I first heard about Natalia Sylester while interning at Austin Bat Cave because she was the judge for a youth writing contest my manager led. Natalia was born in Lima, Peru, and has lived in Texas and Florida. She graduated from UMiami with a BA in Creative Writing. Her most recent novel, which features…
This past week, Latinitas had the incredible honor of speaking with the US Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice, Desirée Cormier Smith. Special Representative Smith has spent her life’s work giving back to others and this week was no different as she joined the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken in honoring six recipients at…
Chilean Actress Manuella Martelli, previously known for her roles in earlier works like 2004’s Machuca and Gonzalo Justiniano’s B-Happy, is making her directorial debut this August here in Austin. Inspired by her Chilean heritage, her debut film Chile ‘76 takes place during the early days of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. This political thriller centers around a…
By Anna Martinez Salena Guipzot is a barrio-grown Latina who is teaching young women of color how to navigate positions of power. Guipzot does not drive from the north to the barrio every morning. Her home is the barrio. In her spare time, she is not seeking out communities to serve because she is part…
Music is a constant in my life, at all times. Not just because I have learning disabilities that make it difficult for me to concentrate fully without some kind of background noise, but because I also genuinely love all things music. I grew up listening to a variety of genres, from Sundays cleaning with my…
British Latina musician Sophie Castillo has found the perfect balance between Indie and Pop, ethereal and emotive. Her music is as lively as it is timeless, and Latinitas got to hear all about it when we spoke at SXSW. We touched on Castillo’s upbringing, the ways she fuses her cultura with her British identity, and…
Juneteenth as we know it today, is a holiday celebrated annually on June 19th. The day itself has been celebrated through the years and signifies the decree that was issued on June 19th, 1865 by Major General Gordon Granger, which recognized and proclaimed freedom for slaves in the state of Texas. The day officially became…
Photo Credit: Rachael Warecki Recently released this week on Tuesday, September 10th, is the brand-new novel titled Dispossessed by Mexican American Author Desiree Zamorano. The novel dives into the history of Mexican Americans in Los Angeles who faced such hardships as deportations, sterilization of Latinas, student protests, and the demolition of Chavez Ravine. History that…
Last Saturday, August 3rd, The SpoiledLatina Summit (SLS) held its 9th annual multicultural conference in Houston, and this year’s theme was “Own Your Poder.” All attendees wore their best summer soiree attire with a casual touch as they were encouraged to either wear heels or sneakers! This half-day event encouraged guests to visit the various…
