When I think about my love for Hip Hop, it all goes back to a moment from my childhood. In 1989, my family had just moved to the United States, and my dad bought me a boombox from a man down the street whom we all called “Blue Eyes”. The boombox had one cassette tape inside: Run-D.M.C.’s “Raising Hell” album. After inspecting the cassette tape, I popped it back in, pressed play, and heard the most transformative lyrics of my youth.
What are your thoughts on the democratization of design? Do you think it has a positive impact on the industry, or does it lead to lower-quality work? I’d love to hear your perspective.
There are twenty-three thousand certified coaches in the United States and over seventy-one thousand worldwide. In fact, the number of active coaches has increased by 35% in the last five years in the U.S. alone! Despite industry growth, access to coaching is limited, especially among minorities. A recent survey from the non-profit Jobs for the Future found that 55% of Black learners and workers have never had a coach. One of the main reasons found was simply the high cost associated with personalized coaching programs. Personal coaching sessions can vary depending on the coach’s certification, expertise, or program. According to the National Coach Academy, hourly rates can range from $100 to $600 per hour!
There are several traits that make a person good at what they do. Gay Hendricks’ book The Big Leap, goes into detail on how you can reach high-performing success in life and at work via his Zone of Genius framework. Gay claims that in order to achieve your Zone of Genius, you must have a unique mixture of three key ingredients: skills, strength, and talent. In essence, your Zone of Genius is when all three of these components are combined, making you most productive and allowing your skills to naturally shine.
Dominicans say “like “Cógelo con take it easy” instead of saying “Don’t worry.”, and I think that’s beautiful. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (HMM), I find myself reflecting upon my own experience embracing the multiple ways I can identify and celebrate my heritage in the U.S., being Dominican, Hispanic, Latino, Latinx, Afro-Latino, Black, and multiracial.
Dominicans say “like “Cógelo con take it easy” instead of saying “Don’t worry.”, and I think that’s beautiful. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (HMM), I find myself reflecting upon my own experience embracing the multiple ways I can identify and celebrate my heritage in the U.S., being Dominican, Hispanic, Latino, Latinx, Afro-Latino, Black, and multiracial.
As an Afro-Latino born in the Dominican Republic, I feel a strong connection to both my Spanish and African heritage. I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic until I was ten years old. My family immigrated to the United States in the late 80s, where I was raised in the small immigrant town of Lawrence, Massachusetts.