Paula Alejandra Lozano Roa Shares What Being a Latina Means to Her

I grew up in Miami in a Columbian family, surrounded by hard working Hispanic people, where my language built bridges across different countries, different abilities, and different mindsets. Leaving the 305 to go to college in Boston was a culture shock for me, it felt like I was entering America for the first time, leaving the cultural bubble filled with Latinos like me.

Like gravity, I quickly found my community at BU as I tutored Spanish speaking immigrants in Chelsea, helping them study for their high school equivalency test. I was awed by the dedication it took to make time after work and parenting to prioritize learning for themselves. Uplifting mi gente is a cornerstone of my Latino culture, it’s a given that we help each other out, from when someone needs a quick translation at the store, to being there week after week and believing in someone’s growth.

I see this in East Boston everyday. From families creating their own networks of childcare, to the Eastie programs that collaborate and work together more than I’ve seen anywhere else.

It’s a blessing to be trusted with managing our first satellite site in East Boston. I’m constantly asking myself how we can make our program more accessible to the great diversity our families offer to our community. I’m committed to making sure we’re exploring the depths of our cultures through books, art, food, and all the wonderful things that unite us.

Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate our interconnected culture. From starting our program traditions of a Latin Dance Party, Hispanic Heritage Cooking Day, Movie Day, & Art Day, it’s so exciting to be able to welcome the greater Friends Boston community to learn these pillars of Latino culture with our young Eastie youth. I had a blast dancing salsa with our second graders from both the Eastie & Central site this week.

Our Hispanic Heritage goes beyond the Spanish language. Before the Spanish & Portuguese divided the Americas for conquest, dozens of sovereign nations throughout what we now call North, Central, and South America, shared seeds, traditions, and knowledge through hundreds of miles of trade routes.

Understanding my indigeneity has been a lifetime of confusion. In the 2020 US Census, I had to put Spain as the origin for my 'White Race', since I didn't have a tribe name to write under 'American Indian'. As I'm learning the history of the indigenous people of this land for my building my own connections to my ancestors, I'm looking forward to creating a culture here at our Eastie site that centers learning about indigenous peoples and traditions worldwide.