Empowering Latina Breaking Generational Cycles with Domenica Escatel, Ep #85
Domenica Escatel is a first-generation Latina with a Master’s Degree in leadership. Domenica recently left a 10-year career, she woke up one day and declared a r(E)volution against conformity. This is when she founded Chicana Inc, a community that empowers, educates, and equips Latina's, focusing on underserved communities. Since then, Chicana Inc. has built one of the largest Latina followings in the Central Valley.
Domenica was selected as a TEDx Speaker at San Jose State University she was also invited to be a guest speaker at Harvard University. Currently, Domenica is the host and producer of Cafecito and Conversation that streams on Roku through the Happiness is Attractive Network. She interviews entrepreneurs from all over the globe. Due to the popularity of the show, Domenica launched The She Powered Podcast that focuses on the Latina voice. Join me on this episode of the Coming Clean Podcast to hear from this mujer poderosa!
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
Who is Domenica [2:18]
The birth of Chingona 101 [9:50]
Being seen with poise through merit and not controversy [11:45]
Where does the education begin? [14:07]
Pivoting your vision after a lost opportunity [21:14]
At what point do you stop learning and start applying [26:56]
What is Chicana Inc? [35:33]
Being seen with poise through merit and not controversy
How do we show up and be represented and seen without being controversial? I think a lot of times the mistake is trying to be seen by being loud and aggressive. I think we can be seen by merit, by having value, by having conversational etiquette, and by making our presence known without pushing people around. Is it harder for women to employ that type of behavior?
Domenica says the way that she navigated it was by showing up in her community with poise. She began with understanding her community and where she fits in. She started by building relationships with community stakeholders and allowed them to get to know her and what she was about. Domenica says her power is her social media platform and posting the issues that are important to her, community issues, and sharing wins that show others what is possible. When Domenica got invited to speak at Harvard it was a big statement in the community. Dominica, from the bad side of town, who's from a title one school, who got free lunch is speaking at Harvard! That also shifted her relationships in the community and opened doors for more invitations.
Does the education begin in the community or at home?
Dominica found that social validation and education on acceptable treatment did not start at home. She came from a very traditional Mexican family. She says her dad is very much the machista. He has that role and did not understand what Dominica was doing in the community, or even when she went to school. Dominica had to surround herself with people that have been where she wanted to go. The people that could help her navigate how to make the statement of being able to show up powerfully as a Chingona! That was the critical inch that got Dominica moving forward and believing in herself and her abilities. That is what she wants to share with others.
Bringing eye-opening opportunities home
The first time that Dominica put herself with a thousand different Latinas from across California she was emotional. It was the first time in her adult life that she saw women that have these amazing stories but were like her. Rooted in what her family looked like and what she understood like cannery and field workers migrating during the season, sending money back to their families.
Dominica thought, why did she have to wait to be an adult to hear these stories and see people that looked like her in this manner. This drove her to be the person to bring it to the table in her own community. Chicana Inc has been exactly that. It's been able to bring other people alongside Dominica and let them discover who they are and what they want to bring to the table. To be able to craft their own message. Dominica gives away her platform all the time, she says it’s not hers. It's part of her, part of who she is, but it's also a part of everyone else!
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