INTERVIEW # 8: FEATURING MAKAYLA SANTIAGO

Every culture has a word for it, “moxie” in Sicilian, “chutzpah” in Hebrew, “brava” in Spanish and those are all the ways I know how to say it. It is the spirit when someone got when they are a “shining star”, when little light shines so bright, even they themselves are blinded. Some people got it.

My mother told me- “you got it.” I was a westsider, I was Sicilian, and I was her daughter, and most importantly, because I came from a long line of hard-working Sicilian women. That is right, as Puerto Rican as I am (wepa), my mother’s- mothers have forever been Sicilian. Relentless- my maternal DNA is because- that is how you describe Sicilian mothers. When my ancestry DNA report was delivered- it was true I was more Sicilian than any other ethnicity present in my DNA; so, I accepted my fate. Smiling- I knew it meant one thing- I am unbreakable. Because I come from a long line of hard-working Sicilian women, and they told me so.

When I got to know Makayla Santiago, I got the impression that she, herself, was from a long line of hard-working women; and that takes generations.  I respected her immediately. I could tell she hustles. She is a shining bright star from the Bronx, and she can succeed in any environment – the mark of a strong woman. She has mastered the dense city and the flowing open spaces of rural life. Makayla’s love is art and storytelling, and in Puerto Rico that has dual functions.

Our artists have kept our history, there was no other choice in the beginning with the lack of books. The first library was established in Puerto Rico in 1523 by the Spanish in El Morro. Private families and or religious groups held small collections during the early colonization of San Juan, but they kept literally getting destroyed – in attacks. The first documented library (supported by the government) was established in 1874- when the first and true public library was opened in Mayaguez, 381 years after Puerto Rico was “discovered.”

For 381 years, artists and shining stars like Makayla have told the stories of a place. Good thing Makayla is from a long line of strong women; she and others have a lot of storytelling to do, something which is both a blessing and a responsibility.

Makayla’s a storyteller. In her interview, she says, “Take action and find connections.” She and her line of strong women are sure to inspire. Her grandmother is someone that she attributes much of her success, and that is the real beauty. 

Read Makayla’s interview and read the story of a storyteller who casts light in dark spaces with her art.

The Interview:

1. Where were you raised? What values were you taught? I am a proud Nuyorican from Highbridge in the Bronx and shout it out at any opportunity I can. I love being a Latina/Hispanic woman. There is so much beauty and life in our culture, food, families, and values. I was raised surrounded by strong women who shaped me to be the person I am today, but the most important thing was,

“Educate yourself. They can take everything away from you, but you will always have your education.”

My mother and grandma did everything in their power to make sure I had a good education. My grandmother would walk me to and from my elementary and middle schools. I attended a catholic school from 3rd grade to 12th. Tuition was covered in different ways. My grandmother worked as a lunchroom monitor to cover a portion of my tuition, my pediatrician covered a portion, and my mother paid the rest. If it were not for the help we received, we would not have been able to afford it. When it came time to go to high school, my 8th-grade school principal helped work towards a scholarship program in which an anonymous doctor paid for my tuition. I was incredibly lucky and blessed to have so many people guiding me towards my education.

The second most important value I was taught was to simply “Work hard. Everything you do, do it with your heart.” And that is what I did. It led me to a dream job and starting a podcast. I knew I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless and now I am.

2. What was your experience as a student? High School: I was busy chasing boys. If I knew what I know now, then. I would not have given them a time of day. I was on the student council, was a cheerleader, played on the softball team, and maintained good grades, but the drama overshadowed my passion for learning. No one in high school really saw my potential… except for my English teacher Ms. Wilbekin… we all always have that one teacher, but I felt like there was nothing in the Bronx for me. That is why I chose the farthest college from my doorstep, with state tuition. I needed to break free and understand myself as an individual.

College: At first, I thought I knew what I wanted to be. I started out with a dream of being a Music Therapist. I wanted to use music to change the world. I quickly learned that it was not the path for me and began to explore other career paths. I changed my major a whole 9 times and finally settled on becoming a dual major, Business Administration with a concentration in the Music Industry and Arts Administration with a concentration in Public Relations and a dual minor in Communications & Leadership Studies. Yes, that is a mouthful, and it took me 5 years to finish, but I did it.  To build my resume, I had a couple of part-time jobs in the arts, held internships at Warner Music and Universal Music in NYC, and sat on executive boards for multiple organizations in the college. To say I was busy would be an understatement. BUT I LOVED IT.

