Meet Hillary:
In her own words –
“When my mother and I immigrated from Venezuela, I knew we arrived here to form a better life– escaping from a country where there was no true freedom of speech and where our friends and family were getting their voices stripped away. I knew that here in the U.S, I was going to receive a better education, greater opportunities, and as they say, “live the American dream.”
I have always felt like I immigrated here for a purpose, as if I could use my words for change.
Seeing the oppression that was taking place back home in my country and witnessing the oppression and struggles that communities of color here in the U.S also have to go through, I knew that there was something that I had to do.
Those thoughts were the ones that ignited my passion for journalism. I want to be able to tell peoples stories, their struggles, and be able to give communities of color the voice that they need without having a language barrier.
I began the publication of La DePaulia at the start of 2020 alongside mentors and colleagues at DePaul to do exactly that: give communities of color a voice.
As more and more Spanish language publications shut-down throughout the U.S, I wanted to be able to inform the Latinx community in their own native language and give them back the voice that they deserve.
As a journalist, our job is to give a voice to the people without there being an obstacle.
We need to tell peoples stories, as small as they may seem. I do not want my voice being shut down, nor do I want the voices of those from my community being shut down.
This is who I am: I am a woman, a Latina, and a journalist. I want to show other younger girls that it is possible to achieve their dreams, it is possible to take on leadership roles, and to always love your flaws.
There were always people around me who told me that I would not make it in the industry; I know that I still have a lot to learn as a young journalist, but I am proud of being able to build a publication as an undergrad that has given a platform to the Latinx community not only at DePaul, but also around the Chicago area.
Stories that will make people feel emotions– connecting them to one another even if they’re located in different parts of the world. I am unafraid to bring the truth forward and I hope that just like I built La DePaulia at DePaul University, I also continue building others around me and show the world the power that communities of color have.”
*** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Hillary. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 39 of 52.2
Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere