Teresa Park has over a decade of experience advising Fortune 500 companies in marketing and business. She is a proud Asian Latina immigrant and Founder of Mujeres del Futuro, an organization she founded to help others struggling with the feeling of belonging.
She talks to us about her multifaceted identity. From being born in Korea to moving to Honduras at the age of 8 to then coming to the US to pursue her college education- Teresa struggled with navigating different spaces and cultures while also questioning her sense of belonging.
Teresa started Mujeres del Futuro to foster a community of powerful and multicultural mujeres to support each other through healing and connection. Overall, she has helped over 1,800 Latinas develop their entrepreneurship skills and has led over 60 conferences, and she is not stopping now!
Follow Teresa on Instagram @teresaparkoficial
You can find her website here teresapark.com
Find Mujeres del Futuro here: www.facebook.com/groups/mujeresdelfuturo or www.mujeresdelfuturo.com
Naibe Reynoso is the Host and Executive Producer of Latinas Take the Lead.
Production Assistant is Anna Sophia Monzon
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Creating is what drives change. So you know, when you're
starting with something that's got got to begin with, it
doesn't matter how much diamonds and glitter you put in it,
it's still gotta, you know. And oftentimes we're debating if
this gota is good or not, and it could be
better or not. And what I found is that creating
(00:29):
is a source of change, and so I invite all
people who want to see change in this world to
create it.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Welcome to Latina's Take the Lead. That is a Park
is a pink haired, fierce, awesome, and smart, first generation
Asian Latina immigrant who will talk about her multifaceted identity.
From being born in Korea to moving to Hoduras at
the age of eight, to then coming to the United
States to pursue her college education. Veesa struggled with navigating
(01:05):
different spaces and cultures while also questioning her sense of belonging.
This letter to founding Muherezel Futuro. Esa is a powerful
force who is just as vibrant and bold as her hair.
She continues to remain true to herself as she teaches
other Latinas to be unapologetic and boderosa like herself. Let's go.
(01:28):
Welcome to Latina's take the lead that Isa.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yes, So for those of you that are not familiar
with Esa, she is a force. She is a first
generation Asian Latina immigrant. But why don't you tell us
who you are and what you're currently working on?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Of course my pleasure. I love to describe who I
am by the values because I think we are human
beings before human doings. So with that being said, I
would say I am love and kindness, I am honesty
and impact, and I'm also play and wonder. So those
are the values that guide my decisions, my actions, the
(02:10):
intention behind what I do. Now, in terms of what
I do, I am the founder of Muheres de Futuro,
which is a virtual safe space of belonging for Latinas
that centers the potential of us in the digital economy. Also,
I am an owner of a digital marketing agency and
an instructor at the University of Washington teaching graduate students
(02:32):
on how to center equity in our communication right.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And I just have to say this that I really
love the color of your hair. How would you describe it?
What is it like a purple or like how would
you describe it?
Speaker 1 (02:46):
I would describe it as it's a fun, vibrant, joyful color.
So it varies. Sometimes it's lavender, sometimes it's cherry blossom pank,
sometimes it's bribe ble fusia. You know, it matches the
mood and the force and the strength that I am
expressing at that moment in my life.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And we're going to go more into mohees and futuro
and all of that, but I really have to take
a moment to pause, and really, I mean, I admire
you who you are, the colorful personality that you represent.
Was it a big bold move to kind of make
this decision to present yourself and go into the world
with this pink or purple hair? Because I think it
(03:27):
takes so much bravery to do something something like that.
You know that may seem simple.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I so appreciate you asking the question the way you did.
And you know, when I was a girl, I always
envision myself as an adult with pink hair. I think
it just embodies my playful, wondrous personality and what I
want to experience from life. However, it was not a
direct path from what the little Hanna that I said
(03:56):
dreamt of and who I have become as an adult
hair and women in the middle. I often found myself
hiding and making myself small and trying to fit in because,
you know, being a first generation Asian Latina American immigrant,
you know, I was sometimes not Asian enough, and I
was not Latina enough, or I was not United States
(04:19):
citizen enough. So I've constantly found myself navigating these different
spaces and cultures and not quite seeing other people that
would embody this multifacetic, multi dimensions of identity. So I
tried on a lot to try to fit in, minimize,
be quieter, smaller, to the point that I felt I
(04:39):
was becoming invisible to myself. I was disconnecting with myself.
I was losing that Hannah there said that was living
within me and as a child I had envisioned. So
I took a very bold mooove and I said, I'm
going to dye my hair pink because that is who
I see myself to be. At that time. When I
was at work, people were very worried. They were like,
(05:02):
you know, you're in high positions of power pink care.
Is that really professional? Maybe your clients are no longer
going to respect you because you have this hair, and
I said, if that is what it takes to be
who I am and express myself, maybe I'm not in
the right place. So for me, this pink hair is
a symbol for myself and a reminder to myself of
(05:23):
owning my own identity, my own narrative, my own truth,
and being vulnerable and brave to show it to the
world and be with whichever reactions comes back, because at
the end of the day, I am honoring who I am.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Amazing. I always admire people like you that are openly loud, bold,
and are not hiding who they are their true selves,
because I think a lot of us wish we could
be like you, right like I wish I could do
all of these different things, and sometimes we do succumb
to Like, Okay, let me just kind of fit into
(05:58):
the mold, et cetera. Like you said, your history and
your trajectory was always kind of not fitting into one
specific mold. So let's address that you are an Asian
Latina immigrants. So I want to take it back from
the beginning. Where were you born, where are your parents from?
And how did you end up here in Seattle, Washington,
I believe is where you're at correct, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So. I was born to two wonderful, marvelous parents in Soul, Korea.
