Dania Santana

  • The Year My Father Won the Lottery & We Moved to Villa Mella#TheYearOf40

    It was 1980, a year that marked the beginning of a new decade and also my third year on earth. However, in our family’s history, 1980 will forever be remembered as the year my father won the lottery in the most unexpected way. Here’s the thing: my father has never been a gambler. He never…

  • My Toddler Tantrum Phase and Happenings from 1979 #TheYearOf40

    When I decided to embark on this storytelling exercise, I didn’t anticipate how challenging it would be to extract memories of my early years from my mother and father. However, when it came to recalling my second year of life—when my toddler tantrum phase began—it wasn’t as difficult as I expected. With just a simple…

  • When I Was One Year Old, Rainbows Came in Black & White #TheYearOf40

    When I was one year old, rainbows came in black and white… but luckily for me, Polaroids were already in color. It was 1978, and my family was still living in the house where I was born. Many things we now take for granted didn’t exist back then. Thanks to my father’s passion for photography,…

  • Where My Life Story Began: A Poor Neighborhood of Santo Domingo #TheYearOf40

    A few months ago, I started a personal project to document my life through a series of pictures and essays that I will one day give to my children, so they can understand where my life story began and, therefore, their origin. At some point, I decided it would be a good idea to share…

  • 40 Things I Am Grateful For On My 40th Birthday #TheYearOf40

    Today is my 40th birthday. As you know, I’ve been preparing for this day for quite some time because I think it’s a big deal. I didn’t think too much about turning 30 a decade ago, so my excitement this time around is a sign of growth that I celebrate wholeheartedly. Besides taking the day…

  • A Nation Envisioned by Women At The Intersection of Families And Social Justice #WeWontWait2016

    It has been five weeks since I attended the #WeWontWait2016 Summit in Washington, D.C., yet the experience remains fresh in my mind despite everything that has happened since. I keep reflecting on the diverse group of women who came together—representing a wide range of backgrounds, colors, and ethnicities. I find myself especially thinking about the…

  • Teaching Children About Dominican Culture During Hispanic Heritage Month

    When my daughter was born seven years ago, I was convinced she was 100% Dominican, as both my husband and I were born on the island. Since then, I’ve come to realize that her identity is far more complex, heavily influenced by the American culture she was born into. That’s why I love teaching her…

  • Proud To Be a Latina Change Agent and Speaker for #LATISM16

    Five years ago, I was thrilled to be invited by LATISM to the first Top Latina Blogger Retreat, where a group of Latina bloggers was selected to go to the White House and advocate for the issues we cared about most. Since then, LATISM has partnered with influencers to ignite the changes our community needs….