Hello Community!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your heartfelt love and support of my passion to boldly create positive change, especially through my baby, my artistic activism, Retrofit Republic. When I founded Retrofit Republic at 25 years old, I had no idea it would become the innovative social enterprise that so many of you championed. Thank you for believing in the good work that we were doing.

Going back down memory lane.

Award-winning singer, rapper, songwriter, musician, producer Anderson .Paak and rapper Dumbfoundead. Creative vision and wardrobe styling by yours truly.

I knew we were on to something unique. But the continual out-pour of our positive affect on you and so many illustrated that it was changing society to be better, to be more diverse, more inclusive, more equitable, to herald the beautiful diversity of individuals, races, cultures, backgrounds, gender presentations, body types, abilities and disabilities; and while changing culture to be more conscious of consumerism and its global ramifications such as the human and environmental costs of products and business practices.

Additionally, many studies have shown the greater benefits of diversity in the workforce such as increased revenue and fundraising, better and comprehensive ideas, improved efficiencies and productivity, significantly higher retention, and overall happier employees. So why not put concerted effort to institutionalize diversity, equity, and inclusion practices and policies in your company? It’s a no-brainer really.

These values continue to inform me in my continual nonprofit, social impact, and consulting work. As well as in the past four years, with the students I have been so fortunate to work with. With anything that I am passionate about, it becomes my life. I give it my all. Just like at Retrofit Republic, I gave my all to my students and families. I learned a ton. I am forever grateful for the transformations and relationships fostered. But I deeply miss the magical creative flow that I had running Retrofit Republic, where I had full creative license to collaborate and run my own vehicle of change.

Thus, here I am starting my next creative vision and consulting services site. Whatever your needs are such as how to:

_Start a nonprofit, social enterprise or business.
_Lead a mission driven personal and career path.
_Ensure your company and practices are rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
_Hire and train diverse talent.
_Coach and develop your team.
_Mediate conflict resolutions between your team members.
_Execute an effective and productive staff retreat.
_Market, communicate, and increase your reach.
_Envision and execute an unforgettable marketing campaign from A-Z.
_Create a unique brand and identity.
_Market research to understand what competitive advantage you and your company has.
_Develop a memorable tagline and elevator pitch.
_Set-up photo and video shoots.
_Style it all.
_Dress and present yourself as the boss that you are or strive to be.
_Lead and inspire a team.
_Plan and execute your organization’s anniversary event.

I got you! Or you simply want to share what creative endeavors you’re working on or content that inspires you.

Keep doing you and believe in yourself. If you don’t, then why should anyone else? Trust that your firm belief will manifest.

“Your journey has molded you for the greater good. It was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time.” -Asha Tyson.

Let’s create your best self and live y/our dreams together.

In solidarity,

Jenny


First Filipina & Black Ballerina Lead in NYC Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’

Charlotte, you go girl! This is a momentous holiday season for 11 year-old Charlotte Nebres and for Asian Americans and African Americans. Charlotte is the first Filipina American and African American ballerina lead (playing heroine Marie) in New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Finally.

Representation is consequential. It has conscious and subconscious, explicit and implicit effects, especially, for those that can identify with the lack of it.

“I saw her perform and she was just so inspiring and so beautiful,” Charlotte, 11, said. “When I saw someone who looked like me onstage, I thought, that’s amazing. She [Misty Copeland] was representing me and all the people like me.”

When Charlotte was 6, Misty Copeland became the first female African-American principal at American Ballet Theater. That, she remembers.

Misty Copeland

I too remember. I remember my vivid awestruck when I saw Asian American actor Dante Basco as Rufio in the movie Hook. He was the first person I saw on TV and in film that resembled me. For people of color to see individuals like them in positions of visibility, power, and success, it is incredibly validating for our identities, confidence, aspirations and affirming that we matter. We do matter. Charlotte you matter.

Dante Basco as Rufio in Hook
Not only was Rufio a main character but a fearless leader.

The firsts. Asian American Pacific Islanders are still underrepresented in many sectors. For example, actress Kelly Marie Tran who plays Rose Tico in Star Wars went from being the first Asian American and woman of color lead character in The Last Jedi (and in all of Star Wars) to controversially only having one minute of screen time in the follow-up film The Rise of Skywalker. Also, in stark contrast to his counterparts, data analyzed by Axios Media demonstrate the disproportionate lack of media coverage in comparison to polling numbers for Asian American presidential candidate, Andrew Yang. And for the first time in U.S. history, there are three Asian American Pacific Islanders running for 2020 presidency: Andrew Yang (Taiwanese), Kamala Harris (Indian and black), and Tulsi Gabbard (Samoan and white).

Actress Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, the first Asian American and woman of color lead role in Star Wars. Photo courtesy of Screen Rant.
Rose Tico later removed from the original Star Wars merchandise designs.
2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Photo: Jeff Neira, Walt Disney Television.

Additionally, in every article I have read about Charlotte Nebres, the titles and body text consistently say “first black” ballet lead and neglect to say she is also the first Asian American ballet lead. Too often Asian American Pacific Islanders are left out, forgotten, a footnote or an afterthought; yet Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial and ethnic group in the U.S. Asian Americans are more than the harmful stereotypes: other, outsider, quiet, invisible, passive, meek, subservient, the model minority, good at math, terrible drivers. The list is endless.

Despite it all, Charlotte, you are positively challenging the misconceptions and false narratives of Asian Americans and African Americans. Thank you for overcoming the odds. Thank you for being the first. Your success is everyone’s success.

Charlotte Nebres. Photo courtesy of Heather Sten, The New York Times.


Bonuses Totaling 10 Million Given to All Employees!

I have to give a huge shout out to St. John Properties in Maryland. This real estate company is modeling how a for-profit company should operate—showing deep gratitude for their greatest asset—by giving every employee a bonus, totaling 10 million dollars. From maintenance workers to receptionists, the average bonus was $50K and the highest was $270K, which were based on how long they had been working for the company.

At their holiday party, employees were given an envelope. Next, at the same time, everyone opened their envelopes revealing the big surprise. Shock and then tears of incredible joy fill the room. Long, heartfelt hugs followed, concluding the joyous night with employees individually giving thanks to their CEO.

When I first heard about this company’s magnanimous generosity, I was stunned. The fact that myself and so many were flabbergasted by this action speaks to its rarity in our profit driven culture. I hope one day this will be the norm and not a surprise. Bravo to St. John Properties for defying our current norm—to equally valuing its workforce to its profitability. It does not have to be mutually exclusive.

Congratulations to all the staff. What an unforgettable ending to their successful 2019.


Mr. Rogers

I recently watched A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the recent movie based on America’s beloved treasure, Mr. Rogers. It is a brilliant social commentary on the human condition. I am beautifully reminded of his unique mastery of emotional intelligence. Many decades later, this uniting gift seems to be more elusive than ever. This rings true with my work with youth, students, and families.

Mr. Rogers teaches not only children but everyone that honest introspection is the thread that sows the emotional holes we all face. If we each aspire to Mr. Roger’s unwavering active, empathetic listening (especially during this unprecedented time in U.S. history), we will more clearly see each other and ourselves realizing our fears are not reality after all.

This deeply moving film is inspired by journalist Tom Junod’s unexpected emotional journey profiling Mr. Rogers for Esquire magazine. Immediately after the film, I had to find the Esquire cover feature originally published in their November 1998 issue. Mr. Junod, thank you for capturing the depth of Mr. Rogers and for inspiring the film.

If it’s not too much to ask, please let me know your thoughts of the movie and the Esquire article. Enjoy!