You know, I'm sure most of you have heard Kangnam styles,
so that is where I grew up. However, my parents
are not your stereotypical tiger Asian parents. They really believed in,
(06:42):
you know, wonder and playfulness and finding and discovering who
I am and being able to express that. And they
knew that given the social norms and the pressures within
the Korean society, that was not the path that would
be an easy one for me to go on. So
the global citizens and viewers visionaries that they are, they
(07:04):
packed all our lives into six luggages and said we're
on our way to San Pedro sulaas So, at eighty
years old, I landed in San Pedro Sula, and I
vividly remember when the planes door opened, that steamy, tropical,
beautiful heat, just embracing me and feeling the kisses of
(07:25):
the tropical sun of my skin. And it was quite
also jarring experience because I would speak Korean, yet no
one could understand me, and I would They would speak
to me and I could not understand. And that was
the first experience of whoa where am I? I do
not understand the space. So all my formative years, the
women and the people who raised me, you know, embrace me,
(07:50):
made me who I am really comes and is rooted
in some p.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Was there a Korean community already in San pedro Sula
or did your parents just kind of throw a dart
at at the globe and say, hmm, let's see, let's
see this is we're just gonna land here? Or why
what brought them specifically to San Pedrosula.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, so a couple of things. My I think this
adventurous spirit runs in our family. So my grandfather had
also moved his entire family to South America, so my
dad actually grew up in South America. And then one
of the things they desire for us was the ability
to learn both languages, English and Spanish. And we had
(08:34):
some family friends that were from Hoduras and they said,
you know, San Pedrosula is a great place with a
lot of wonderful bilingual education. It's a industrial, business driven, growing,
prosperous city. So that's how we landed in San Pedrosula.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
What was like your favorite thing to eat when you
were in Honduras.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Oh, they're so ready. The thing when I missed the
most when I was studying Grinnell, Iowa was platanus mauro.
So that is the baseline of my favorite food. But
in Hondreas, bliadas are a very typical food. It's a
large flower tortilla that you just fill it in with
all your favorite things, a pretty Harley crema, you know, webbos.
(09:18):
You add whatever you want. Your imagination is the limit
to when you add to amaliada. So many greatness.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
And I'm curious when you were that eight year old
little girl in Honduras, how did you feel that you
fit in? Because it could have gone both ways, right,
How did kids make you feel coming from South Korea
in San Pedro Sula, talk to us about that.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
That's such a beautiful, vulnerable question. You know, my parents
put me in a bilingual school. So I went to
a bilingual Spanish English school and the language I spoke
was Korean. And so I arrived and I felt quite
out of place. You know. I was in class and
everything was happening outside of my understanding, and I couldn't
(10:04):
really engage, but I stayed and I was there. I
was quite invisible to my friends, you know, when the
bell would ring and everyone would run to their own
corners of the playground, I would often find myself alone.
And I remember just sitting in the recess area in
the playground area by myself, eating a sandwich, and I
(10:26):
all of a sudden felt this huge, buzzing pain on
my forehead and I just started crying out loud, and
I think it was part the pain of the sting
as well as the pain of not fitting in. And
I was having all this teary eye and I see
this giant bee that had just stung me on the forehead.
And at that moment, as I was crying and really
(10:48):
expressing that feeling of being alone, I look up and
there were all my classmates around me, hugging me, embracing
me and being like, are you okay? And that was
the moment that I felt like I was not alone,
And that was the beginning. I had a couple of
friends that are dear to me who after school, when
(11:08):
the bell would ring, they would be like, come with us,
and just all these gestures, and I would go with
them and they would be like, in line to order
the nievis bravos. What are those in English?
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, like shaved ice.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Shaved eyes, yes, and we were alive and everyone was
ordering and my friends were like, this is what you
have to order, and I was like, I don't know
how to order any but I did know a couple
of colors, and I saw the colors. I would just
be like I saw and they would give me a
blue shaped eyes and I just handed them all the
cash I had on. My friend was like, no, no,
no couple in here, you know. So that was my
(11:47):
introduction to the culture, and my friends really embraced me,
took me, introduced me to the baliavas, to the tropical
all of these flavors and music and experience. And that's
why I hold so dear my Latini Dave, because it
was the people in San Perosulaanduras, it was Miamias my
(12:09):
friends who introduced me to a new world, helped me
embrace me and welcomed me.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Yes, definitely, Latinos are very welcoming. That is one of
the biggest qualities I think our culture has. And what
did your parents do as far as for work, were
they business owners or what do they do? Because I'm
sure they had their own challenges right coming in from
a foreign country and trying to fit in as well.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, my dad was an eye doctor, so they had
a clinic as well as an optometric store, so both
of my parents work there. Because my dad had grown
in South America, he was able to speak Spanish, which
was quite helpful for us to get adjusted. My mother,
on the other hand, did not know Spanish, so she
(12:57):
really learned the language at the store with the people.
So I saw that firsthand, the struggles of learning a language,
navigating new systems, new worlds, and the immigrant experience of
sacrifice and learning and growing and thriving in a place
that's foreign at first but then becomes endearing to your soul.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
And then you ended up here in the United States.
When did that happen?
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, that happened in college. I got a really great
scholarship at Grenell College, which is one of the top
liberal arts colleges here in the United States. So I
really did not have the typical college visiting experience. I
didn't even know people visited campus and schools before they elected.
I was in Ondudas and I looked at it and
(13:46):
I said, this is a great school, great scholarship. I'm going.
So I landed in Iowa, which is nothing like Florida
or tropical unders So my bikinis in the luggage were
no good and I just landed and it was Cornfield
after Cornfield, and I got to learn more about life
in the Midwest.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Wow. Talk about having a global experience from Korea to
Central America to Middle America. Wow, How has all of
that experience informed what you do now?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Absolutely? I think when the famous phrase of nida yeah,
I've learned that at the same time soak yeah it
either yeah yeah. And I think that was the biggest
(14:45):
lesson that oftentimes we're so focused on the experience of
not fitting in because it's tied to shame and not
feeling good enough. And I realized it's actually a superpower.
I get to empathize with more people. I get to
to understand where people are coming from. I'm open to
listening and learning and trying other cultures, other experiences. So
(15:09):
that informed my work in communication. So I started working
in Seattle at an Asian American advertising agency looking to
hire someone to help them grow their Latino outreach department.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
You're the perfect candidate, correct, So.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I was like, I'm an Asia Ladina, Hire me now,
So I started doing marketing. I worked with Fortune one
hundred clients doing lots of really great campaigns, but I
somewhat felt I was distancing myself from the people who
I love to serve. So I left that agency and
then immediately I got headhunted by a social impact agency
(15:52):
that uses behavior science to drive social change.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
So what does social impact work mean someone that's not
in the industry and doesn't really know what that means.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Social impact work is people who are dedicated to providing
the tools, the communication, really dedicating their lives to be
in service of driving this transformative change. For example, let's
say that an organization is focused on environmental issues and
(16:23):
they would like to help a particular community get informed
about an environmental disaster that's happening in their areas. So
social impact would work would be how do we communicate
to the most impacted communities about this disaster in the environment.
How do we prep the community? It could be also
(16:44):
very positive. It could be around mental health de stegmatizing,
seeking for mental health support. How do we communicate about that?
How do we create a new culture where speaking about
mental health is embraced and celebrated. So that's all part
of social impact to work.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
You're listening to Latina's take the lead, don't go away.
