010 - Behind the Scenes with Rita Vega

On this week's episode of Accelerate Access: The Podcast, Rita Vega, 2019 Nyah Fellow and University of Michigan graduate, sits down with Leigh-Ann to discuss visual storytelling to bridge gaps between diverse communities, her foundation story in Nicaragua, and early career struggles in the Big Apple. Also, find out why Rita focuses on the power of human connection and relationship building, and more!

"Questions lead to intimacy, and I think that if you don't ask, you won't know, you won't understand, and you'll just be oblivious to something that could have changed your life.”

 - Rita Vega

They also discuss:

• Building trust, improving BIPOC representation, and sharing stories of inspiration, inclusion, and culture through her photography and creative work

• Treasuring the moment and being “in the flow”

• Human beings vs doings

• Reconciling identity from being raised by her extended family instead of her biological parents

• Immigration, language barriers, and the importance of education

• Leadership lessons from being class president at @saswhitetigers

• Learning to love herself and honor her self-worth, especially when facing constant job rejections 

• Her transformative Nyah Project Fellowship experience in Bali, Indonesia, and coming back as a peer facilitator in Ghana

• The impact that people such as Arturo Nunez, Marianna Lopez, Nicole Washington, and Dr. Marcus Collins, her professor and author of For the Culture, have had on her life

• The need for career pathway transparency to help others navigate challenges