ACTOR /WRITER

“...I encourage you to pay attention to what is going on in your brain. Own your power and show up for your life. Beam bright!”

— Jill Bolte Taylor: My Stroke of Insight

In May of 2012, just like Jill Bolte Taylor, the neuroanatomist, I also had a stroke at a young age. Upon recovery, I was inspired to dramatize my story, Stroke Vagina, a Moyamoya Story. This experience spurred me back into pursuing my first childhood dream of becoming a writer, and I have been writing ever since. 

Six years later, I was formally diagnosed with the rare cerebrovascular disease moyamoya. In December of 2018, Dr. Gary Steinberg and his team at Stanford, performed a cranial STA to MCA bypass, resulting in twice the blood flow to my brain. Healing from brain surgery has encouraged me to explore different mediums to tell stories. 

I’m third generation Mexican-American and grew up in San Juan, Texas, and rarely saw my story represented. I studied theatre in college and color blind casting was the norm, but that didn’t allow many stories to be told from our point of view. When I started my career in Chicago, I was part of the founding ensemble of Teatro Luna, which was co-founded by Coya Paz and Tanya Saracho. We took charge of our narratives, devised our own work, and were the writer/performers of our stories. I continue to infuse the spirit of our work in my work today.

Hopeful and resilient people seeking healing, forgiveness and a sense of community are recurrent themes. Characters facing life or death, with optimism or humor, live in the worlds I write. Characters grappling with politics that greatly divide such as gun culture and healthcare intrigue me. Art encouraging conversation, mindfulness, and empathy inspires me. I strive to tell stories that heal, galvanize action, or introduce solutions. Inclusive and equitable cultures living in safe and healthy environments is what everyone deserves.