On Friday, August 18th, the Dominican Writers Association released its new anthology of poems, Ritmo Que Late. Of the thousands of submissions, Paulina Roja’s “Mujeres Así” was selected for inclusion in the new anthology. In this interview, she describes her journey across the country and through culture to arrive at the theme for her poem.
While the word “radical” carries a connotation of being extreme, unstable, or controversial, it actually describes the building of foundations. Change is the only constant in nature, and it is a continuous process. It is in this sense that youth leadership is radical — young people help society adapt to the continual forces of change.
Where are you going to school? What are you going to study? These are the most common questions youth get asked during their senior year of high school.
They never even ask what my plans actually are.
I’ve been told I walk around with stiff shoulders and a hurried look on my face. I think it’s because of where I live.
Let me explain…
I always shared the reality of my life as an undocumented immigrant from the bottom of my heart, and in doing so, I gained understanding of the value of my voice. But, with the ICE raids in the back of my head, I began to realize that sharing this experience could have consequences.
I was born in Chilpancingo, the capital of the state of Guerrero, México on a clear Saturday afternoon in October. But the story of my birth begins on Thursday, when my mom started having contractions and thought she was ready to give birth.
Last week, BLING grantmakers distributed $65,000 to 13 youth-led projects addressing issues that face San Francisco youth, such as sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, homelessness, and more.
I had always wanted a grand, meaningful story behind my naming. But the simplicity and mystery in this story has given me the freedom to write my own story.