Grad School: I loved my grad program and I remember the day I received the email to learn of my acceptance like it was yesterday. I was the second LatinX/Hispanic identifying woman to graduate from my program. I really wanted my thesis to revolve around studying Hispanic women in the workplace. I was discouraged to do this because of the lack of studies I could pull from, and I would not have been able to secure the amount of female-identifying Hispanic women I need to have a valid study. This was also an especially important moment in my life. I realized that I needed to be part of that change, no matter what my next step would be. I was especially inspired by my supervisor at the time. I was able to attend Canisius College because she took a chance on me and hired me as a graduate assistant which helped me pay for school. Associate Vice President of Advancement at Canisius College, LatinX, and expert in the art of fundraising, I chose to follow her path, which led me to where I am today.

3. When did you start working and what was your first/favorite job? Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet- Experience: My first job after college was working at the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet in Jamestown, NY. I loved it because I had the opportunity to be a part of every step of management. My mentor there let me try everything and anything I wanted, within reason. I wrote press releases, planned events, controlled social media, helped backstage, and they even gave me a small part in performances. This was the place that jump-started my career and passion for working in arts administration.

Mark Morris Dance Group- Culture

The first time I experienced the feeling of true belonging was working at the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn, NY. Being back home, living in the Bronx, and surrounded by colleagues from all over the United States and the globe. Being in Brooklyn, one of the most diverse places on Earth, fueled my passion. This is where the idea of Chatty Carmens was started, alongside my incredible Social Media Manager, Joleen Richards. It was also the first place I had ever worked where there was more than one woman of color in an executive role.

4. What was the moment you were inspired to take control of your future? I was unhappy for a while as a fundraiser. I knew I was not doing the right thing while I was in grad school, but I thought maybe it was because I was in Buffalo and not at home in the Bronx. But then I felt the same way while working in Brooklyn, and again when I returned to Buffalo to live with my now, husband. I felt like something was off, and in my heart, I knew I was not in the right profession. I became a fundraiser because I thought it was the highest paying department in the nonprofit sector, there was a direct path to becoming an executive director, and it was an opportunity to help nonprofits keep their doors open. When I was let go from my position in downtown Buffalo at the start of the pandemic, I was divested. I was angry at the world, and I felt like I was not enough. Through my tears and self-doubt, I had to remind myself that:

1. There was literally a pandemic happening around us!
2. My heart was not in it, and I needed to rethink my path.
3. I am a BOSS who has done a lot in my 28 years of life.
4. Everything is going to be ok.

I had to remind myself, what my WHY was at the beginning of my career journey. Why did I think fundraising was it?

I wanted to help people and give others the opportunity to do their craft. So, I decided to start the Chatty Carmens Podcast, with a simple vision, that female-identifying change-makers of color deserve a platform to share their stories, and I was going to be someone to provide it. During the process of creating, I realized my heart was in marketing and communications. Marketing amazing work, finding ways to communicate the magic to the masses. I feel lucky to have found it in the creation of Chatty Carmens and my new full-time position at Chautauqua Institution as the Arts Marketing Specialist.

5. What advice do you have for other LatinX voices who want to be heard in their communities? Act and find connections. Every move I have made in my life has been through building relationships with those around me and, and learn how to speak highly about yourself. But if you talk a big game, you must be able to back it up. Educate yourself on whatever you are passionate about. For some that means going to college and getting an education, for others, it means getting the rights training and certifications. Always strive to be the best version of yourself, and do not compare yourself to others.
6. What is your theory on human potential? Everyone has potential, they just need the right tools and opportunities. Historically, the problem has been that the tools and opportunities have not been accessible to underprivileged communities.
7. What is your opinion of the fact that Latinx women are the most underpaid demographic in the United States? I feel this in so many ways, and I see it. Give more LatinX women more power! Give creators opportunities. Hire more LatinX women. There is no reason that we are not being put into higher-paid positions except for bias on behalf of hirers. The talent is there. After working in entry-level jobs for a few years, and feeling I could take the next step, I was discouraged by a recruiter and advised to take another entry-level position and keep trying to work my way up. How many women are given the same advice and listen? I did not listen, and I did not settle.