How did I get here?

I grew up in New York City, and had the great opportunity to learn in the classroom and from the truly ethnically diverse communities with composites ranging from every point of the globe. In fact, just walking around and stopping for a slice of pizza is an opportunity to exchange information through dialog or just become privy to the many languages that add to the diversity of the city. Living on such a small island beckons tolerance in people, and lends the opportunity for cross-cultural growth. My experience in New York affords me tolerance beyond the scope of many. I celebrate the diversity of people, and revel in the art of what makes New York, New York. I simply love the faces that speckle the landscape. Ethnicities from far and wide, yet on certain days, far and wide become closer.

My parents and I are Caribbean immigrants, my dad is Cuban and my mom is Jamaican. I am one of 12 children from two marriages. I am a middle child from the second marriage.

I grew up in the projects but never aspired to stay. My parents worked incredibly hard to support and instill in us that our current situation is just that; a situation, and if you want change you will need to move.
Move I did, after attending Pace University in the financial District in NY. I have lived in states all along the east coast, from Boston to Miami and have island hopped in the Netherlands Antilles and all through the Caribbean Island including Cuba, photographing and teaching lessons dealing with American Culture, Government, and Science. Summers have been great.

Now, I have been living in Los Angeles, Ca for the pass 12. Los Angeles sports similar demographics to New York, so I am quite comfortable with my surroundings. I have an earned Masters in Cross-Cultural Education and Business Administration. I have worked for High Schools in Long Beach, and I am currently working at Compton High School. Both districts are large but differ socio-economically and in the parental support offered to students. Regardless, I have found that students who are wealthy or poor share the same situation. Most of them want change and it’s my hope to help them properly prepare to move.