusivity is within the beauty industry, and how for so long, there’s been a lack of diversity in beauty publications and beauty campaigns, which contributes to the Latin community feeling underrepresented.Iresolved to curate my own world of what should be celebrated, and infuse my roots and culture into a brand that makes everyone — and especially the Latin community — feel accepted, embraced and recognized. Using product names like “Claro Que C” and “Agua Fresca”creates familiarity within our community, but also encourages others to be immersed in our culture, too.
As a young Mexican American, I couldn’t help but notice there wasn’t really anyone that looked like me growing up. I had a lot of identity issues, not quite checking the Mexican box or American box. I want young Latinas to know that there’s no perfect formula or ratio — you can balance both and just uniquely be who you are.
A few years ago, you spoke out about those who doubted your Mexican identity. What did people mean by this, and what does Hispanic and Latino empowerment mean to you?
I was a little girl in Los Angeles. My parents both immigrated here from their working-class family, which I take a lot of pride in. I grew up writing stories all the time. One of my college classes was social theater. Ultimately, that became the foundation of my work. We know that “Gentefied” has been a staple of Latino and minority representation.
People have always challenged my Mexican identity — they don’t think I’m “Latina enough.” With my husband’s last name, Perkins, people have doubted my Mexican roots. But I’ve been so grateful to have been raised with such strong family values, with our family being at the center of everything I’ve ever done — the food, the language, the culture — it’s always been such a big part of my life, and it’s made me so proud to be Mexican. To me, Hispanic empowerment means to embrace our culture and be proud
You are loved. You’re deserving. You are needed. You’re not alone. We need to continue to raise each other up and hold each other, because at the end of the day, we only have ourselves to lift ourselves up.
I loved learning about self-care and could see that beauty regimens were really meaningful to my family. Specifically, I found inspiration from my mom. She has always been a strong influence in regards to inner and outer beauty.
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Can you tell us a little bit about your journey growing up and what’s inspired your career?
What’s a message that you’d like to share with young Latina readers today?
Desi Perkins shares the origins and inspiration of her skincare brand DEZI Skin, and istherepresentationwhyinbeautyindustryimportant.
I’ve drawn inspiration from my Mexican-American heritage throughout my career, and my cultural identity is a key element that fueled my creativity to start making makeup videos online. Everything I love about skincare was instilled from my family and their Mexican remedies, which is such a big part of my brand, DEZI Skin.
How did you process the decision to cancel the show?
Overall, what is your primary goal in your career in terms of cultural representation?
To impact the media. I’m here to translate our joy, or sorrow, or pain, or suffering, or happiness, like the gamut of who we are. I’m a storyteller. I have the opportunity to tell these profound stories and what I am here to do is to just reflect the humanity of my community in a way that I hope will reach others.
Latinos are underrepresented in tech. Despite some inclusion efforts by Silicon Valley, Latinos are still being left out of the tech workforce.
We have to meet this moment. America has to meet this challenge.
By doing so, we can ensure that real, long-term investments are made in Latino communities, including fund ing for better schools, healthcare, and other social services, as well as access to capital and financial opportunities to start a business, buy a home, or pur sue higher education.
So, in 2016 I set out on a quest to get more informed (hence Ms. Informed) and then knew that it was my obligation, as a woman and a Latina, to share my knowl edge. The reason being that I never want other Latinas to ever feel like I did: mis guided and misinformed.
We need to unlearn so many things we were taught from our parents, like work hard, be grateful, don’t complain. I say that because it’s what often keeps us stagnant, stuck, and uninformed with little under standing of our career trajectory or how to make more money, when we already get paid less than our white colleague coun terparts. We need to work on a career plan to move into more senior level roles and be open to pivoting if the career we chose doesn’t leave enough room for growth.
A UCLA report on Hollywood Diver sity found that Latinos make up less than 8% of film leads or film casts.
A report by the Pew Research Cen ter found that not only were Latino employees underrepresented in STEM jobs, but their salaries were lower than their white counterparts, too.
Latinos are a large, young, and growing population, and are an integral part of American society. But it often doesn’t look that way.
Despite our numbers, Latinos lack rep resentation in leadership across every industry: media, tech, government — you name it. To make our community, the nation, and the world better, we must tap into this power and work to make sure Latinos become part of the decision-making process every where.
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If there is one thing that has been made abundantly clear, it is this: There are not enough of us at the table, and our community’s needs and concerns are not being sufficiently addressed. We must raise our voices and exercise our power to fight for the support we should already have, and to ensure a stronger and more representative nation.
Ms. Informed Latina launched in 2017 as a simple blog and YouTube channel where I would journal my own struggles and pro vide advice. In 2020, I finally decided to go all in, letting go of any self-doubt. I pivoted from only a blog and YouTube channel into a full-blown brand and podcast.
We support leaders on their journey up the ladder, and we need everyone to do their part to also see, encourage, and raise up the next generation of Latino leaders. If we do, we will ensure a better future for the United States. n
The numbers
Ms. Informed Latina Founder Shares Her Story
What can we do to overcome the Latina wage gap?
I think it depends on a variety of factors as everyone’s journey as a first gen is different. But some of the common obstacles I’ve heard are self-advocacy, career growth, and looking for new opportunities.
The PowerUntappedoftheLatino
Latinos are underrepresented in government. As we have seen firsthand in recent months, government policies have some of the greatest impact on our everyday lives. But sadly, Latinos only make up 1% of all local and federal elected officials meaning that policies that have the power to affect us all are being dic tated by people with very different livedTheseexperiences.numbers just begin to touch on some of the problems. More than ever, Latinos must assert our collec
What would you say are the most common obstacles that children of immigrants come across in their careers?
The story of Ms. Informed Latina began when I graduated college in 2009. I wasn’t able to find a job in my field and I ended up navigating my adult life so blindly. I was lost, misguided and misinformed. Neither col lege nor my upbringing really prepared me for adult life basics.
According to the Census Bureau, since 2010, the Hispanic/Latino pop ulation has grown 23%, while the non-Hispanic/Latino population only grew 4.3%.
At CHCI, our mission is to provide leadership, public service, and policy experiences to outstanding Latino students and young professionals, and convene members of Congress and other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community. We prepare and help move Latinos into leadership roles in strategic ways. By providing lead ership training, life-changing experi ences, and professional development resources and opportunities, we help put Latinos on the path to positions of power, making an impact in whatever sector or field they choose.
Marco A. Davis President and CEO, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)
Latinos are underrepresented in the media. A report commissioned by Representative Joaquin Castro (TX20) found that the percentage of Lati nos working in newspapers was only about 8%, and only 11% of news ana lysts, reporters, and journalists were Latino. The report also found that the
As an adolescent, Diana Pinedo lacked fundamental knowledge about careers and finances. Her personal quest to get informed became a brand that helps other Latinas succeed.
majority of these jobs were in service jobs rather than leadership positions.
tive voice and advocate for change, representation, and opportunities.
Meeting the moment
What is the story behind Ms. Informed Latina?
Latinos account for nearly 20% of the population in the United States. To truly reflect these demographic shifts, industries across the country must work harder to ensure that their work force looks a little more like America; not just in entry-level positions, but all the way up to C-suites and the highest levels of decision-making.
