Scholars of Color- Cynthia Cortez
What is Scholars of Color?
It is a platform in which scholars of color are purposefully celebrated. It’s a space where scholars of color are showcased front and center. It is a digital space where we feel empowered and resilient. Let us get to know each other. Let us cheer each other on AND show the world what we have to offer.
Let us now welcome Cynthia Cortez to the Scholars of Color space!
Name: Cynthia Cortez
Gender Pronouns: She/Her
What do you currently do for work and/or school?: I currently work in the space where nonprofit meets government to promote thriving, diverse, and inclusive communities.
Without positions or titles, how would you describe yourself?: I am a Latina, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a lover, a laugher, a healer, a teacher, a researcher - a person whose relational ties mean that I exist to call out injustices and push for the collective practice of healthy love.
What are you passionate about?: I am passionate about advocating for a lifestyle where we all find fulfillment in our contributions to work, family, and friends. Life moves disturbingly quickly and it frustrates me when we cross paths with others and their light is dim, where problems overshadow successes, where hubs of love and care seem out of reach. Because of the hardships I have had to endure and overcome, I recognize that to experience healing and joy at a community level, I must be an agent who embody these ideas. Thus, I’ve committed to uplift others in ways that I can, bridge at the heart level in order to truly understand, and continuously promote a critical sense of hope so that we can continue to withstand and denounce the stressors we encounter on a daily basis.
Why is the representation of scholars of color important to you?: It is critically important that the perspectives of various communities of color are represented at the problem definition AND decision making table. When social problems are discussed from limited understandings, depending on the scale and nature of the platform, irreversible damage can be embedded at multiple levels of society. I feel strongly that scholars of color have a tremendous capacity to resolve the very issues that are negatively impacting our daily lives. When more and more scholars of color move through higher education institutions, when their intellect is solicited, represented, and engaged with across all industries and levels of government --as a broader collective of communities of color -- we are able to generate the intel necessary to not only stretch restrictive and potentially discriminatory ways of implementing “solutions” but to bring forth radical ideas that eradicate systemic problems at their thorny core. Scholars of colors contribute important ways of knowing and seeing that are essential if we truly wish to live in a more equitable and inclusive society.
If people are interested in getting connected to you, how can they?: You can email me at cortez.cynthia.n@gmail.com. We can connect on Instagram at cynthia.cortez.9041. If you are in the Los Angeles area, let’s grab coffee. While my bandwidth can be low at times, I love connecting so if you find it in your heart to chat it up, let’s connect.
Anything else you would like us to know?: I enjoy a good laugh.
Thank you Cynthia for sharing space with us!
Stay tuned everyone for more Scholars of Color profiles. Interested in being showcased yourself? Please email the Scholars of Color team at scholarsofcolor@reclaimingyourhappiness.com and we will get back to you shortly.
