My Video Store Love Story & Five Movies About Love You Never Heard Of
Empowerment, Health
In 2005, I started working at a local video store in Brooklyn called Reel Life South. Some people—including my (now ex-) husband—thought “video store clerk” was a strange choice for me. After all, I had worked as an Associate Producer…
Death & Grief Coping Skills That Work
Empowerment, Health
When something “bad” happens to us, our friends, family and colleagues—even mental health experts—are often inclined to alleviate our suffering by reminding us of the all-too-familiar idiom: “it could be worse.” But what happens…
LGBT Acceptance Among Latinos
Empowerment, Health
Anyone who knows me personally knows that my favorite TV show of all time is Rupaul’s Drag Race. It’s everything I always wanted Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model to be, plus it’s about a squillion times more entertaining.
I…
20 Things You Didn’t Know about Atheists
Empowerment, Health
Some atheists are well known and open about their non-belief, while others are more noncommittal. Kevin Bacon’s name graces many lists of celebrity atheists. Given the Six Degrees of Separation game, we wondered what would the Six Degrees…
Atheists Among Us? Absolutely.
Empowerment, Health
It was 1988 and I was sitting in my junior year religion class at my Catholic high school. Despite the best efforts of my teacher (a perky ex-nun, think Kathy Najimy in “Sister Act”) I was bored to tears. Suddenly, the door to the classroom…
A Daughter’s Dilemma: Will I Repeat the Cycle of Domestic Violence?
Empowerment, Health
Mami and my stepfather are arguing more often. I hear their spats from my bedroom and want to hide in my closet, shrinking in a corner like a 7-year-old that is scared of The Boogie Man. I hate conflict. I can't stand the yelling and the…
Teen Motherhood: I Did It, But Don’t Recommend It
Empowerment, Health
I've had the teen motherhood experience. was 15 when I found out I was pregnant, and everything changed for me in an instant. I was terrified, and yet for me, like many other Latina teens, neither abortion nor adoption was an option. It’s…
Single Parenting: Good for Babies and Moms?
Empowerment, Health
Recently, I had the opportunity to discuss a Washington Post blog post about being a single mother on NPR's Tell Me More (which you can listen to here). It was interesting to hear other single mom's perspectives on the actual choice of becoming…
Happy Cancer Chick: Comedy, Chemo and the Power of Positivity
Empowerment, Health
Even though there is nothing inherently funny or joyful about cancer, Jenny Saldaña has made it her personal mission to find the bliss in life despite the challenge of such an illness. Jenny is passionate about using her experience as a…