We'll be right back after this quick break. And speaking
of mental health, I know that you are a strong
advocate of seeking mental health, right. I understand that at
some point in your corporate career you were just not
(17:22):
happy and you seek help or you were really you know,
you really embraced your mental health journey. So can you
talk to us a little bit about that and then
what happened as a consequence.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Yeah, I think a lot of us, and I speak
for myself, inherited an idea of what success looks like,
especially when you know my background is looking at my
parents and their sacrifice and creating all these new opportunities.
So I realized that I inherited this idea of success,
which was to do more, achieve more, be rate, continue
(18:01):
to do more, do do do. And in that journey,
I lost myself. I was completely burnt out. I was
doing more, doing bigger things. Yet where was Hanna? That
a is a park at the core. So I took
a year off and I decided that I needed to
prioritize healing, you know, growing as immigrants, changing spaces, changing countries,
(18:28):
changing locations. Those are quite experiences that leave prints and
you and I think dedicating time to heal and understand
was quite important. So I definitely went on a travel
for a year. I went around the world, but the
travel is not the most important thing. It was the
people who I got to interview and listen to. So
(18:51):
I got to interview the first mihe opera, singer, artists,
entrepreneurs all differ diferent types of people and women, and
I learned that I needed to take some time to heal.
So I did a lot of like group coaching, I
went to therapy. I embraced going in work because I
(19:15):
realized that the success I inherited was in the external world.
And I took some time to go in work to
connect with myself, to anchor, which is the narrative, what's
the story I'm going to tell myself about myself moving forward?
And how am I going to express that story to
the exterial world whether they like it or not, because
(19:36):
it is truthful and honest to me. And finding that
story within me was quite a journey, and however, it
was one of the most freeing and liberating ones because
I got to take ownership over my life and my
narrative and who I share it to be.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Definitely, I absolutely love that, and I think we should
all reach that epiphany at some point. I think for
the most part of our in our early years, we
are kind of like on a machine, right. We're on
a track where it's like we go to elementary school
and then we go to high school, and then we
go to college, and then we get our job, and
then maybe we get married, maybe not, but it's and
(20:15):
I almost kind of feel like we don't even think
like is this actually what I want to do? We
just do right. So to have the I would say
it's a privilege to have that kind of an epiphany
and that kind of an awakening, because not everyone has it. Ever.
A lot of people go through life and never have
had that experience of being introspective, of examining, of questioning
(20:41):
why are you doing what you're doing? Am I really happy?
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Right?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
I was having a conversation with a friend the other
day and she's like, I think I'm having a midlife
crisis because I'm quitting my job and I'm doing this
and you know what, And I said, you know what,
it's not a midlife crisis. It's a midlife awakening and
you should embrace this and be so happy because you are,
you know, getting out of that shell of kind of
(21:06):
like a zombie like state. Right, So thank you for
talking about that. And I want to encourage all of
us to look at examine what we're doing, why we're
doing it, Are we happy? And look at you now,
I mean that period in your life, the ability for
you to look at your life and re examine your
(21:27):
priorities led you to create so many beautiful things, including
Muhtes and futuro. Right, So talk to us about you
got back from that trip, you found yourself so to speak,
You let go of all of these things that were
tying you down and then what happened.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, and I think I would add to what you
just mentioned because it's so beautiful what you said that
it's somewhat of revolutionary to go inward. You know, we
live in a system and in a society and an
infrastructure that prioritizes and values as based on productivity, what
we can do, what we can make, what we can produce,
(22:05):
So to be able to take the time to go
in work to define and design what is authentic and
honest and truthful to me. What my happy fulfillment life
looks like. I think it's quite revolutionary. And I knew
that if I continue to do what I was doing,
the system is too enticing. It rewards you with money
(22:27):
and accolade and reputation, all of these things. So that
is why I went on this travel, because I knew
that by changing spaces and environment, I would be away
from these temptations of come back to those comfy cycles
and infrastructures we have. And from these travels and interviews,
what I heard a lot of women that I got
(22:49):
to talk to was, you know, when I'm trying to
create a new life, I am embarking on a new journey.
I'm opening a new business, I'm starting my dream anything
I knew that they wanted to create. Oftentimes they felt alone.
They were like, sometimes I don't have the support of
my family, my friends, think I am. You know what's
(23:10):
going on with you. You're going through a midlight crisis
as you were mentioning, and there was no support. So
what I heard is, could we create a space where
there are thousands of mohetas that all they want to
do is support you, embrace you, uphold you, uplift you
when you're in these key moments of life, when you're
eager to take the new steps to build the life
(23:32):
you love. So that's where Muhetas Defutua was born. I
put a post on Facebook that said, hey, is this
something you would be interested in? And thirty women immediately
jumped on and said, yes, let's talk. Let me tell
you what my needs are, and we together built Mohetes
de futuro, a virtual space of belonging for all of
us where we get to support each other to live
(23:54):
out our potential.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Awesome and what kind of resources or tools or things
do you offer and is it free? Like, can anyone
just subscribe to mohaes futuro.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Absolutely, so, the safe space of belonging is free and
open to all mohetas it is. It's all in Spanish.
The tools that we offer are free workshops, free tools
that are rooted in behavior science. So these are tools
and strategies that we know that putting into practice can
help you build habits, which in turn builds the life
(24:29):
that you want. So we provide workshops, tools, We have
a panel of experts who teach you all these different
skill sets from self care to starting a business, to fitness,
to moving your body to mindfulness. So we have a
incredible group of experts that provide that. We also have
(24:51):
ambassadors and leaders in different cities that host in person
meetups with other mouhas and futuro to talk about putting
these strategies in action and implementing it into our lives.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Awesome, So you are busy because you also teach, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
So I teach at the University of Washington and their
Master's program in Communication and Leadership, and I teach multicultural
marketing and creating equity, inclusion and justice through communication. So
one of the things I know that being in the
marketing and advertising and communication world is oftentimes the people
that are holding the strengths to the purse are not
(25:29):
well versed in equity or how to center communities of color.
So I said, how can I scale my knowledge to
the future leaders? And that's how the opportunity at the
University of Washington came. And now I get to help
movers and shakers and leaders in the communication field that
(25:50):
will be the future cmos of big companies to be
rooted and what it means to center communities of color?
