Amplify Voices | Latinx Heritage Month
In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, we asked creative voices from across the country to define their legacy.
MARCO ZAMORA | INTERIOR DESIGNER | HE/HIM
What do you want your legacy to be?
Ultimately, my aim is to inspire others to live their best lives. I want to use my platform and creative endeavors to share stories about people and pursuits that I truly believe in. My goal is to encourage everyone to break free from limitations, pursue what they love, and find fulfillment in their own unique way.
How do you celebrate Latinx Heritage Month?
I celebrate by spending time with family to connect with and learn more about my heritage. I also enjoy supporting small Latinx brands/businesses year-round and particularly during Latinx Heritage Month.
Who do you look to for inspiration in the world or in your community?
I recently took a trip to Mexico City and was so inspired by the famous architect/engineer, Luis Barragan! He is a Mexican designer whose work continues to influence modern day design. One of my favorite projects of his is Casa Estudio Luis Barragan.
How do you express yourself through style?
I express myself through color and integrating pieces of my Mexican culture throughout my designs.
How do you explore your heritage in your daily life or creative work?
In my creative work, I am constantly experimenting and trying new things. Through experimentation, I can tap into my Mexican heritage and learn new ways of incorporating it into my home and designs.
How do you make your voice heard?
I make my voice heard by being authentic to who I am. As a Latino, I want to take up space in the interior design and creator community in order to inspire others to do the same.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I want to create an impact in people’s lives, whether that’s empowering individuals to embrace and celebrate their culture or inspiring them to personalize their home. I am proud to be Latino and want to uplift my community by being a role model!
TAYLOR RAE ALMONTE-ROMAN | CREATOR, ATHLETE, & ACTIVIST | SHE/HER
How do you celebrate Latinx Heritage Month?
I’m a proud Afro-Latina every day. I am constantly in celebration of who I am and who has come before me. I am constantly trying to make the world a more equitable and just place for those that come after me. I believe Latinx Heritage Month is a moment for allies to learn and grow while we continue to show up for our communities as we always do.
Who do you look to for inspiration in the world or in your community?
I am constantly inspired by my mother. Her grace, kindness, patience and the life that she speaks into everyone she meets takes my breath away. She has made me the person I am today.
How do you express yourself through style?
As an Afro-Latina I’ve always been conscious (or self conscious) of what the world sees when they look at me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to embrace all that I am. My style helps me to express the beauty and bravery I feel inside, on the outside. I love pieces that make me feel bold, strong, sporty and sleek.
How do you explore your heritage in your daily life or creative work?
My husband Richard is Asian and Latino and I’m Afro-Latina, so in our household we are constantly exploring our heritage from the foods we eat to the holidays we celebrate. As the child of immigrant parents, a day does not go by that I am not reminded of the history I carry with me. It’s amazing to share my life with someone who feels the same way.
How do you make your voice heard?
I am so lucky that my life and my work revolve around the things that matters to me the most — uplifting my community and amplifying marginalized voices. Through my work as an anti-racism educator for my company ACTIV-ISM, my classes as I finish my Masters at Columbia University for Human Rights Studies and my time as Assistant Director of Just Ideas, where I co-teach classes at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a maximum security prison in Brooklyn— I have the opportunity to make a difference. Through my newsletter, which I started 4 years ago, or my upcoming podcast “On the Outside”, I continue to speak up. One of the most impactful quotes for me was said by President Obama, "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”. I truly live by that motto.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I hope I leave a few people a little bit better. I can’t imagine using this one life for anything else. There is so much that is broken in our world, but there is also so much that is good. I hope I leave behind my dreams of a more free, more courageous, more hopeful world.
MELISSA FLORES | CONTENT CREATOR | SHE/HER
How do you celebrate Latinx Heritage Month?
I celebrate LatinX Heritage Month by being more conscious about including and celebrating Latinx individuals in my everyday life. From the people’s content I consume online, to the books I'm reading to the shows I’m watching. I want to make sure I’m going out of my way extend that support and share it with others.
Who do you look to for inspiration in the world or in your community?
I’m very inspired by the women in my life. My grandmothers, my mom and aunt. They’re all so different yet have instilled a work ethic and self-respect in me that I will carry with me forever. They’ve taught me how to take care of a home, how to take care of myself and how to feel comfortable in my power as a Latina woman.
How do you express yourself through style?
I would describe my style as feminine, comfortable and minimal. I feel my best when I'm put together. Getting dressed up gives me an extra boost of confidence to tackle the day.
How do you explore your heritage in your daily life or creative work?
I’m Dominican and I feel like the women in my culture are powerful forces. I dig deep into that source in my everyday life when I’m feeling fearful or hesitant about the work I’m creating. I remind myself of the women who came before me who might not have had an example to follow. That gives me the confidence to keep going.
How do you make your voice heard?
I carved out a small space for myself on the Internet and have learned to not shy away from sharing what is truly important to me.
What do you want your legacy to be?
It would mean the world to me if my legacy was that I helped other women find their voice and confidence.
In celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, we asked creative voices from across the country to define their legacy.
MARCO ZAMORA | INTERIOR DESIGNER | HE/HIM
What does Pride mean to you?
To me, Pride means celebrating and embracing my authentic self, especially considering my upbringing in a conservative, Christian environment where accepting my own sexuality was a challenge. Pride takes on a different meaning when you've had to go through the process of self-acceptance. It represents the freedom to be unapologetically who I am and finding joy in that. It's a reminder of the progress we've made as a society, where being gay is now seen as not only acceptable but a positive and empowering expression of one's true identity.
