Can you recall a story that changed your life?
Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool— oftentimes, we do not know that we are capable of something until we hear a story of someone who we can relate to doing that thing. As the saying goes, sometimes we need to see it to believe it.
But, what happens when you can’t relate to the stories that you see?
For Jenny Zuniga, it meant creating a platform for more stories to be told. Hence, MundoLatinx.
“There’s so much power in sharing a story,” Jenny says.
At MundoLatinx [Latinx World in English], Jenny provides a space for Latinx folk to come together and share their stories.
At the root of the site is a sense of celebration and pride: Jenny is unapologetically proud of her heritage and culture, and encourages other Latinx folk to be the same.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Jenny and diving into one of our favorite Instagram posts by MundoLatinx: 5 Reasons To Be Proud of Being Latinx.
1 Diversity // Diversidad
“There is so much beauty [in] knowing that within Latinx culture, there are so many different variations,” Jenny says.
According to the World Atlas, Latin America is made up of 33 countries and dependencies. It is also one of the most diverse regions on Earth, home to multiple variations of race, ethnicity and language.
When we asked Jenny about the beauty she sees in diversity, she beamed: “We can all be different, but [still] part of this community. I just love that,” she tells us.
2 The Food // Comida
We asked Jenny: if you were stuck on an island for 2 months with little to eat, what is the first meal you’re having when you get back home?
She responded without hesitation: Tacos.
“They’re definitely my go-to,” Jenny says. “There are so many different options.”
Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish that has gained immense popularity around the world.
Popular types include Tacos Al Pastor (loosely translated to “Shepherd Style Tacos”), which were inspired by Lebanese slow-cooked shawarma; Carnitas (“little meats”) Tacos, which are thought to have originated in the Mexican state of Michoacán and are made of roast pork; and Tacos De Jamón, which are made of dried, cured ham and are commonly found in Spain.
3 Healers // Curanderos
Jenny’s grandmother on her father’s side was what people would consider a “curandera.” Her job was similar to a midwife, according to Jenny, but she focused on not only physical healing, but also spiritual healing.
“She passed down a lot of remedies [that] worked for folks back in those days,” Jenny tells us. “[Curanderos are] very creative and savvy, using things like herbs and religious practices to make their lives better.”
Jenny continues, “the thing I admire about [curanderos] is the simple fact that they really respect nature. They’re a part of this bigger world that we live in. They think not how can they take advantage of [nature], but how can they utilize it in a natural way that will make lives better.”
4 Kind-heartedness // Bondad
In Jenny’s eyes, all people— not just Latinx folk— are, “in general, very kind-hearted.”
Jenny continues: “across the board, people are very hospitable… coming back to this idea that we’re all willing to help each other out.”
MundoLatinx was built on a platform of bondad, and with it, Jenny hopes to create a community of Latinx folk who can support, connect to, and inspire one another.
“At the end of the day, whether you’re Latinx or not, we’re all in this world trying to make it better,” Jenny says.
5 Roots // Raíces
Living only 20 minutes from the US-Mexico border, Jenny has learned to embrace both sides of her roots as a dual Mexican-American citizen.
“I’m very very proud to be Mexican-American… to have these dual-identities and be able to showcase and embrace them both.”
In communities like San Diego and Miami, it is common to see a blending of Hispanic and American cultures, and you will probably hear people speaking in both Spanish and English, often in the same sentence.
“You can have dual Identities and not feel like you’re not part of one or the other, or feel like you have to choose between the two,” Jenny encourages. Her platform serves as a place where this truth is told in stories shared, and where readers can feel they are part of a greater experience.
On Wednesday, August 25th at 10 am ET, tune into GNL Español to meet Jenny Zuniga, and listen to her journey creating MundoLatinx.