What is this to create program and communication that reflect
and represent diversity.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Right, what do you think is the right way and
the wrong way to do it? If you can sum
it up in a sentence, which DEI initiative is the
wrong way and the right way?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
I think the best way to think about it is
that the people closest to the impact are the closest
to the solution. So oftentimes, you know, in the office,
in your cubicle, we could think this is a marvelous strategy, policy,
we should implement it. But the people who are most
(26:34):
impacted are the ones that are experiencing a day in
and day out, and they are the ones that hold
the key to what the solutions are. So if you're
in DEI, you do not have to find the solution,
just have the openness to listen to the people who
are most impacted and support them in implementing the infrastructure
that would make a difference for them.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Right, And we know that there's certain states that are
banning DEI initiatives. Okay, Florida, Hello, what are your thoughts
on that?
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I think one of the most important things when it
comes to doing social impact on social activism is this
phrase what resist persists and oftentimes we are wanting to
be right or make the other wrong, and it's just
a constant fight of righteousness. And what I found so
(27:24):
powerful in doing social impact work Naive is that creating
is what drives change. So you know, when you're starting
with something that's got got to begin with, it doesn't
matter how much diamonds and glitter you put in it.
It's still got got right now. And oftentimes we're debating
if this gota is good or not, if it could
(27:46):
be better or not. And what I found is that
creating is a source of change. And so I invite
all people who want to see change in this world
to create it, to lead it, because then you're not
no longer debating if that gut guy's worth it or not.
You've created what you see can drive change. So I
(28:07):
know it's easy to get wrapped up in media, it's
easy to get wrapped up and in conversation because all
our body reacts to that anger, to these emotions. But
what I found to be the most productive is to
focus on what can I create that can drive change.
(28:29):
And I think that's why Latino community we're so entrepreneurial,
because that's an act of creating what you envision possible.
And you know that. That is my answer. Let's not
debate if it's good or bad or great or it
could be better. Let's create what we want to see.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
I love that and I agree with you one hundred percent.
I'm an entrepreneur too, and I created two platforms Latina Fest,
which is a festival that celebrates all things Latina here
in Los Angeles, and we attract thousands of women and
companies to meet meet us where we are right. I
also created Gontolo Press, which is a diverse children's book
(29:08):
publishing company that creates these books that hopefully enlighten and
empower not only the Latino community, but all communities to
see how beautiful our culture is and how much we've contributed.
And the beauty part is what you just said is
the work is in creating and not resisting. Creating will
make changes. So true, because the Latino community, as you know,
(29:31):
is growing, right. We're not going anywhere, We're not going
to disappear tomorrow. In fact, we're doubling and tripling our population.
So yes, I totally, totally, one hundred percent agree with you.
Let's not cower to the power. Let's be the power
of creativity, right, and you're doing that with your muhead
del Futuro. How can people join muhees A Futuro.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Yeah, you can join Moheza Futuro in our private group
on Facebook, so you can go to face slash groups
slash Moheresuturo. You can also visit our website and all
of the ways you can join us is listed there.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Perfect. So you are fluent in three languages or more now?
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Yes? Three?
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Wow? Korean, Spanish and English? How do the does the
Korean culture and the Latino culture like? How do how do?
How are they alike and how are they different? If
you can share that?
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Yeah, I think where there's so many similarities. I think
one of them is this emphasis and love for family.
I think that is very much shared. I also am
a huge food lover, so I see similarities all the time.
You know, Koreas have their version of gonchas, just like
(30:49):
we Latinos have our version of conchas and panduce. So
you know, there's a lot of similarity in culture and
food and values of family. You know, innovation and going
beyond and wanting to create. I think those are things
that we share.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Perfect And do you equally relate and resonate with like
Hispanic Heritage Month and AAPI like Heritage Month.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
I think it's a rediscovery of my Asian American identity,
right because I have experienced Asian identity as having been
born in Korea and growing up there. But when I
came to the United States, I realized that how the
exterior world perceives me is as an Asian American. So
I'm currently in the journey of exploring what does it
(31:39):
mean to be a Latina Asian American here in the
United States, And I think my experience always anchors me
to go back to at the end of the day,
where human beings. You know, these cultures could be the
outfits that we get to put on or some outfits
that we get don't get to take off. However, at
(31:59):
the core of it all, we're human beings, you know.
We feel shame, we feel love, we feel fear, we
feel hope. And I realize that once we get to
just show this NEWLMS to get naked to the soul,
we realize that we're all in this.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Together, definitely, And when we help our own community, we're
helping the community at large, right because a better community
means a better community for all the global community. I
mean we we all want to, just like you said,
be happy, thrive, and we all need to put in
you know, we're all putting in the work in our
(32:39):
own little corners of the world. And before we go
that is, is there anything else you would love to
share with our audience.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Yeah, I would share if at this moment you're feeling alone,
you are feeling that there is no support, or what
you're going through seems very alienating and isolating. I want
you to know that you're not alone, that there are
thousands of women ready to embrace you, to heal together,
to hold space for you, to discover what you need.
(33:09):
So you're not alone. We're all here eager to embrace
and hug you and create that space for you.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Perfect And I always ask this question, what is something
you're listening to, reading, doing that you're obsessed with that
you want to recommend?
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah, I am doing a lot of playing. So I
am embracing a lot of playing as adult. So that
could look like painting or doing nothing or just staring
at a tree. I think making time for play is
a revolutionary act in a world that values us by
our productivity. So I am obsessed with playing, and it's
(33:47):
a skill that it's been hard to go back to
because it's been so many decades where I have not played.
So that is something I'm currently obsessed with.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Love It, Love It. And the name of the show
is Latinas take the lead. How are you taking the lead?
Speaker 1 (34:03):
I am taking the lead by embracing the diversity in
Latini da. I am taking the lead by joining in
all these mohas de futuro and the community to define
what it looks like women supporting, women supporting each other.
I'm taking the lead by embracing that healing can happen
(34:25):
in collective space and togetherness. And I'm taking the lead
by honoring who I am and embracing rest than play.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Love It, Love It? And where can people find you?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
People can find me in Instagram, Facebook, you know, you
can go to my website, theresapark dot com and all
of my socials will be there for you to connect.
And please do write me on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook,
and I would love to hear your stories because I
think stories are gifts and I am eager to hear yours.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Well. Thank you so much, that Isa, I was like,
I I don't know how I stumbled upon your Instagram
months ago, and I was like, I need to meet
this lady, this woman she's she seems so interesting and
amazing and and yes you are. So I'm so pleased
to have interviewed you and shared this space with you.
(35:20):
So I will follow your journey and hopefully our paths
will will soon meet again, which.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Is absolutely us at Naive thank you for creating this
space for all of us, for being such an inspiring leader,
and your generosity and grace for creating these opportunities for
all of us. We appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
M us. Thank you so much for listening. Please subscribe
and give us a review. Tell your friends and go
madries about our podcast and hope you join us next week.
