Where I Come From

I come from a family of fighters. From my parents, who taught me the value of compassion and standing up for what’s right, to the strong women in my family, especially my Abuelas. My family’s matriarchs grew up in poverty in their small town of Pijao, Colombia, and came to the US over 40 years ago. In the 1980s, they opened Mexico Lindo on South Cobb Drive in Smyrna, where it still stands strong today. While they faced many challenges and prejudices adjusting to a new country, their bravery in overcoming these challenges is a huge part of what inspired me and my generation to dream even bigger.

Even as a kid, I was drawn to advocacy and social justice  – guided by a strong desire to stand up for my community. But there were other major historical events and experiences that shaped my views and who I am today. My family lost everything in the 2008 recession. We almost moved to Colombia, but decided to move to Miami instead at the last minute. I didn’t know it at the time, but their decision had to do with their immigration status. If we had moved to Colombia, it would have been very hard to come back to the US. So we squeezed our family of 5 into a small apartment in Miami. I remember feeling the weight of our situation at the time, being hyper-aware of prices and what we could afford. We always had reduced lunch at school growing up, but this was the first time I realized how important it was for my siblings and me. The people responsible for 2008 – Wall Street, the corporate elite, and the politicians they paid off - never faced the consequences of their actions. Working families like mine paid the price instead when we did nothing wrong. That’s a lesson I’ll never forget.