TakingITGlobal

82 # R I S I N G Y O U T H C O M M U N I T Y I M P A C T V O L . 2 D eeply transformed by the Black Lives Matter protest movement of 2020, Yulissa Gabriela Campos Espinoza was moved to take a stand and speak to her own racialized identity as a Latina woman in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Yulissa and her friend Celeste Nunez spent hours talking about the meaning of Latinidad, their experiences as newcomers, and being Latina women in a predominantly white culture. Those conversations were so rich and nourishing that they both decided to open it up to the wider world through their podcast, Latinas in Stoon. Originally created as a hobby and a mental health coping strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic, Latinas in Stoon quickly grew to connect Latinx across Saskatoon, while also including guests from different countries. Their main object was to create a space to celebrate the Latinx diaspora and culture in Canada. Connecting and Celebrating the Latinx Diaspora Through Podcasting Latinx in Stoon engaged not only the Latinx community in Canada but also people from over 21 countries across various cultural backgrounds. Yulissa and Celeste harnessed the power of podcasting to spread awareness on topics such as women empowerment, LGBTQ+ issues, Indigenous culture in North and South America, and the immigration journey. "I have learned to value the uniqueness of my identity and I have become an advocate for inclusivity and diversity," reflects Yulissa. "The most valuable thing I have learned by being a minority here is the idea of staying true to your identity." I have learned to value the uniqueness of my identity and I have become an advocate for inclusivity and diversity... Yulissa Gabriela Campos Espinoza Celeste Nunez A link to Yulissa's Podcast : Latinas in Stoon! A special thank you to Truly Alive Youth and Family Foundation (TAYFFI) for sharing the #RisingYouth grant opportunity with Yulissa Gabriella to make this project possible.

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