Latinas Take the Lead is executive produced by Hodston Reinosumidia Group,
(36:00):
LLC and hosted by me Naive Reo So Production Assistant
is Ana Sofia Monson. Latinas Take the Lead is a
production of the Seneca Women Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. For
more podcasts from iHeartRadio, check out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows asta la
(36:21):
proxima
Creating is what drives change. So you know, when you're
starting with something that's got got to begin with, it
doesn't matter how much diamonds and glitter you put in it,
it's still gotta, you know. And oftentimes we're debating if
this gota is good or not, and it could be
better or not. And what I found is that creating
(00:29):
is a source of change, and so I invite all
people who want to see change in this world to
create it.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Welcome to Latina's Take the Lead. That is a Park
is a pink haired, fierce, awesome, and smart, first generation
Asian Latina immigrant who will talk about her multifaceted identity.
From being born in Korea to moving to Hoduras at
the age of eight, to then coming to the United
States to pursue her college education. Veesa struggled with navigating
(01:05):
different spaces and cultures while also questioning her sense of belonging.
This letter to founding Muherezel Futuro. Esa is a powerful
force who is just as vibrant and bold as her hair.
She continues to remain true to herself as she teaches
other Latinas to be unapologetic and boderosa like herself. Let's go.
(01:28):
Welcome to Latina's take the lead that Isa.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yes, So for those of you that are not familiar
with Esa, she is a force. She is a first
generation Asian Latina immigrant. But why don't you tell us
who you are and what you're currently working on?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Of course my pleasure. I love to describe who I
am by the values because I think we are human
beings before human doings. So with that being said, I
would say I am love and kindness, I am honesty
and impact, and I'm also play and wonder. So those
are the values that guide my decisions, my actions, the
(02:10):
intention behind what I do. Now, in terms of what
I do, I am the founder of Muheres de Futuro,
which is a virtual safe space of belonging for Latinas
that centers the potential of us in the digital economy. Also,
I am an owner of a digital marketing agency and
an instructor at the University of Washington teaching graduate students
(02:32):
on how to center equity in our communication right.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
And I just have to say this that I really
love the color of your hair. How would you describe it?
What is it like a purple or like how would
you describe it?
Speaker 1 (02:46):
I would describe it as it's a fun, vibrant, joyful color.
So it varies. Sometimes it's lavender, sometimes it's cherry blossom pank,
sometimes it's bribe ble fusia. You know, it matches the
mood and the force and the strength that I am
expressing at that moment in my life.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And we're going to go more into mohees and futuro
and all of that, but I really have to take
a moment to pause, and really, I mean, I admire
you who you are, the colorful personality that you represent.
Was it a big bold move to kind of make
this decision to present yourself and go into the world
with this pink or purple hair? Because I think it
(03:27):
takes so much bravery to do something something like that.
You know that may seem simple.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I so appreciate you asking the question the way you did.
And you know, when I was a girl, I always
envision myself as an adult with pink hair. I think
it just embodies my playful, wondrous personality and what I
want to experience from life. However, it was not a
direct path from what the little Hanna that I said
(03:56):
dreamt of and who I have become as an adult
hair and women in the middle. I often found myself
hiding and making myself small and trying to fit in because,
you know, being a first generation Asian Latina American immigrant,
you know, I was sometimes not Asian enough, and I
was not Latina enough, or I was not United States
(04:19):
citizen enough. So I've constantly found myself navigating these different
spaces and cultures and not quite seeing other people that
would embody this multifacetic, multi dimensions of identity. So I
tried on a lot to try to fit in, minimize,
be quieter, smaller, to the point that I felt I
(04:39):
was becoming invisible to myself. I was disconnecting with myself.
I was losing that Hannah there said that was living
within me and as a child I had envisioned. So
I took a very bold mooove and I said, I'm
going to dye my hair pink because that is who
I see myself to be. At that time. When I
was at work, people were very worried. They were like,
(05:02):
you know, you're in high positions of power pink care.
Is that really professional? Maybe your clients are no longer
going to respect you because you have this hair, and
I said, if that is what it takes to be
who I am and express myself, maybe I'm not in
the right place. So for me, this pink hair is
a symbol for myself and a reminder to myself of
(05:23):
owning my own identity, my own narrative, my own truth,
and being vulnerable and brave to show it to the
world and be with whichever reactions comes back, because at
the end of the day, I am honoring who I am.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Amazing. I always admire people like you that are openly loud, bold,
and are not hiding who they are their true selves,
because I think a lot of us wish we could
be like you, right like I wish I could do
all of these different things, and sometimes we do succumb
to Like, Okay, let me just kind of fit into
(05:58):
the mold, et cetera. Like you said, your history and
your trajectory was always kind of not fitting into one
specific mold. So let's address that you are an Asian
Latina immigrants. So I want to take it back from
the beginning. Where were you born, where are your parents from?
And how did you end up here in Seattle, Washington,
I believe is where you're at correct, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So. I was born to two wonderful, marvelous parents in Soul, Korea.
You know, I'm sure most of you have heard Kangnam styles,
so that is where I grew up. However, my parents
are not your stereotypical tiger Asian parents. They really believed in,
(06:42):
you know, wonder and playfulness and finding and discovering who
I am and being able to express that. And they
knew that given the social norms and the pressures within
the Korean society, that was not the path that would
be an easy one for me to go on. So
the global citizens and viewers visionaries that they are, they
(07:04):
packed all our lives into six luggages and said we're
on our way to San Pedro sulaas So, at eighty
years old, I landed in San Pedro Sula, and I
vividly remember when the planes door opened, that steamy, tropical,
beautiful heat, just embracing me and feeling the kisses of
(07:25):
the tropical sun of my skin. And it was quite
also jarring experience because I would speak Korean, yet no
one could understand me, and I would They would speak
to me and I could not understand. And that was
the first experience of whoa where am I? I do
not understand the space. So all my formative years, the
women and the people who raised me, you know, embrace me,
(07:50):
made me who I am really comes and is rooted
in some p.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Was there a Korean community already in San pedro Sula
or did your parents just kind of throw a dart
at at the globe and say, hmm, let's see, let's
see this is we're just gonna land here? Or why
what brought them specifically to San Pedrosula.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Yeah, so a couple of things. My I think this
adventurous spirit runs in our family. So my grandfather had
also moved his entire family to South America, so my
dad actually grew up in South America. And then one
of the things they desire for us was the ability
to learn both languages, English and Spanish. And we had
(08:34):
some family friends that were from Hoduras and they said,
you know, San Pedrosula is a great place with a
lot of wonderful bilingual education. It's a industrial, business driven, growing,
prosperous city. So that's how we landed in San Pedrosula.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
What was like your favorite thing to eat when you
were in Honduras.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Oh, they're so ready. The thing when I missed the
most when I was studying Grinnell, Iowa was platanus mauro.