How do your creative pursuits empower you to live with Pride?
As an entrepreneur and creative, my creative pursuits have played a crucial role in empowering me to live with Pride. They have become a space where I can fully express my authentic self and share my own perspectives and experiences. Through my work as the founder of Untitled Secret, a talent management and creative services agency, I aim to promote inclusivity and acceptance. I am humbled by the thought that my voice and presence have value and impact, and I hope I am able to inspire others to embrace their true selves and live with Pride.
How do you express yourself through style? And why is it important?
I like to bring a playful twist to my wardrobe—even surprising myself and pushing my own boundaries by challenging traditional gender norms when it comes to clothing. While I may not always be considered the most progressive in this regard, I firmly believe in the freedom to wear what makes you feel empowered and comfortable, disregarding the limitations imposed by stereotypes. By breaking down these stereotypes, I believe we can make a significant impact in terms of acceptance and progress. It's a powerful way to move the needle towards a more inclusive and open-minded society.
Who are prominent figures that have inspired you, queer or otherwise? And why?
I’m extremely inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who made championing gender equality her life’s work. Not only that, but she went at it from inside the system and was willing to work meticulously for the cause throughout her life. As someone who is acclimated to our current cultural climate of instant gratification, I find that seriously impressive. On another note, let’s talk Martha Stewart! She started her eponymous empire after the age of 40, and now—another forty years later—she’s on the cover of Sports Illustrated. I’m a huge fan of people who are never afraid to make big, life changing decisions, regardless of age, to pursue their passions.
What do you want your legacy to be?
Ultimately, my aim is to inspire others to live their best lives. I want to use my platform and creative endeavors to share stories about people and pursuits that I truly believe in. My goal is to encourage everyone to break free from limitations, pursue what they love, and find fulfillment in their own unique way.
TAYLOR RAE ALMONTE-ROMAN | CREATOR, ATHLETE, & ACTIVIST | SHE/HER
How do you celebrate Latinx Heritage Month?
I’m a proud Afro-Latina every day. I am constantly in celebration of who I am and who has come before me. I am constantly trying to make the world a more equitable and just place for those that come after me. I believe Latinx Heritage Month is a moment for allies to learn and grow while we continue to show up for our communities as we always do.
Who do you look to for inspiration in the world or in your community?
I am constantly inspired by my mother. Her grace, kindness, patience and the life that she speaks into everyone she meets takes my breath away. She has made me the person I am today.
How do you express yourself through style?
As an Afro-Latina I’ve always been conscious (or self conscious) of what the world sees when they look at me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to embrace all that I am. My style helps me to express the beauty and bravery I feel inside, on the outside. I love pieces that make me feel bold, strong, sporty and sleek.
How do you explore your heritage in your daily life or creative work?
My husband Richard is Asian and Latino and I’m Afro-Latina, so in our household we are constantly exploring our heritage from the foods we eat to the holidays we celebrate. As the child of immigrant parents, a day does not go by that I am not reminded of the history I carry with me. It’s amazing to share my life with someone who feels the same way.
How do you make your voice heard?
I am so lucky that my life and my work revolve around the things that matters to me the most — uplifting my community and amplifying marginalized voices. Through my work as an anti-racism educator for my company ACTIV-ISM, my classes as I finish my Masters at Columbia University for Human Rights Studies and my time as Assistant Director of Just Ideas, where I co-teach classes at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a maximum security prison in Brooklyn— I have the opportunity to make a difference. Through my newsletter, which I started 4 years ago, or my upcoming podcast “On the Outside”, I continue to speak up. One of the most impactful quotes for me was said by President Obama, "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek”. I truly live by that motto.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I hope I leave a few people a little bit better. I can’t imagine using this one life for anything else. There is so much that is broken in our world, but there is also so much that is good. I hope I leave behind my dreams of a more free, more courageous, more hopeful world.
MELISSA FLORES | CONTENT CREATOR | SHE/HER
How do you celebrate Latinx Heritage Month?
I celebrate LatinX Heritage Month by being more conscious about including and celebrating Latinx individuals in my everyday life. From the people’s content I consume online, to the books I'm reading to the shows I’m watching. I want to make sure I’m going out of my way extend that support and share it with others.
Who do you look to for inspiration in the world or in your community?
I’m very inspired by the women in my life. My grandmothers, my mom and aunt. They’re all so different yet have instilled a work ethic and self-respect in me that I will carry with me forever. They’ve taught me how to take care of a home, how to take care of myself and how to feel comfortable in my power as a Latina woman.
How do you express yourself through style?
I would describe my style as feminine, comfortable and minimal. I feel my best when I'm put together. Getting dressed up gives me an extra boost of confidence to tackle the day.
How do you explore your heritage in your daily life or creative work?
I’m Dominican and I feel like the women in my culture are powerful forces. I dig deep into that source in my everyday life when I’m feeling fearful or hesitant about the work I’m creating. I remind myself of the women who came before me who might not have had an example to follow. That gives me the confidence to keep going.
How do you make your voice heard?
I carved out a small space for myself on the Internet and have learned to not shy away from sharing what is truly important to me.
What do you want your legacy to be?
It would mean the world to me if my legacy was that I helped other women find their voice and confidence.