So that is the baseline of my favorite food. But
in Hondreas, bliadas are a very typical food. It's a
large flower tortilla that you just fill it in with
all your favorite things, a pretty Harley crema, you know, webbos.
(09:18):
You add whatever you want. Your imagination is the limit
to when you add to amaliada. So many greatness.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
And I'm curious when you were that eight year old
little girl in Honduras, how did you feel that you
fit in? Because it could have gone both ways, right,
How did kids make you feel coming from South Korea
in San Pedro Sula, talk to us about that.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
That's such a beautiful, vulnerable question. You know, my parents
put me in a bilingual school. So I went to
a bilingual Spanish English school and the language I spoke
was Korean. And so I arrived and I felt quite
out of place. You know. I was in class and
everything was happening outside of my understanding, and I couldn't
(10:04):
really engage, but I stayed and I was there. I
was quite invisible to my friends, you know, when the
bell would ring and everyone would run to their own
corners of the playground, I would often find myself alone.
And I remember just sitting in the recess area in
the playground area by myself, eating a sandwich, and I
(10:26):
all of a sudden felt this huge, buzzing pain on
my forehead and I just started crying out loud, and
I think it was part the pain of the sting
as well as the pain of not fitting in. And
I was having all this teary eye and I see
this giant bee that had just stung me on the forehead.
And at that moment, as I was crying and really
(10:48):
expressing that feeling of being alone, I look up and
there were all my classmates around me, hugging me, embracing
me and being like, are you okay? And that was
the moment that I felt like I was not alone,
And that was the beginning. I had a couple of
friends that are dear to me who after school, when
(11:08):
the bell would ring, they would be like, come with us,
and just all these gestures, and I would go with
them and they would be like, in line to order
the nievis bravos. What are those in English?
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah, like shaved ice.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Shaved eyes, yes, and we were alive and everyone was
ordering and my friends were like, this is what you
have to order, and I was like, I don't know
how to order any but I did know a couple
of colors, and I saw the colors. I would just
be like I saw and they would give me a
blue shaped eyes and I just handed them all the
cash I had on. My friend was like, no, no,
no couple in here, you know. So that was my
(11:47):
introduction to the culture, and my friends really embraced me,
took me, introduced me to the baliavas, to the tropical
all of these flavors and music and experience. And that's
why I hold so dear my Latini Dave, because it
was the people in San Perosulaanduras, it was Miamias my
(12:09):
friends who introduced me to a new world, helped me
embrace me and welcomed me.
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Yes, definitely, Latinos are very welcoming. That is one of
the biggest qualities I think our culture has. And what
did your parents do as far as for work, were
they business owners or what do they do? Because I'm
sure they had their own challenges right coming in from
a foreign country and trying to fit in as well.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Yeah, my dad was an eye doctor, so they had
a clinic as well as an optometric store, so both
of my parents work there. Because my dad had grown
in South America, he was able to speak Spanish, which
was quite helpful for us to get adjusted. My mother,
on the other hand, did not know Spanish, so she
(12:57):
really learned the language at the store with the people.
So I saw that firsthand, the struggles of learning a language,
navigating new systems, new worlds, and the immigrant experience of
sacrifice and learning and growing and thriving in a place
that's foreign at first but then becomes endearing to your soul.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
And then you ended up here in the United States.
When did that happen?
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Yeah, that happened in college. I got a really great
scholarship at Grenell College, which is one of the top
liberal arts colleges here in the United States. So I
really did not have the typical college visiting experience. I
didn't even know people visited campus and schools before they elected.
I was in Ondudas and I looked at it and
(13:46):
I said, this is a great school, great scholarship. I'm going.
So I landed in Iowa, which is nothing like Florida
or tropical unders So my bikinis in the luggage were
no good and I just landed and it was Cornfield
after Cornfield, and I got to learn more about life
in the Midwest.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Wow. Talk about having a global experience from Korea to
Central America to Middle America. Wow, How has all of
that experience informed what you do now?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Absolutely? I think when the famous phrase of nida yeah,
I've learned that at the same time soak yeah it
either yeah yeah. And I think that was the biggest
(14:45):
lesson that oftentimes we're so focused on the experience of
not fitting in because it's tied to shame and not
feeling good enough. And I realized it's actually a superpower.
I get to empathize with more people. I get to
to understand where people are coming from. I'm open to
listening and learning and trying other cultures, other experiences. So
(15:09):
that informed my work in communication. So I started working
in Seattle at an Asian American advertising agency looking to
hire someone to help them grow their Latino outreach department.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
You're the perfect candidate, correct, So.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
I was like, I'm an Asia Ladina, Hire me now,
So I started doing marketing. I worked with Fortune one
hundred clients doing lots of really great campaigns, but I
somewhat felt I was distancing myself from the people who
I love to serve. So I left that agency and
then immediately I got headhunted by a social impact agency
(15:52):
that uses behavior science to drive social change.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
So what does social impact work mean someone that's not
in the industry and doesn't really know what that means.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Social impact work is people who are dedicated to providing
the tools, the communication, really dedicating their lives to be
in service of driving this transformative change. For example, let's
say that an organization is focused on environmental issues and
(16:23):
they would like to help a particular community get informed
about an environmental disaster that's happening in their areas. So
social impact would work would be how do we communicate
to the most impacted communities about this disaster in the environment.
How do we prep the community? It could be also
(16:44):
very positive. It could be around mental health de stegmatizing,
seeking for mental health support. How do we communicate about that?
How do we create a new culture where speaking about
mental health is embraced and celebrated. So that's all part
of social impact to work.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
You're listening to Latina's take the lead, don't go away.
We'll be right back after this quick break. And speaking
of mental health, I know that you are a strong
advocate of seeking mental health, right. I understand that at
some point in your corporate career you were just not
(17:22):
happy and you seek help or you were really you know,
you really embraced your mental health journey. So can you
talk to us a little bit about that and then
what happened as a consequence.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Yeah, I think a lot of us, and I speak
for myself, inherited an idea of what success looks like,
especially when you know my background is looking at my
parents and their sacrifice and creating all these new opportunities.
So I realized that I inherited this idea of success,
which was to do more, achieve more, be rate, continue
(18:01):
to do more, do do do. And in that journey,
I lost myself. I was completely burnt out. I was
doing more, doing bigger things. Yet where was Hanna? That
a is a park at the core. So I took
a year off and I decided that I needed to
prioritize healing, you know, growing as immigrants, changing spaces, changing countries,
(18:28):
changing locations. Those are quite experiences that leave prints and
you and I think dedicating time to heal and understand
was quite important. So I definitely went on a travel
for a year. I went around the world, but the
travel is not the most important thing. It was the
people who I got to interview and listen to. So
(18:51):
I got to interview the first mihe opera, singer, artists,
entrepreneurs all differ diferent types of people and women, and
I learned that I needed to take some time to heal.
So I did a lot of like group coaching, I
went to therapy. I embraced going in work because I
(19:15):
realized that the success I inherited was in the external world.
And I took some time to go in work to
connect with myself, to anchor, which is the narrative, what's
the story I'm going to tell myself about myself moving forward?
And how am I going to express that story to
the exterial world whether they like it or not, because
(19:36):
it is truthful and honest to me. And finding that
story within me was quite a journey, and however, it
was one of the most freeing and liberating ones because
I got to take ownership over my life and my
narrative and who I share it to be.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Definitely, I absolutely love that, and I think we should
all reach that epiphany at some point. I think for
the most part of our in our early years, we
are kind of like on a machine, right. We're on
a track where it's like we go to elementary school
and then we go to high school, and then we
go to college, and then we get our job, and
then maybe we get married, maybe not, but it's and
(20:15):
I almost kind of feel like we don't even think
like is this actually what I want to do? We
just do right. So to have the I would say
it's a privilege to have that kind of an epiphany
and that kind of an awakening, because not everyone has it. Ever.
A lot of people go through life and never have
had that experience of being introspective, of examining, of questioning
(20:41):
why are you doing what you're doing? Am I really happy?
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Right?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
I was having a conversation with a friend the other
day and she's like, I think I'm having a midlife
crisis because I'm quitting my job and I'm doing this
and you know what, And I said, you know what,
it's not a midlife crisis. It's a midlife awakening and
you should embrace this and be so happy because you are,
you know, getting out of that shell of kind of
(21:06):
like a zombie like state. Right, So thank you for
talking about that. And I want to encourage all of
us to look at examine what we're doing, why we're
doing it, Are we happy? And look at you now,
I mean that period in your life, the ability for
you to look at your life and re examine your
(21:27):
priorities led you to create so many beautiful things, including
Muhtes and futuro. Right, So talk to us about you
got back from that trip, you found yourself so to speak,
You let go of all of these things that were
tying you down and then what happened.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, and I think I would add to what you
just mentioned because it's so beautiful what you said that
it's somewhat of revolutionary to go inward. You know, we
live in a system and in a society and an
infrastructure that prioritizes and values as based on productivity, what
we can do, what we can make, what we can produce,
(22:05):
So to be able to take the time to go
in work to define and design what is authentic and
honest and truthful to me. What my happy fulfillment life
looks like. I think it's quite revolutionary. And I knew
that if I continue to do what I was doing,
the system is too enticing. It rewards you with money
(22:27):
and accolade and reputation, all of these things. So that
is why I went on this travel, because I knew
that by changing spaces and environment, I would be away
from these temptations of come back to those comfy cycles
and infrastructures we have. And from these travels and interviews,
what I heard a lot of women that I got
(22:49):
to talk to was, you know, when I'm trying to
create a new life, I am embarking on a new journey.
I'm opening a new business, I'm starting my dream anything
I knew that they wanted to create. Oftentimes they felt alone.
They were like, sometimes I don't have the support of
my family, my friends, think I am. You know what's
(23:10):
going on with you. You're going through a midlight crisis
as you were mentioning, and there was no support. So
what I heard is, could we create a space where
there are thousands of mohetas that all they want to
do is support you, embrace you, uphold you, uplift you
when you're in these key moments of life, when you're
eager to take the new steps to build the life
(23:32):
you love. So that's where Muhetas Defutua was born. I
put a post on Facebook that said, hey, is this
something you would be interested in? And thirty women immediately
jumped on and said, yes, let's talk. Let me tell
you what my needs are, and we together built Mohetes
de futuro, a virtual space of belonging for all of
us where we get to support each other to live
(23:54):
out our potential.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Awesome and what kind of resources or tools or things
do you offer and is it free? Like, can anyone
just subscribe to mohaes futuro.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Absolutely, so, the safe space of belonging is free and
open to all mohetas it is. It's all in Spanish.
The tools that we offer are free workshops, free tools
that are rooted in behavior science. So these are tools
and strategies that we know that putting into practice can
help you build habits, which in turn builds the life
(24:29):
that you want. So we provide workshops, tools, We have
a panel of experts who teach you all these different
skill sets from self care to starting a business, to fitness,
to moving your body to mindfulness. So we have a
incredible group of experts that provide that. We also have
(24:51):
ambassadors and leaders in different cities that host in person
meetups with other mouhas and futuro to talk about putting
these strategies in action and implementing it into our lives.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Awesome, So you are busy because you also teach, right, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:09):
So I teach at the University of Washington and their
Master's program in Communication and Leadership, and I teach multicultural
marketing and creating equity, inclusion and justice through communication. So
one of the things I know that being in the
marketing and advertising and communication world is oftentimes the people
that are holding the strengths to the purse are not
(25:29):
well versed in equity or how to center communities of color.
So I said, how can I scale my knowledge to
the future leaders? And that's how the opportunity at the
University of Washington came. And now I get to help
movers and shakers and leaders in the communication field that
(25:50):
will be the future cmos of big companies to be
rooted and what it means to center communities of color?
What is this to create program and communication that reflect
and represent diversity.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Right, what do you think is the right way and
the wrong way to do it? If you can sum
it up in a sentence, which DEI initiative is the
wrong way and the right way?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
I think the best way to think about it is
that the people closest to the impact are the closest
to the solution. So oftentimes, you know, in the office,
in your cubicle, we could think this is a marvelous strategy, policy,
we should implement it. But the people who are most
(26:34):
impacted are the ones that are experiencing a day in
and day out, and they are the ones that hold
the key to what the solutions are. So if you're
in DEI, you do not have to find the solution,
just have the openness to listen to the people who
are most impacted and support them in implementing the infrastructure
that would make a difference for them.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Right, And we know that there's certain states that are
banning DEI initiatives. Okay, Florida, Hello, what are your thoughts
on that?
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I think one of the most important things when it
comes to doing social impact on social activism is this
phrase what resist persists and oftentimes we are wanting to
be right or make the other wrong, and it's just
a constant fight of righteousness. And what I found so
(27:24):
powerful in doing social impact work Naive is that creating
is what drives change. So you know, when you're starting
with something that's got got to begin with, it doesn't
matter how much diamonds and glitter you put in it.
It's still got got right now. And oftentimes we're debating
if this gota is good or not, if it could
(27:46):
be better or not. And what I found is that
creating is a source of change. And so I invite
all people who want to see change in this world
to create it, to lead it, because then you're not
no longer debating if that gut guy's worth it or not.
You've created what you see can drive change. So I
(28:07):
know it's easy to get wrapped up in media, it's
easy to get wrapped up and in conversation because all
our body reacts to that anger, to these emotions. But
what I found to be the most productive is to
focus on what can I create that can drive change.
(28:29):
And I think that's why Latino community we're so entrepreneurial,
because that's an act of creating what you envision possible.
And you know that. That is my answer. Let's not
debate if it's good or bad or great or it
could be better. Let's create what we want to see.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
I love that and I agree with you one hundred percent.
I'm an entrepreneur too, and I created two platforms Latina Fest,
which is a festival that celebrates all things Latina here
in Los Angeles, and we attract thousands of women and
companies to meet meet us where we are right. I
also created Gontolo Press, which is a diverse children's book
(29:08):
publishing company that creates these books that hopefully enlighten and
empower not only the Latino community, but all communities to
see how beautiful our culture is and how much we've contributed.
And the beauty part is what you just said is
the work is in creating and not resisting. Creating will
make changes. So true, because the Latino community, as you know,
(29:31):
is growing, right. We're not going anywhere, We're not going
to disappear tomorrow. In fact, we're doubling and tripling our population.
So yes, I totally, totally, one hundred percent agree with you.
Let's not cower to the power. Let's be the power
of creativity, right, and you're doing that with your muhead
del Futuro. How can people join muhees A Futuro.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
Yeah, you can join Moheza Futuro in our private group
on Facebook, so you can go to face slash groups
slash Moheresuturo. You can also visit our website and all
of the ways you can join us is listed there.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Perfect. So you are fluent in three languages or more now?
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Yes? Three?
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Wow? Korean, Spanish and English? How do the does the
Korean culture and the Latino culture like? How do how do?
How are they alike and how are they different? If
you can share that?
Speaker 1 (30:28):
Yeah, I think where there's so many similarities. I think
one of them is this emphasis and love for family.
I think that is very much shared. I also am
a huge food lover, so I see similarities all the time.
You know, Koreas have their version of gonchas, just like
(30:49):
we Latinos have our version of conchas and panduce. So
you know, there's a lot of similarity in culture and
food and values of family. You know, innovation and going
beyond and wanting to create. I think those are things
that we share.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
Perfect And do you equally relate and resonate with like
Hispanic Heritage Month and AAPI like Heritage Month.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
I think it's a rediscovery of my Asian American identity,
right because I have experienced Asian identity as having been
born in Korea and growing up there. But when I
came to the United States, I realized that how the
exterior world perceives me is as an Asian American. So
I'm currently in the journey of exploring what does it
(31:39):
mean to be a Latina Asian American here in the
United States, And I think my experience always anchors me
to go back to at the end of the day,
where human beings. You know, these cultures could be the
outfits that we get to put on or some outfits
that we get don't get to take off. However, at
(31:59):
the core of it all, we're human beings, you know.
We feel shame, we feel love, we feel fear, we
feel hope. And I realize that once we get to
just show this NEWLMS to get naked to the soul,
we realize that we're all in this.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Together, definitely, And when we help our own community, we're
helping the community at large, right because a better community
means a better community for all the global community. I
mean we we all want to, just like you said,
be happy, thrive, and we all need to put in
you know, we're all putting in the work in our
(32:39):
own little corners of the world. And before we go
that is, is there anything else you would love to
share with our audience.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Yeah, I would share if at this moment you're feeling alone,
you are feeling that there is no support, or what
you're going through seems very alienating and isolating. I want
you to know that you're not alone, that there are
thousands of women ready to embrace you, to heal together,
to hold space for you, to discover what you need.
(33:09):
So you're not alone. We're all here eager to embrace
and hug you and create that space for you.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Perfect And I always ask this question, what is something
you're listening to, reading, doing that you're obsessed with that
you want to recommend?
Speaker 1 (33:24):
Yeah, I am doing a lot of playing. So I
am embracing a lot of playing as adult. So that
could look like painting or doing nothing or just staring
at a tree. I think making time for play is
a revolutionary act in a world that values us by
our productivity. So I am obsessed with playing, and it's
(33:47):
a skill that it's been hard to go back to
because it's been so many decades where I have not played.
So that is something I'm currently obsessed with.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Love It, Love It. And the name of the show
is Latinas take the lead. How are you taking the lead?
Speaker 1 (34:03):
I am taking the lead by embracing the diversity in
Latini da. I am taking the lead by joining in
all these mohas de futuro and the community to define
what it looks like women supporting, women supporting each other.
I'm taking the lead by embracing that healing can happen
(34:25):
in collective space and togetherness. And I'm taking the lead
by honoring who I am and embracing rest than play.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Love It, Love It? And where can people find you?
Speaker 1 (34:37):
People can find me in Instagram, Facebook, you know, you
can go to my website, theresapark dot com and all
of my socials will be there for you to connect.
And please do write me on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook,
and I would love to hear your stories because I
think stories are gifts and I am eager to hear yours.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
Well. Thank you so much, that Isa, I was like,
I I don't know how I stumbled upon your Instagram
months ago, and I was like, I need to meet
this lady, this woman she's she seems so interesting and
amazing and and yes you are. So I'm so pleased
to have interviewed you and shared this space with you.
(35:20):
So I will follow your journey and hopefully our paths
will will soon meet again, which.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Is absolutely us at Naive thank you for creating this
space for all of us, for being such an inspiring leader,
and your generosity and grace for creating these opportunities for
all of us. We appreciate you.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
M us. Thank you so much for listening. Please subscribe
and give us a review. Tell your friends and go
madries about our podcast and hope you join us next week.
Latinas Take the Lead is executive produced by Hodston Reinosumidia Group,
(36:00):
LLC and hosted by me Naive Reo So Production Assistant
is Ana Sofia Monson. Latinas Take the Lead is a
production of the Seneca Women Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. For
more podcasts from iHeartRadio, check out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows asta la
(36:21):
proxima
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